Official "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" Review Thread

[Pfnerch]

Hello,
a new review. hope it wasnt posted before.

https://www.theaureview.com/albums/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-2011-lp

[BlobVanDam]

Yeah, that one's been posted a couple of times already, but welcome to the forum anyway.

[tgstk2]

i want/need more reviews:-)

please give us a note by note , track by track review :-)

[Dream Team]

Yeah, that one's been posted a couple of times already, but welcome to the forum anyway.

Blob, we're still waiting for your review!! Please!

[Implode]

I can never read Blob and please in the same post without thinking of that damn picture ever again.

[BlobVanDam]

I think I'm ok with that.

[wasteland]

Maybe this has been already posted, but whatever. Short, very positive, and Mangini-focused review by Drumhead Magazine facebook page:

Dream Theater's new album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events, conjures up that feeling of anticipation and excitement brought on by the band's early albums Images And Words and Awake.  Evident in Petrucci and Rudess's new compositions, Mangini's abilities around the kit have allowed them to explore uncharted territories in the outer boundaries of serious and seriously enjoyable progressive metal. Able to match these two masters through his lightning-fast execution, true ambidextrous talent and Apex drum setup, Mangini often replicates their intricate lines both rhythmically and melodically note-for-note. Rising to the top of the Superdrummer heap, Mangini demonstrates the physical prowess and agility of a racehorse, stretching to play at the top of his talents and reining himself in to allow his bandmates to do the same. DToE is 2011's five-star attraction.
-Mover / Smith

Copies of Drumhead's Mike Mangini 18-page cover feature can be purchased at www.drumheadmag.com.

[Jirpo]

Nice!

[wilgod3p]

Maybe this has been already posted, but whatever. Short, very positive, and Mangini-focused review by Drumhead Magazine facebook page:

Dream Theater's new album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events, conjures up that feeling of anticipation and excitement brought on by the band's early albums Images And Words and Awake.  Evident in Petrucci and Rudess's new compositions, Mangini's abilities around the kit have allowed them to explore uncharted territories in the outer boundaries of serious and seriously enjoyable progressive metal. Able to match these two masters through his lightning-fast execution, true ambidextrous talent and Apex drum setup, Mangini often replicates their intricate lines both rhythmically and melodically note-for-note. Rising to the top of the Superdrummer heap, Mangini demonstrates the physical prowess and agility of a racehorse, stretching to play at the top of his talents and reining himself in to allow his bandmates to do the same. DToE is 2011's five-star attraction.
-Mover / Smith

Copies of Drumhead's Mike Mangini 18-page cover feature can be purchased at www.drumheadmag.com.

This is more a Mike mangini performance review than an album review 

[nikatapi]

Another review here https://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=910:cd-reviews&id=1514:dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events&Itemid=121

[wasteland]

Another review here https://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=910:cd-reviews&id=1514:dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events&Itemid=121

This album is being received ridiculously well by the press! 

[Dynia]

Another review here https://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=910:cd-reviews&id=1514:dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events&Itemid=121

This album is being received ridiculously well by the press! 

Yeah, i haven't seen a single complaint about it, and it's a good thing 
Oh, and thanks for posting this, nikatapi! Great review.

[ElliottTamer]

Another review here https://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=910:cd-reviews&id=1514:dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events&Itemid=121

These reviews are killing me... I'm gonna go and listen to On the Backs of Angels 9 times in a row and pretend that's the new album...

[wilgod3p]

I should stop reading reviews it only make my anticipation go higher

[wammabe]

I wanted to avoid listening to anything related to the new album till its release. Unfortunately, I already listened to every single snippet and read every single review. On the last review I read, I pretty much knew what he was going to say about each song. I'm still very glad this album has good reviews, were the previous albums received like this?

[SystematicThought]

I think the main complaint about BC&SL with initial reviews was that the songs can kind of drag. But most reviews called it the best album in almost a decade

[Dance Of Eternity]

To bad he didn't go into more details of the longer songs, like BITS, Outcry and BAI...

Still a good review though...

[ResultsMayVary]

You don't want to give too much away though!

This is, by far, the most I have been excited for any album release from any band. 9/13 COME NOW DAMMIT! 

[ANightmareToRemember]

Man I'm loving these reviews, can't wait for the album to drop soon!

[FlyingBIZKIT]

You don't want to give too much away though!

This is, by far, the most I have been excited for any album release from any band. 9/13 COME NOW DAMMIT! 

[GasparXR]

You don't want to give too much away though!

This is, by far, the most I have been excited for any album release from any band. 9/13 COME NOW DAMMIT! 

I have reason to believe ADTOE will be incredible moment in DT history.

[tri.ad]

Another nice review, thanks for the link!

