Album Rating: 4.0

He does have some proper epic moments, Pale Blue Dot, Barstool Warrior and At Wit's End being highlights.



The "God creators, dream destroyers..." part in PBD is freaking epic, one of the most badass vocal parts they've had in years.

Album Rating: 3.5

True, but it's a shame he's using his upper register (which sounds awful nowadays) so much in these songs. I think the effects make his voice sound even worse, the effects in Untethered Angel annoy the living shit out of me

Album Rating: 3.8

James is probably the worst thing about this album

Album Rating: 3.5

for sure

Album Rating: 3.8

What's funny too is that the production seems to drown him out a lot, almost like even the other people behind the album didn't want him to be featured much

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah, but it also makes him sound even worse. His vocals are mixed quite loud, just the annoying sampled-sounding snare/kick/toms. I'm really not a fan of the production on this record. It's really annoying that a few tweaks could've made this record a ton more enjoyable for me...

Album Rating: 2.5

If Viper King was an actual track on the album and not a bonus track then I would've given this a 3 instead of a 3.5.

Album Rating: 3.5

So this is actually good, huh? That would be a pleasant surprise. I'll spin it this week.

Album Rating: 3.5

"Less interesting is the still-stubbornly flamboyant presence of Jordan Rudess..."

I couldn't agree more; I still believe that Jordan Rudess was the worst thing that happened to DT... Instead of being an accent he desperately wants to be a protagonist.

Album Rating: 4.0

I feel like he's much more of an "accent" on this one than, say, The Astonishing.

Album Rating: 3.0

When this album is on it's great. It kinda feels like Dream Theater is writing Hard Rock with weird solos now though. Nothing feels really proggy from them on this.

Rudess uses too much moog, not enough piano. Also, Derek Sherinian had some tasty piano licks on Falling into Infinity. Dude deserved more than one album.

Hard meh

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Rudess is more restrained on this, so the Rudess bashers can't really bitch about wankery. Wish he added more variety to his sound though

I thought the worst thing on this was the drum sounds still

Apology accepted, Captain Needa?

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

@bloc: An improvement over all previous Mangini albums though.

Album Rating: 3.1

Really good review. This is such a step up from the last two and even feels as rewarding and consistent as some of their pre-Systematic Chaos albums. This is about as high a rating as I can give right now, as my musical tastes have changed so much since back when I was a teenager and listened to DT religiously. It's nice to hear they still have ideas left and can make some enjoyable music.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

SIGNAL TO NOISE BECOMES THE AAAAAANSWEEEEER





@Talons What genres have you moved on to?

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Haaaaaave YOU HHHEEEEARD THE NEWWWS