Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

"No metal Dream Theater sounds like an awful Dream Theater."



Uhh, I didn't say -no- metal, listen to 'A New Beginning'! Besides, they've always had lots of sweet tunes on the more prog-rock-than-metal side of things. Surrounded, Space-Dye Vest, Hollow Years, The Spirit Carries On? You think they were awful?! Because I sure wouldn't classify em as metal



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Ya can make up your own mind as to why it's good, or not; I just want to encourage you to give it a go, because I was (finally) impressed by 'new' Dream Theater. I'm seeing so many negative reviews crop up on this site that'll be swaying impressionable people in the direction of not even listening to the album themselves. Yes, I love Portnoy too, indeed those were the best of times; but just accept that he's gone already :P Mangini's a killer drummer too, and naturally the band's not going to be the same as they used to be without MP, but they are still a band that's capable of producing something cool!

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

... I also wanna add that sure, I agree this review's not written well, and I wrote it. I ain't no writer, just wanted to splurge some of my opinions and this was a good place to do so

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

''Dream theater's good.'': Opinion. I agree.

''Dream Theater's new album is good.'' : Opinion. I disagree.

''Dream Theater's new album could be compared to The Wall, musically.'' : not opinion,not a fact. I disagree.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

A 4.5? Tha fuk

Album Rating: 3.0

"Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off



''Dream Theater's new album is good.'' : Opinion. I disagree."



Uh...

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

ha, you're right, it seems like an oxymoron. I just used the word good instead of something more intense. The line should be



''Dream Theater's new album is excellent.'' I just used a simpler word for the sake of simplicity. Besides, I think it's closer to a 2.8 or 2.7.

Album Rating: 5.0

a beautiful story !! well done dream !!

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

“Too many people are making the uninspired complaint about the playtime of this epic! You knew how long it was going to be before you got into it” Exactly! What did people expect from a 2 disc rock opera concept album from DT?

“Take an interlude between the two discs” Definitely, it’s too overwhelming otherwise.

“The trailer for this album is the funniest thing I've seen in a while.” HAHAHA yes! The trailer voice guy was hilarious! :P



Anyway, it’s finally nice to see some positive opinions! You need to touch on why this album was so great to you though. Surprised this has such a low rating, I think the album is being very misunderstood and people are not giving it the time it deserves (the first 2-3 listens I was very unsure whether I liked this or not). This needs to be viewed as Rock Opera and not Progressive Metal, and then the cheesy lyrics, greater piano presence and length makes much more sense.



For me, this is by far the most inspired DT have been in years.

Particular highlights for me:

The jazzy piano at the minute mark in ‘Lord Nafaryus’;

the wicked crazy/fun ending to ‘Three Days’;

the proggy/jazzy Yes-like opening to ‘A Life Left Behind’;

the haunting, beautiful and dream-like opening 2 mins of ‘Ravenskill’;

the piano/heavy guitar interplay of ‘A Tempting Offer’;

the stunning classical piano and bagpipe (!) solo in ‘The X Aspect’;

the groovy bass and drums over the incredible bluesy guitar solo closing ‘A New Beginning’;

the jazzy and solumn guitar solo opening ‘Begin Again’;

LaBrie’s screams in ‘The Walking Shadow’ and the intense ending;

The upbeat and catchy vibe of ‘Our New World’;

The title track’s epic conclusion that features pretty much every character.



Basically, there’s so many wicked cool parts on this and so many great melodies that if you get past the (very) cheesy story and lyrics, it’s such an immersive experience. Meh, my 2 cents anyway 

Album Rating: 2.5

now thats a post......damn right dante

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

well, it's the same nitpicking I do, this just aims to complement the album. I believe the pros and cons of this album are equal, maybe the pros are a bit more. So, my rating isn't the balances 2.5, but a mere 3.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

"now thats a post......damn right dante"



Haha yeah I didn't mean to rant but I had to give my opinion. :P Some of the overwhelmingly negative opinions seem not very objective at all. It's like people have listened to this once expecting another standard prog metal album and dismissed it straight away. Do people really think this is significantly worse than everything Systematic Chaos onwards...?



I guess this will soon drop into '2' territory. Sad really, considering the effort that went into this (story was started before the last album was released).

One of the greatest prog rock albums of the 1870s