A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD

Dream Theater

Progressive Metal

3.78 | 339 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

A very nice surprise!

A View From the Top of the World, doesn't offer much new sonically, but the songs itselves are very strong, complex and rich. This demanded multiple listens for me to start appreciating more each song, as it happenend in the past when their released their singles "The Alien" and "Invisible Monster".

It feels like the band decided to smash together their last album Distance Over Time and A Dramatic Turn Of Events to create this groovy like product with larger songs with unique rythmical patterns instead of very remarkable melodies like in DOT.

Mangini is the main star here, his rythmical patterns are his best so far and every song is very creative regarding the way he uses his drum kit. His is followed by Myung, which is louder in the mix, thankfully and makes the difference in complementing the grooves given by the drums, especially in quieter sections.

Petrucci and Rudess also do a great job there, although they go more on jamming side when solo'ing and therefore not being much remarkable. Guitar and keyboard tones, on the other hand, are very on spot, and Ruddess usage of organs is fantastic.

Another positive thing is definitely the mix, very crystal clear and nothing is overbearing. While some songs feels very heavy, especially the 8th string song "Awaken the Master", it doesn't feels like it because everything is tight, on its place.

Some cohesiveness were lost since their last album and the band doesn't try to reach new boundaries, but I still feel there are very strong elements to appreciate here, which makes this one of my favorites releases of 2021.

4.5/5

Deadwing | 5/5 | 2021-10-23

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