I'm not familiar with the book and I didn't read your intro to the song but listening to it conjured up in me a vision of a battle followed by a somber view of the battlefield afterwards. Which, as it turns out, was just what the song was all about.  So nice storytelling there.
Very good musicianship throughout and nice transition. Guess I liked the 2nd part better because it's more melodic. Very good vocal.

I love long, ambitious songs.  It took a couple minutes to get there, but there were some really nice phrases in the solo on the first part.  I agree, the tone sounds a little old, but I thought the whole first half instrumentation had that same kind of style, so maybe it fits?  Really like the second half - works and sounds great.  Nicely done, really.  

Bjorn - thanks, that's nice to know
 
Tim - me too, I'm glad you enjoyed it
 

Eight minutes, that's barely an introduction for a diehard old Genesis fan like me. 😉

I liked the contrast between the two parts and especially the guitar tone on part two. The vocals - oh yes - what's not to love about those. The slightly accentuated pronounciation and the light and shade reminded me of Peter Gabriel and I really can't pay you a higher compliment than that.

A very accomplished piece but I definitely preferred part two.

Andy - thanks very much!

Please add me to the list of cheerleaders above.  Great composition, performance, and production.  Being an old guy myself, I rather enjoyed the "old sounding tone".  Really nice vocals in Part 2.
 
Very well done all!

Freddy - thank you kindly

Well done!
I would bring the guitar (1:20ish to 2:20ish) up a bit, its fine from there to the 3:30ish mark.
Then its a bit quite again; this all to my ear, take it with a grain of salt!
That "ping" at 5:17 (and the little one at 5:28) is the only "flaw" I heard in the whole piece.
Those drive me nuts, an otherwise flawless performance and "ding".
Y'all should be proud!
T
 

Tom - thanks!

The pic on your Soundcloud page reminds me of the finale between Arthur and Mordred in John Boorman's film Excalibur. The song bears that out: an epic tale. Terrific guitar leads in Part I. The shift in Part II recalls Rossini: the post battle morning in The William Tell Overture. Great songwriting, great storytelling.