DREAM THEATER

No Dream Theater album is bad. But this one I could call the "least necessary" in the sense that we the fans could have waited a year or so for the ideas, to use a sommelier term, to mature better. Black Clouds and Silver Linings were not that good, but at least they were "necessary" to show that the Portnoy-Petrucci creative engine hit a snag. If you are new to DT, and like bombastic, heavy and technically brilliant music with pop sensibilities, like I do, than you should taste it at earliest convenience. If you are a fan, here's some differences.

No epics. Well, one, the 20-minute Illumination Theory, which has many instrumentally cool, frantic parts, but probably the least coherent DT epic. Less wacky synths, more spanky bass, reminding of Rush's Geddy Lee. Speaking of Rush. Blatant Rush borrowings. DT is a band that always made use of other people's ideas, but blended them into a new whole. Here, they directly quote several of Rush's most known songs. No rap-like or sinister vocals. La Brie sticks to what he does best - strong melodic voice. Venom-spitting is a valid singing device, but La Brie, with his silky voice, sounds ridiculous barking his lines. Drums sound kind of hollow, production-wise. As if there is production bullying going on in the band. First they "bullied" the bass player now the new drummer. I'm joking, of course. Overall, enjoyable, instruments shine as always. Just don't expect a revelation.

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