Dream Theater Octavarium
Atlantic Records Atlantic 83793-2 June 7th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Before the proverbial leakage, I thought Id be facing a triumphant follow-up to the great Train of Thought. Now that Ive fully experienced Octavarium inside and out I realize that Dream Theater have disappointed for the umpteenth time in their career. In a nutshell, their 2005 piece is sort of like Falling into Infinity with more integrity, and I was stunned when I wasnt impressed by any of the instrumentation, which is an attribute I remain fully cognizant of at all times.
The positives traits of Octavarium, worth mentioning, are few and far between. Most of the music found within the aforesaid is seemingly dumbed-down, and the group has lost their overriding penchant for heaviness. Some individuals detest the wankery of Dream Theater, but Ive always enjoyed marveling at the groups incredible abilities. However, the record Im listening to right now is devoid of the bands usual representation as dull riffs, lackluster drums, and (predominantly) weak songs rule the day. The Root of All Evil is a sequel to This Dying Soul (Train of Thought), which is a sequel to The Glass Prison (Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence). Ultimately, the tune is forgettable, though the reoccurring lyrics work very well. As per quota, the listener receives mellower tracks in The Answer Lies Within and I Walk Beside You. I find the aforementioned utterly useless as I do with, well, castrated Dream Theater, except for the incomparable Space-Dye Vest (Awake). I didnt bat an eye at These Walls, due to its banality, but Panic Attack is where things begin to look up. The latter commences with instrumentation that recollects System of a Down; it quickly skirts its influence, though, and morphs into familiar form. Never Enough and Sacrificed Sons dont possess the supernatural gifts it would take to save Octavarium from its self-defeating plight. The title-track, Octavarium, harbors the exemplary characteristics, and at twenty-four minutes contains all that a long venture should. Without a doubt, Octavarium is the centerpiece of the record whether it desires to be or not.
It may seem like Im ragging on the proggers pretty hard here, but there are several reasons why Im critiquing them so harshly. I own their entire discography and they were my favorite band, like, five years ago, which means Im comfortable with their material. Hands down, theyve coined stuff superior to this. If you dont mind the masturbatory instrumentation, seek out Images and Words, Awake, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, or Train of Thought. While you do that, Ill go ahead and group Octavarium with the more undesirable releases of their catalog: When Dream and Day Unite, A Change of Seasons, Falling into Infinity, and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. Bah, screw all the extraneous live albums, singles, and miscellany.
7/10
Official Dream Theater Website
Official Atlantic Records Website
Atlantic Records Atlantic 83793-2 June 7th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Before the proverbial leakage, I thought Id be facing a triumphant follow-up to the great Train of Thought. Now that Ive fully experienced Octavarium inside and out I realize that Dream Theater have disappointed for the umpteenth time in their career. In a nutshell, their 2005 piece is sort of like Falling into Infinity with more integrity, and I was stunned when I wasnt impressed by any of the instrumentation, which is an attribute I remain fully cognizant of at all times.
The positives traits of Octavarium, worth mentioning, are few and far between. Most of the music found within the aforesaid is seemingly dumbed-down, and the group has lost their overriding penchant for heaviness. Some individuals detest the wankery of Dream Theater, but Ive always enjoyed marveling at the groups incredible abilities. However, the record Im listening to right now is devoid of the bands usual representation as dull riffs, lackluster drums, and (predominantly) weak songs rule the day. The Root of All Evil is a sequel to This Dying Soul (Train of Thought), which is a sequel to The Glass Prison (Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence). Ultimately, the tune is forgettable, though the reoccurring lyrics work very well. As per quota, the listener receives mellower tracks in The Answer Lies Within and I Walk Beside You. I find the aforementioned utterly useless as I do with, well, castrated Dream Theater, except for the incomparable Space-Dye Vest (Awake). I didnt bat an eye at These Walls, due to its banality, but Panic Attack is where things begin to look up. The latter commences with instrumentation that recollects System of a Down; it quickly skirts its influence, though, and morphs into familiar form. Never Enough and Sacrificed Sons dont possess the supernatural gifts it would take to save Octavarium from its self-defeating plight. The title-track, Octavarium, harbors the exemplary characteristics, and at twenty-four minutes contains all that a long venture should. Without a doubt, Octavarium is the centerpiece of the record whether it desires to be or not.
It may seem like Im ragging on the proggers pretty hard here, but there are several reasons why Im critiquing them so harshly. I own their entire discography and they were my favorite band, like, five years ago, which means Im comfortable with their material. Hands down, theyve coined stuff superior to this. If you dont mind the masturbatory instrumentation, seek out Images and Words, Awake, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, or Train of Thought. While you do that, Ill go ahead and group Octavarium with the more undesirable releases of their catalog: When Dream and Day Unite, A Change of Seasons, Falling into Infinity, and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. Bah, screw all the extraneous live albums, singles, and miscellany.
7/10
Official Dream Theater Website
Official Atlantic Records Website
I also forgot to recommend the latest from Circus Maximus and Shadow Gallery, over Octavarium, for our friends that like prog. 
