I think i may be the only person on the planet (whos heard this album a few times) who doesnt like it! Nothing seems memorable to me and some parts make me cringe. I wish they had recorded the album with Mangini after the tour and let him run a bit more wild on the tracks, its like every drum pattern seems a bit bland and i think 'where is the Mangini i saw live a few weeks ago?' then i hear a little run on the octobans and think is that it!
To me it does seem like there is something missing... Maybe i will miss Portnoys influence afterall?
Almost every part of every song sounds like or is the same formula as parts in past albums almost like left over riffs, sounds like Ive heard this all before but not in a nice familiar way.
Seems like a lot of the rhythm guitar is just chugging on the same lowest note which was awesome on songs like The Mirror, but seems overdone and a bit boring on this album.
Whilst i like JLBs solo albums - you could describe them as sounding a little like Dream Theater but with something missing... This is how the new DT album sounds to me.
Im sorry to sound so negative but i guess with all the great reviews DT must take the rough with the smooth HOWEVER this is definitely not my final opinion on this album, we should all review the album again in 6 months, as all the albums have taken a while to sink in. Im trying not to get caught up in all the hype with the new Machinehead album also as the reviews of that have also said album of the year material.