I usually regret that posts get lost in the quantity, so I'm quite happy to see I've created a pair of answers
I guess we are going to be quieted down since we are off topic tho...
About the "lazy MP" -I felt personnally that most drum tracks were getting less and less surprising after SDOIT.
-Inspiration corner technique is the opposite of creativity to me.
That's why I got the feeling MP was becoming lazy in DT.
About the "I hope MP doesn't cripple modern DT" thing :-Modern DT is already criticized for being just a binge a repeat of chug chug, answering+unisson solo, no more risk taken with songs with no verses, rare instrumentals, rare epics, you name it.
-There is still a way to bring modern DT down to something even less surprising and appealing.
So I said I hope MP is coming with fresh ideas, because many people dislike modern DT.
As I am not expecting much, it leaves room to be happily surprised !
AVFTTOTW changed my perception of the band with MM, the drum tracks are fantastic and intricate. Who knows what the next album would have been.
Jumping on the critics wagon, I disagree about it being unbalanced :
-JR is litterally hated by people who can't stand his pig sound solos etc (I have many on the guitar discord)
-JM is criticized as a guitarist copying what JP is doing. I would hate being treated as an octave pedal !
-JLB is getting obliterated.
-JP is harder to criticize because he is feeled as the band's motor, especially producing stuff, and with things like the astonishing. On the other hand, he is expected to drop outstanding solos and he did that through all the albums...So it's hard to call his entire composing lazy.