A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS

I just entering the Dream Theater site of Prog Archives and as I headed down to the reviews noticed the song 'Home' in the listen samples. Thinking it's been awhile I hit play and it hit me how vastly different and superior Dream Theater were to the way they are now. The sound on home is fresh, original, and ballsy. James Labries vocals sound fabulous without sounding like he's trying. The musicianship is at it's best and most original.

I've listened multiple times to Dramatic Turn of Events but just can't get excited. Is it of a high quality - of course, is it progressive and technically brilliant - sure, but quite frankly it's just not that exciting bar a brief moment here or there.

A lot of people have rated this highly but to me it's very much like Windows 7. Is it better than the past 3 albums - sure, hell yea, but that doesn't mean it's good it just a welcome step in the right direction. Those albums (especially the last 2) were so appalling it's obvious why Portnoy left like rats fleeing the sinking ship - because the truth is Dream Theater has become stale and are simply trying desperately to recapture their past unsuccessfully.

Fans of the past 2-3 albums shouldn't be disappointed. Fans looking for a return to Images, Scenes, Train of Thought or other past masterpieces are in for a let down. Sadly I think Portnoy was right to beg for a deserved longer break to rejuvenate the creative juices, it's definitely needed for longevity.

Compared to other bands Dramatic Turn of Events deserves to stand proud and still sets an example - at least in technical terms. Compared to the bands back catalog this album really only outdoes the past 2 albums which really wasn't hard.

Just listening to 'Honour Thy Father' now... oh such a shame...