I have one question, though: How many times do you think the writers listen to an albums they're reviewing? Do they let it sink in or does the novelty effect play a part as well?

I can see why some might think that this point of view is overly cautious, but I'm just interested in that.

[BlobVanDam]

Were all promo copies sent out at the same time? Just wondering how long they've had the album.

[atmyne]

*speculates whether most of the reviewers are in-the-closet DT fanboys*
Seriously though, it is actually insane that the reviews are so overwhelmingly positive. I think the lowest ranking that I have seen for it is a 9/10! With the only remotely negative aspect about it is that the intro to bridges in the sky is a little odd. daium this is looking good! 

[Jirpo]

Were all promo copies sent out at the same time? Just wondering how long they've had the album.

Blob, how many times have you listened to the album?

[tgstk2]

the only part i didn't like from the review is wher it says that DT lost the heavy side?

[Dynia]

the only part i didn't like from the review is wher it says that DT lost the heavy side?

I liked that part.
It doesn't say that DT completely lost their heaviness, though. It says more proggy, less metal, which is a good thing.

[BlobVanDam]

the only part i didn't like from the review is wher it says that DT lost the heavy side?

Don't worry, the album is still plenty heavy. After all, Dream Theater is progressive METAL. 

[jonny108]

https://www.thisisnotascene.com/2011/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events/

Another one...probably the worst review yet but still decent.

[BlobVanDam]

https://www.thisisnotascene.com/2011/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events/

Another one...probably the worst review yet but still decent.

Very brief review. It didn't even half of the songs, including BAI, arguably the most anticipated song of the album.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

https://www.thisisnotascene.com/2011/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events/

Another one...probably the worst review yet but still decent.

That was actually a very well-written review. It's clear from the first couple of paragraphs that this guy is not a huge Dream Theater fan, so if you are a huge Dream Theater fan, then the review doesn't really apply to you. It also sounds like a professional wrote it, unlike some of these other ones.

[BlobVanDam]

https://www.thisisnotascene.com/2011/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events/

Another one...probably the worst review yet but still decent.

That was actually a very well-written review. It's clear from the first couple of paragraphs that this guy is not a huge Dream Theater fan, so if you are a huge Dream Theater fan, then the review doesn't really apply to you. It also sounds like a professional wrote it, unlike some of these other ones.

It's just a shame it was too brief for anyone wanting any "meat" about the album. More of a general overview and opinion of the album. It was well written, just a bit short imo.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

https://www.thisisnotascene.com/2011/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events/

Another one...probably the worst review yet but still decent.

That was actually a very well-written review. It's clear from the first couple of paragraphs that this guy is not a huge Dream Theater fan, so if you are a huge Dream Theater fan, then the review doesn't really apply to you. It also sounds like a professional wrote it, unlike some of these other ones.

It's just a shame it was too brief for anyone wanting any "meat" about the album. More of a general overview and opinion of the album. It was well written, just a bit short imo.

TBH, that's usually the best way to write a review. Right now, the full track descriptions are nice, but once the album comes out and everyone has heard it, they're kind of tedious.

[BlobVanDam]

I guess it's personal preference. I find it easier to get an idea of whether I'll like an album if they're a bit more descriptive about each song. It makes it easier to judge where the reviewer's musical tastes lie relative to your own. I mean, all reviews are useless once you've heard the album, right? People here most likely read reviews to gather every morsel of information they can.

But as I said, not a bad review. Just brief for my personal preference.

[robwebster]

https://www.thisisnotascene.com/2011/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events/

Another one...probably the worst review yet but still decent.

That was actually a very well-written review. It's clear from the first couple of paragraphs that this guy is not a huge Dream Theater fan, so if you are a huge Dream Theater fan, then the review doesn't really apply to you. It also sounds like a professional wrote it, unlike some of these other ones.

It's just a shame it was too brief for anyone wanting any "meat" about the album. More of a general overview and opinion of the album. It was well written, just a bit short imo.

TBH, that's usually the best way to write a review. Right now, the full track descriptions are nice, but once the album comes out and everyone has heard it, they're kind of tedious.

Yes! Agreed. It should be broad strokes, and convey the album, as opposed to a breakdown of its components. It should also be seeking what people are going to love about it, while also identifying the things people might find offputting. I'm not interested in the sum of its parts. Cite examples, sure, and denote points of particular interest, but there's a point past which it switches from a review to a list.

Too many reviews, perhaps tellingly, consist of a reviewer waxing lyrical about why they liked it, which I think misses the point of a review completely. More of a blog entry. The emphasis should really be on why you might like it, and "you" consists, theoretically, of six-billion people. I think his sentence on Beneath the Surface is more of the former, but the rest tends to be more the latter, which I was quite impressed by, as you don't get so much of it in the undermediated internet age.