OCTAVARIUM

The Amazing Comeback of Dream Theater! Octavarium is simply an incredible comeback of ''The Real'' Dream Theater. This isn't a new Images and Words, but I'm not saying that I need a new one. After the Awake album, DT was just sailing between different, experimental styles, and trying to find the right style for themselves. The Train of Thought album wasn't bad, but it did show that it couldn't get any worse, so I was very suspicious before Octavarium came out.

At first when you listen to the album, you see it as another simple, pop-rock-related DT-album. But in time, you're starting to see the the multifaceted sides in the music. There are also some Pop-rock-songs in it, and at first I hated them, of course, and thought that the pop-style doesn't fit DT at all. But after every times I have listened to the songs, I started to like them, and now I think that Pop-Rock won't get any better, after DT made these songs. Of course, the songs sound a bit familiar because some bands have already made these kind of songs before, but the the pop-songs in the album have the touch of DT. So every song in the album is very good and impressive. The most progressive song is the main-title song; Octavarium. It really shows what DT can still do today, and I thought DT had already lost the real progressive style.

Hopefully, DT is returning to their roots; the real progressive-metal. There isn't any 'showing off'l on this album at all, which is a pretty good thing, because too much showing off is just too much. Especially the keyboard-player Jordan Rudess has finally learned to controll himself with the soloing. Every player does a very fine job on this album. I must also mention that I used to get a bit provoked by James LaBrie's voice, but on this album his voice doesn't sound annoying at all!

The album just get's better and better after every listenings, just like the I&W -album. I recommend this album for all of you out there, who loved DT's old style, but I'm sure that those who loved the previous album, isn't going to love this one as much.

DREAM THEATER FOREVER! \,,/ and sorry about my bad english... :D