THE ASTONISHING

The Astonishing is one of Dream Theater's most ambitious albums, but also apparently one of their most divisive!

From the start, with the ambient instrumental The Scent of the Nomads, the album presents itself as a cinematic, theatrical experience. The Gift of Music offers hope, with an energetic intro and some beautiful instrumental passages, but quickly loses steam when James LaBrie's vocals come in, exposing a central problem of the album.

This record marks a clear turn towards melody, narrative, and mid-tempo pacing. It's structured entirely around a concept story, resembling a rock opera more than a traditional progressive metal album. The songs are shorter, simpler, and focused on advancing the plot rather than showcasing musical creativity. Unfortunately, the dramatic responsibility falls heavily on LaBrie, whose voice lacks the versatility and emotional range required to convincingly embody multiple characters.

There are evident aspirations to match masterpieces like Metropolis Pt. 2 or even the second disc of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. Jordan Rudess shines more than ever here, with lush, orchestral keyboards that recall moments of past greatness. Other instruments, like bagpipes in The X Aspect or strings scattered throughout the album, add color to the sonic palette.

However, despite all these efforts, the songs simply don't hold up. Unlike great concept albums from bands like Savatage (The Wake of Magellan, Dead Winter Dead) or Ayreon, which use multiple or at least more versatile vocalists and strong songwriting to support the narrative, The Astonishing offers little in terms of individually memorable tracks.

Moment of Betrayal is a rare highlight, more focused and rooted in Dream Theater's classic style. But the second half of the album becomes dull, meandering, and hard to follow. It's simply too long, too soft, and too forgettable.

Conclusion: The Astonishing turns into a never-ending stream of uninspired, overly slow songs. The intensity, complexity, and technical brilliance that defined Dream Theater are largely absent.

It's a bold experiment, but one that ultimately fails to deliver.

Best tracks: The Gift of Music, Moment of Betrayal, select keyboard passages by Jordan Rudess.

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