DT is the only metal band besides Metallica that I keep up with, and while I dig a few songs on each album, I generally get bored with the new DT albums rather quick. The new album seems better than the previous MM albums, but I'm already over it. Haven't listened to AV in a few days and don't have any desire to listen again soon. Honestly, with the exception of BC&SL, it's been like that since Systematic Chaos. I enjoyed ADTOE the longest when it first came out, and still enjoy it though I don't listen to it often. It's more like a coda to the Portnoy era than it is the beginning of the Mangini era. I like a lot of bands and artists who evolve and DT was once one of those artists to me but they've stagnated by their own standards to my ears. Each album since 2011 to me is an industry standard DT sound. There are different presentations of it, yes, The Astonishing has some things that were different for the band, but stylistically the band hasn't expanded their sound or brand since Systematic Chaos, and I think TA was a flop. If they came back after with another attempt at something different, I bet it would have been better than DoT or AV, as these last two albums are safe albums by DT standards. Good, but safe. I enjoyed AV the most since ADTOE, but that is because I went in with low expectations (and the production values surely helped) but it does seem like they put a little elbow grease into the new album. I can see revisiting this one every once in a while, maybe. I'm just disappointed that the band is where they are at musically at this point. The 7 album run from IaW-Octavarium is unmatched by most bands and artists out there.