A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS

What is there left to be said after such an extensive analysis by my fellow PA members? Everything has been said, from the departure of Mike Portnoy, the aquisition of Mike Mangini, Mangini not being involved in the writing and the two camps of Dream Theater listeners... the ones they can do no wrong to and the ones who can't stand a single not.

I personally think this is their best album since - one of my favourite Dream Theater albums - "Train of Thoughts". Gone is the dark metal atmosphere; The thirteen-in-a-dozen songs which all sound the same; The annoying backing vocals by Mike Portnoy.

In come melodies, musicianship for which they are known and a sound everyone can relate to. They're never going to rewrite progressive music like they did with "Images and Words", but they don't have too. They're the godfathers of progressive metal.