Don't know if this is controversial or... universal. But Petrucci needs to get the fuck out of the mixing room and let someone without any bias mix their albums. I watched Live at Luna Park last night and I was like 'they should just rename this band John Petrucci or some shit'. His GUITARS ARE ALWAYS TOO LOUD. You can't hear Jordan or Myung unless they're soloing, and when Petrucci solos, EVERYTHING is gets buried by his guitar. At least when MP was in the band there were some loud and sweet sounding drums, but Mangini's kit, for all its bells and whistles, sounds like fly swatters on ass cheeks, because its not mixed right, just like on the albums since MP's departure. Get someone else to produce and mix the shit.
rant over.