A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS

Crucial question for me after listening to this album is whether DT's formula is holding up with this 11th release. I had this feeling after BC&SL already but gave them the benefit of the doubt because the band is so close to my for perfection longing taste. Besides that I witnessed them live about 7 times so I kinda know what the band is about and how good they really are.

Their perfectionism is shown best on their live gigs I do believe. They prove the band's true potential. And this also causes that I will never be able to hammer DT down with a one or two star rating. Unless of course they would produce something truly weak. But somehow that seems impossible to me. Even the "dramatic" departure of Portnoy doesn't really weaken the bands quality. Mangini does add something different to the band of course (it would be a miracle if it hadn't) but it's just minor because he drums partly in the same style.

What I'm trying to say is that ADTOE is still the same DT with some slight innovation here and there (Breaking all Illusions f.i.) and the question is how long they can keep it up. The formula is wearing a little bit thin on me by now, something that was already the case with the predecessor. But like I said: it's still good enough somehow. Hardly any weak(ish) songs on this latest so how could I go lower than four stars ? Don't know so I will have to give four again.