I guess it was inevitable that MP would rejoin Dream Theater at some point. I mean, if you are totally cynical, you can look at the last couple of DT albums and say they haven’t been up to standards, that the attendances may not of been that great, and that they needed something to boost their creative juices. A lot of the press and blurb that appeared before the album’s release mentioned that this record was a follow up to where they left off after MP’s last album with the band (2008’s Black Clouds And Silver Linings). But, I’m not sure that’s the case. This is a very slick and polished record, maybe too much so, whereas Black Clouds was quite a heavy affair, but I do get the point they are trying to make.
There is the usual awesome musical interplay between Petrucci and Rudess which, since Jordan’s arrival in the band, has been a highlight for me, but it’s Petrucci who is the star of the show here. I know all eyes and ears were on Portnoy to see what he was going to inject back into the band but I have to say, he is quite restrained for the most part, but Petrucci on the other hand is just incredible.
I know you may need a lie down here, but the “ballad” Bend The Clock is my favourite track. Petrucci’s solo starts at about five minutes in and goes to fade out, it is breathtaking. So much tension, feel, and emotion in the song, and the picking is so clean I’m just in awe. No one else can inject so much emotion into their playing and at the flick of a switch be one of the best shredders around.
I am pleased that they are “back,” and it’s their best album since Black Clouds that’s for sure, but if you’re a DT fan there is a lot of recycling of melodies and lines from past DT albums. I’m not sure if that was intentional or not but I’ll leave that as a quiz for you all. Anyhoo, I do like this album and maybe you will too.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
