Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

\r\n “Now, what, only six songs?” would someone ask by checking the tracklist. The difference is that four of them are music themes rather than songs since they last more than 10 minutes each like for instance “The count of Tuscany”, which is almost 20 minutes long.
\r\nIf their work could be resembled with another form of art that could easily be a theatrical play divided into self-existent but connected acts. At the end of the play you don’t remember the dialogues among the actors, only the general script and some specific parts that impressed you most. “ Black Clouds & Silver Linings” works in a similar way. For someone who listens to Dream Theater such compositions with endless soloing and  various rhythm changes that are not exactly what we would call “radio-friendly” or “direct” songwriting is something common. Those not familiar with that particular sound, may find the songs a bit unusual and over the edge as their structure is pretty complicated.
\r\nSomething is missing from the album and I’m not talking about their skills, that would be silly the least. There are heavy riffs, almost thunderous on some spots, and many melodies as well, catchy spots like the intro of “ A Rite of Passage”, more emotional moments, like on “Wither”, crystal clear production, a lot of their “mentors” elegance, intense mood, explosions, they have even added blastbeats and growls…but I really think that  there’s no much cohesion at the end. All these so great and huge compositions lack feeling to some degree.
\r\nIt goes without saying; Dream Theater is one of the most important prog metal bands. And this is why our expectations are big…  or biggest compared to what they give us with their new album “Black Clouds & Silver Linings”.\r\n

\r\n

\r\nNicoleta Sarantou\r\n

\r\n

\r\nLine up:
\r\nJames Labrie : Vocals
\r\nJohn Petrucci : Guitars
\r\nJohn Myung : Bass
\r\nMike Portnoy : Drums
\r\nJordan Rudess : Keyboards  \r\n

\r\n