Adrian Snell has been around for a many years and has released a number of critically acclaimed albums.  These tracks are taken from albums recorded between 1984 and 1994, during which time he worked a lot with members of Iona (the original sessions which led to Iona took place during Adrian Snell sound checks).

Musically there is a fair range of styles represented here -- some tracks not far from Iona (although with less of a Celtic feel) and some with a more adult contemporary feel.  The number of albums represented shows through in both the musical styles and themes, as most of Snell's works are concept albums.

The lyrics are largely well-written and very moving.  Snell is known for dealing with issues no one else will touch -- particularly touching are the words of a poem written by a 12 year-old Jewish girl in Auschwitz during the World War II Holocaust:

Today the ghetto knows a different fear,
Close in its grip, Death wields an icy scythe.
An evil sickness spreads a terror in its wake
The victims of its shadows weep and writhe.