Least Favorite 3 Album Stretch?

[The Walrus]

Black Clouds, ADTOE, DT12.

[Nachtmerrie]

ADTOE - DT - TA

ADTOE - is a good and consistent albums that only lacks a good production
DT - has my least favorite epic, least favorite instrument and a not a single song I that's anywhere near my favorites
TA - I appreciate the effort, totally understand why people adore it but I not my cup of tea

[OpenYourEyes311]

tough to say because they are a very consistent band. Probably SC, BC&SL, ADTOE.

Systematic Chaos is a very good album, for the first half. Then there's Repentance (yawn), Prophets of War (not terrible, but just ok), and Ministry (yawn). Even the first half of ItPoE - Part 2 is a snoozefest. The album ends pretty well though, eventually.

Black Clouds is a mess. Songs are too long, sound is too dark, lyrics are too literal. Not a lot to like (The Count of Tuscany notwithstanding).

A Dramatic Turn of Events is another case of half good, half boring. At least they spread the love here. First track is pretty good, then snoozefest until Bridges in the Sky. Outcry and Far From Heaven are nice. Breaking All Illusions is ok at best. I like the last song a lot.

And, for the record, I think Octavarium and DT12 are two of their most consistently good albums.

[bill1971]

Octavarium - SC - BC&SL

Probably mine too. Definitely my least listened to three album stretch.

I agree 100%

Too much bloat on those albums. Some great songs like These Walls, Wither, ITPOE Part 1...but overall the weakest stretch

[Dublagent66]

ADTOE - DT12 - TA.  However, I like most of ADTOE.

[Volante99]

To be honest, the last 3 unfortunately.

A lot of D/T is listenable but I haven’t really fallen in love with it, yet. I’m slowly coming to the realization that maybe I’m just not that big of a fan of the post-Portnoy DT era (although I thought ADToE was a solid release).

[Infinite Cactus]

ADTOE - DT12 - TA. I don't really like The Astonishing. I like some of DT12. ADTOE is the best of the three, but it starts to feel samey for me in certain aspects.

[Ninjabait]

Here's your daily dose of heresy:

WD&DU - I&W - Awake

It's the ONLY three album stretch in their discography that doesn't have a 5/5 album from me and has two of my least favorite of their albums: WD&DU and Awake. I like I&W still tho, but it's more of a 9 than a 10 for me.

Second place would be either:

Octavarium - Systematic Chaos - Black Clouds

or

SC - BC&SL - ADToE

But Octavarium and ADToE are both two of my favorite albums by them.

[Bertielee]

8vm-SC-BC&SL

[efx]

I would probably say ADTOE/DT12/TA. I'm conflicted about it because there are two stellar tracks each on the first two but TA is just something I will never listen to again so overall this would have the be the weakest run for me.

[The Curious Orange]

I would probably say ADTOE/DT12/TA. I'm conflicted about it because there are two stellar tracks each on the first two but TA is just something I will never listen to again so overall this would have the be the weakest run for me.

This. Any run of 3 consecutive albums has at least one good album in it, but TA drags the average score of this 3-album run right down. This isn't a dig at the MM-era band by any means, both ADTOE and d/t are excellent, and DT12 is quite good. It's just TA I don't like.

[Setlist Scotty]

ADToE, s/t, TA

[krands85]

There are only 2 runs of 3 without one of my 4 top tier albums - Octavarium-Systematic Chaos-Black Clouds & DT12-The Astonishing-D/T.

Both have a couple mid-tier albums and a bottom tier album and although 8VM-BC&SL probably has more lows, it also has lots more highs, with many more of my favourite individual DT songs.

So I'd have to go with the most recent three albums.

[Jay T]

Probably Octavarium, Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds. Although I do quite enjoy Octavarium.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Systematic Chaos, Black Clouds & Silver Linings, A Dramatic Turn of Events