THE ASTONISHING

Well, if your introduction to DT was this latest CD, just released in2016. You would probably be impressed by some of the virtuosity and composition shown throughout. You may also be impressed by a band's audacity to make a CD with over two hours of concept linked music. However, if, like me, you have their entire back catalogue and are very familiar with each and every past release, you will realise that this CD is a mere shadow of what the band has produced prior to the loss of Mike Portnoy! There is NO doubt that, DT have 'Jumped the Shark' with this release ' no amount of slick packaging (could have been a concept album of the mid 70's in terms of sleeve and booklet design) can disguise a band that has simply run out of ideas. This album should have been named ' 'Dream Theater Overture' since it is just a pastiche of all their previous music bashed into shape with poor lyrical content and a risibly weak conceptual story ' it's sickly-sweet quasi-Christian bilge really makes this CD for the completionists only I'm afraid. Yeah there are some nice guitar solo's and a few interesting musical passages, but these are hidden amongst loads and loads of filler. No interesting keyboard solo's! ' what a waste of talent Rudess has shown here! Is this the end?