THE ASTONISHING

Long gone are the days when people marvel listening DT. More by design, arrangements and the approach than the accomplishment itself (and technical virtuosity). Gone is the time of "Learning to live", "Scarred" or "Beyond this life" not to mention "Change of Seasons" where each segment of each piece was a gem in itself. Since the departure of MP and even more today, this architecture / creativity gave way to the exhibition rather than writing. The arrival of Mangini only amplified even more this new direction! It is true that the man is a technical monster, so huge that his perfect control makes it completely mechanical play and as if it was out of a simulation via a soft kind EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer. His contribution is more in the mimic (to perfection) JP and JR madness than to give body and depth to music and sometimes play the role of bridge or lead (as did MP) between the different sections and even during the evolutions thereof. On the other hand, we dont hear Myung, who spawned "Learning to Live" "a trial of tears" and "Strange Deja vu". Disappeared, both in the presence and in the contribution. I'll avoid commenting LaBrie performance (overall and since long ago), freed from the oppression of the boss and that drove him to do anything other than sing cheesy ballads. Ultimately, and even apart from the above, the latter Opus has no interest except the format. In fact, the form has taken over the content, apart 2-3 titles here and there, that I can't describe as progressive music. The frenzied duets or hyper technical playing itself are not enough so that I may consider this album as progressive. The technical achievements are expected to intensify a complex writing, not cover it up.