Album Review

Dream Theater - Dream TheaterDream Theater – Dream Theater

Dream Theater are currently gearing up to release their self titled twelfth studio album which is due for release on the 23rd September on long term record label Roadrunner Records, now 2011’s ‘A Dramatic Turn Of Events’ was the first Dream Theater album to feature Mike Mangini on drums following the public feud and departure of founding member Mike Portnoy but the bands new self titled album happens to be the first album that Mike Mangini has been given full creative control over the drums and it has been well worth the wait.

The self titled album features 9 tracks but the opening track of the album is split into 3 parts and the closing track of the album is split into 5 parts and altogether the album runs for an epic 68minutes and is easily a must have purchase for all Dream Theater fans.

The album opens with ‘False Awakening’ and the track is pure instrumental track that runs for just uinder 3minutes and the best thing about the track is the fact that it is split into 3 parts which are ‘Sleep Paralysis’, ‘Night Terrors’ and ‘Lucid Dreams’ and each movement is so noticeable as the band jam their way through a perfect opening track which sounds like an epic piece that has been written for a movie soundtrack, seriously if Disney are looking for a band to write some music for the forthcoming Star Wars fans I would look no further than Dream Theater.

‘Enemy Inside’ opens up with force as Mike Mangini goes all out with his drumming whilst John Petrucci knocks out some fantastic fast paced riffs whilst James LaBrie’s vocals come in for the first time at the 1minute 24seconds mark, towards the middle of the song Jordan Rudess treats us to some great keyboard work which is truly outstanding whilst Mike Magngini really makes his mark with his constant machine gun style drumming which becomes the driving force for the song until his final drum beats end the song.

‘The Looking Glass’ sounds like a radio friendly Dream Theater tune, it’s the kind of song that will remind many dream theater fans of some of their material from back in the early 90’s, the song is really easy on the ears as James LaBrie takes centre stage with his melodic singing whilst the rest of the band hold back on their technical ways a bit until John Petrucci shows off his skills with a mouth watering guitar solo.

‘Enigma Machine’ is a technical instrumental masterpiece as the band pretty much put everything into the song as they all go all out to play their instruments as fast as possible whilst creating sounds that work so well together.

Both ‘The Bigger Picture’ and ‘Surrender To reason’ James LaBrie starts off with laying down gentle sounding vocals in a power ballad kind of way but as the band mix up their instrumental work LaBrie changes his vocals to match what’s going on around him.

The best is left till the end as the album closes with the massive 5 part ‘Illumination Theory’ as the song is split into ‘i. Paradoxe De La Lumiere Noire’, ‘ii. Live, Die, Kill’, ‘iii. The Embracing Circle’, ‘iv The Pursuit Of Truth’ and ‘V. Surrender, Trust And Passion’ , just like the opening track it is clear to see when each movement starts and finishes but this time around things are that little bit more epic as each movement is on for a longer period of time and there is so much going on throughout from huge keyboard solos, pounding drum beats, tasty guitar solos, various different soundscapes and LaBrie twisting and turning his vocal style throughout the next 22minutes.
With ‘Dream Theater’ I feel that certain members of the band have been given more time to shine for example it is the first album that Mike Mangini has worked the drums from start to finish and I feel that it is something that fans of the band are going to appreciate as yes the legendary drumming that we have all come to love and expect from Mike Portney over the years has gone but Mike Mangini is one hell of a fast drumming and he makes the drumming his own here, keyboardist Jordan Rudess has also been given more time to shine as he has been given more keyboard solos than ever before and overall I feel that ‘Dream Theater’ is as diverse sounding as any of the bands back catalogue but I feel that this is the start of a new chapter in the journey of Dream Theater.

4.5/5

Review by Trigger

 Band Members

John Petrucci
John Myung
James LaBrie
Jordan Rudess
Mike Mangini
 Track Listing

1. False Awakening Suite
i. Sleep Paralysis
ii. Night Terrors
iii. Lucid Dream
2. The Enemy Inside
3. Teh Looking Glass
4. Enigma Machine
5. The Bigger Picture
6. Behind The Veil
7. Surrender To Reason
8. Along For The Ride
9. Illumination Theory
i. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire
ii. Live, Die, Kill
iii. The Embracing Circle
iv. The Pursuit of Truth
v. Surrender, Trust & Passion

 Band Related Links
Dream Theater Facebook
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?