PARASOMNIA

Mike Portonoy left Dream Theater because he thought they were writing the same music over and over again, and he suggested a break. The other band mates didn't share his opinion and went forward to make five additional albums with Mike Mangini. Fifteen years later Portnoy is back and guess what, the music sounds pretty much the same as when he left. So, I guess the break didn't help too much.

"Parasomnia" is an okay album. The three singles released before the album came out were all meh for me. We've heard it before folks. For me, the highlight is "The Shadow Man Incident", but is that a riff from Metropolis I hear? Anyway, this is the longest track on the album, gives light and dark shades, holds my interest and is a really good tune.

As for the production. I hate it. Portnoy's drums are mixed really loud and they don't sound good. It hurts my ears if I listen too long. Pay attention to the cymbals... why do they sound like hitting a metal trash can lid, and where is the natural decay? I much prefer the triggered drum sounds used on Images and Words (Portnoy hated them) to these. Again, you have to strain to hear Myung's bass lines. Why?

Overall, this is a decent release, but I don't see myself returning to this often.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Grumpyprogfan
• Report this review (#3150806)
• Buy DREAM THEATER music online with PA partners
• Show all DREAM THEATER MP3/Stream
• Go to DREAM THEATER page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Parasomnia page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for DREAM THEATER related discussions