Dark Eternal Night is a great song. But it would be much better if the instrumental section was at least shortened. I love dark, angry DT.
Something else that will come up in DT songs that I don't enjoy and/or takes me out of the song are when JR plays really tacky, almost cartoonish stuff with his keyboards. Happens a lot when he does solos. From memory, I can say I often hear this during the beginning of instrumental sections. Hell, maybe it isn't even JR doing it but someone else, but I'm fairly certain it is him. I can't remember any particular songs that I can name, but it happens a lot. Was listening to SC today and definitely heard this. May have been in TDEN, not sure. But it's there, and it's frequent for DT.
But like it said, I really like DT! But there are times, like the one's we've been discussing, where they lose me. They're the type of band that has a lot in their music, and a lot in each song even! They appeal to many, but also don't always appeal to everyone
Like I'v said before, I wish they would approach the writing of a new album with more self-restraint. And not show off so often. They can never seem to create an atmosphere and keep it for very long. They repeat themselves a LOT, and often sound very uninspired. Sometimes when I listen to DT I wonder, did they get inspired by any particular idea or sound when they came up with this? Or did they just think, 'I'm gonna come up with a heavy riff', and start hammering away, then go, 'then we should break it down and go soft for a bit', then go, 'lets let loose here for a bit and go crazy and solo whatever', and do that for hours and hours and just compile it all together without ever really refining ideas and sounds and riffs into more specific styles, then go 'Great! Cool! Five 15 minutes epics!'
I swear, I'm not making fun of DT. I have huge respect for the band, especially John Petrucci. But I know they could do so much more and so much better if they created more songs that actually sound focused.
Just stirrin' the shit...