Album Rating: 5.0

^^Perhaps the most essential cog of the three.



Band never topped Images and Words and Awake, and never will.

Album Rating: 5.0

agreed....that songwriting will never be topped



i was hoping the song writing would get a jump start with portnoy being back in the mix (present day), but nah its the same level as their previous 3 records or so

Album Rating: 4.5

^agreed, I think if anything has taken a step up with Portnoy’s return it’s the production. Much more organic than their last few. The writing is mostly what we’ve come to expect though

Album Rating: 5.0

The singularity that set the band's current level songwriting-wise, was the drummer auditions wherein Mangini was picked over Minnemann.



On another note, just heard the singles of the new album, an easy 3+, due to huge distance from the classics.

Album Rating: 5.0

Will expect to 3.5 the new album.

Album Rating: 5.0

Probably yeah

Could be a 4 if they keep the cheese to a minimum

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah, the new album definitely seems like it'll be a solid 3.5 based on the singles. I have high hopes for the closing epic though

Album Rating: 4.5

3.5 is where most of their albums fall these days, so I'm fine with that

Album Rating: 5.0

Yea, 3.5 sounds likely, if they keep LaBrie's singing at a minimum

Album Rating: 5.0

I like all the singles. I'm also expecting for the closing epic. The album maybe a 4 to me. We'll see.

Album Rating: 5.0

The epic needs to be good. Especially after the bomb that ended AVFTTOTW.

Album Rating: 5.0

The singles are fine, respectable efforts. There’s just no magic to them. Probably because no Kevin Moore

Album Rating: 5.0

I never thought that about the absence of Moore. But maybe you're right. Still, I'm one that loves the keyboard work of Rudess. He is an amazing keyboardist but probably too much technical and less emotive than Moore.

Interesting point of view, mate.

Album Rating: 5.0

My take may be more correlation than causation but it’s as simple as Images and Awake kill everything else this band ever did afterwards. The only change was Kevin Moore. Even When Day and Dream Unite is underrated in my opinion.

Album Rating: 5.0

Agreed with When Day And Dream Unite. An underrated work, indeed.

Album Rating: 4.5

WTF Portnoy's back? When did this happen!? Yeah I knew this timeline was already sketchy but this just confirms it. This most certainly did not happen in 2023 or I would have been made aware of it.

Album Rating: 4.5

And just when I was taking solace in the fact that I saw one of his last shows at the tail end of the BC&SL tour. Smh.

Album Rating: 5.0

yeah he's back but you wouldn't know it by just simply listening to the new songs

Album Rating: 5.0

I like the new tracks with Portnoy more than the stuff with Mangini, still it’s underwhelming.

Album Rating: 5.0

Jamming Scarred after so long, what a beautifully constructed track. Perfect ‘breathability’ for an 11 minute track.



Bass is *chef’s kiss, Petrucci’s tone and playing is so perfect, Kevin’s intelligence and variety in his keyboard sounds fits like a glove (that Hammond Organ tone is UGHHHH so good), and LaBrie sounds great