With a 25 year journey, Dream Theater is taking their most important step in their career by releasing their 11th album after Mike Portnoy -founding member and major influence in the band's sound- dramatically quit. Therefore, the expectation comes with the name of the next album "A Dramatic Turn of Events". This is not only the debut of Mike Mangini -who had to live a true reality show in order to be chosen, among with other six drummers-, but the establishment of a new type of brand that has to replace Portnoy. This has built the anticipation to all the fans -the release date being next Sept. 13.
'Rock em Geral' magazine had access to this new anticipated CD and has prepared a commentary while listening each song for the first time. In previous albums, Dream Theater has made musical references to other metal and prog bands, but "A Dramatic Turn of Events" aims to sound conform to this new formation; bringing its own sound. At the same time, the sound is not that new. Anyone who has listened to Dream Theater will immediately recognize that their album length will oscillate the 75 min mark (not sure what they meant by this). The band played safe on this album, avoiding lots of risks; a conservative approach. It's too soon to compare this album with other records. Anyway, here's the review:
1- On the Backs of Angels
This song was released last month and is the only track that fans can listen live in this new tour. The music is very Dream Theater: it preserves the good instrumental sound driven by John Petrucci's beautiful riff. It has a beautiful solo that precedes the riff which highlighs JLB's dramatic vocals. A simple and easy song to identify. Get this CD, there's no risk.
2- Build Me Up, Break Me Down
It starts with a pre-recorded voice-over vocal with an echo and other effects. It has a clear pop feel, with a heavy bass line and swing, which makes a reference to its funky root. You can hear the keyboard in the back "filling the voids", which reinforces the pop characteristic of this song; the chorus will make your ears beg for more (you'll have your ears glued to this chours: literal trans). Despite the great composition of this song, it is not the best one. Mangini does some of his beats here and there, but it's just basic drumming.
3. Lost not Forgotten
it keeps the characteristic of this album with some emphasis on the keyboards in most parts. It starts with the keyboards imitating the acoustic piano sound (?) and it then changes to a progressive keyboard feel, typical of the 70s. The base of the vocals are tense. You can notice LaBrie's vocal power without screeching or straining his voice. The riff and the drums are pretty basic; JLB only looses his voice in the second part of this song. This is one of the four songs that surpasses the 10 minute mark, but the changes in the song are pretty ingenious. It's amazing how you don't feel 10 minutes passing by, it evidences that the music captivates and it is ingenious.
4- This is the Life
A slow, almost ballad feeling, with a climatic intro making emphasis on the keyboards and vocals. It's that kind of song that you think is going to start or take off, but it never does. JLB makes his backing-vocals in some verses, but what makes this track worthy is the beautiful solo in the end, playing along with the bass, which provides a heavy bass-line. The solo ends up being a "beautiful moment" in this album.
5- Bridges in The Sky
There's a vocal effect that mimics a cry in a cave that will appear again at the end of the song. This is a song that offers better dynamics, with a guitar that runs nervously behind a beautiful drum drive, with precise hits. MM starts to play faster and fits well with the bass and the guitar. Curiously, JP's solo is very economical, but very good, full of wah-wah sounds. There's an amazing guitar/keyboard duel, with Myung holding up well with the wave. This song is one of the best in this album.
6- Outcry
It has a grandiloquent intro, with a pre-recorded symphonic tone. The foundations of this song consists of a very good combination of guitar, bass and overwhelming keyboards, just like the rest of the CD (how superfluous can you get when writing a review, right?). This is pure old Yes, you can imagine Jordan Rudess dressed on stage like Rick Wakeman. With some discrete guitars and JLB singing softly, almost whispering, the music never takes off. Positively, this is a great song.
7- Far From Heaven
In an album with more than 75 minutes long, Far From Heaven sounds almost like a vignette. It's a duet between the vocals and the keys. This shouldn't have entered the track list.
8- Breaking All Illusions
It starts well, with an excellent melody and instrumental developments. A pop keyboard (in the sense that it captivates the listener) leads to a melodic evolution of the guitar; of rare beauty. It has a lot of good changes, tempo wise, in the instrumental parts: a "bed" of giant keyboards, bass and drums and great rapport with technical precision, and finally a pristine guitar. The "freshness" that you listen in the beginning gets lost, but it returns in the bridge and chorus. MM progressively starts to speed up the tempo, alternating with the highly progressive keyboards. Petrucci's sound is very dramatic, with the rest of the sounds preparing to lift-off, until the song skyrockets; DT's trademark. Great music with good dynamics.
9- Beneath the Surface
It starts slowly, you can onliste listen the vocals and some keyboard effects. It sounds like a cap (?) on the album, and at the same time, an optimistic view for the future, considering the recent turmoil in the band. Music has an emphasis on keyboards and JLB's voice is loose (you can say the same thing on every track).
Topic: New Album Title (A Dramatic Turn of Events) and Track Listing Revealed (Read 484543 times)