Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds are for me by far the worst albums by DT. Every other album by the band I have enjoyed. Those 2 albums showcase the state of the band at the time, and that was a band being de-railed by the control freak that is Mike Portnoy. His departure has been a great thing for the band. ADTOE was a return to form by the band, so I have high hopes for the new album.
Dream Theater S/T new studio album
- Thread starter KingsGene
- Start date
lane_miller
Space Ghost
Train of Thought is my all time favorite progressive metal album and really the reason why I became a progressive metal junky. Bone crushing heaviness
, brilliant technical virtuosity 
, and emotion drenched writing make ToT a high water mark for me. I have enjoyed all of DT's releases to varying degrees and eager await this new one.
Oblivion Ocean
Member
Yeah, honestly I think this is a good sign for a band. Sure perhaps universal acclaim would be better, but how realistic is that when you a) have a career that long b) appeal to prog/metal fans that have a tendency to over analyze everything? It shows me that they are changing things up etc.
I liked SC, did not dig BC&SL and thought Octavarium was the worst thing they ever recorded by far. So, yea that is quite different than most of the opinions thus far. Having said that I really liked ADTOE, it was the band getting out from under the thumb of Portnoy and the dynamic they had established of letting him run the show. So I am really looking forward to the new album.
Sir Exar Kun
Member
Great point! Personally, I think the only "dud" of an album in their catalog is "Falling into Infinty", and even that one if you get the demo version is actually a very good disc; it got reworked so badly by the record company that the finished version is a shell of its original self.
There have definitely been tracks over the last few Portnoy discs that left me flat, but none of the albums struck me as an actual disappointment. There were always enough good songs to weigh the album favorably. "Dark Eternal Night" is the only true DOG song for me, and even that one featured a killer instrumental section at the back half that helped salvage it. The lyrics on "Nightmare to Remember" and "Tuscany" both are wretched, but thankfully I have never been much of a lyrics kind of person, so again..... No harm done.
I thought the last album was excellent through and through, but very SAFE. There wasn't anything we hadn't heard before, but it was all done at such a high level that it made up for the lack of "creativity". My expectations are through the roof for this one, and I expect them to come out firing on all cylinders. I had half-way been expecting another double disc this go-around, as I had a feeling they would have a lot of fresh ammunition and creativity to pull from.
Regardless, September 24 cannot come soon enough.
mel_progson
Member
It's interesting to read all the differing opinions of the latter albums. I'm a little more heavy handed with my opinion. I haven't liked a single album they've put out since Scenes, with the exception of Train of Thought, which was killer. I do give every new album a chance though, with the hope they reclaim some of their former glory.
AeonicSlumber
srs
- Aug 14, 2008
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haha all the ToT love is hilarious to me. I remember when that record came out, everyone accused it of being nu metal and shunned the band off. I never understood that! It remains one of my favorite DT records. Dat guitar tone. <3
Nidstang
The Melancholy Spirit
I still think Train of Thought is a try hard wannabee tough guy metal album.
It was pretty boring all around, its the only album I didn't purchase by DT
It was pretty boring all around, its the only album I didn't purchase by DT
Mardoch
Defender of the Universe
ToT is the last DT album that I can listen to cover to cover. Octavarium is 50% good, and SC and BCSL are not listenable at all to me. I gave BCSL away I hated it so much. I didn't even give the last disc a shot. It would take something rather spectacular to make me listen to them again... like an Awake II that actually sounded like the original.
Aeonic, do you think that Portnoy being jettisoned actually made the band better? Or, do you think there is something else?
AeonicSlumber
srs
- Aug 14, 2008
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I think they did make the band better from a musical standpoint, but from every other aspect it made the band worse. Mike was the most outgoing member of the band, founding Ytsejam Records for official bootleg releases, making sure to keep setlists alarmingly fresh, doing cover sets, and generally providing lots of fan-service to those who wanted it. I'm definitely going to miss that stuff - but at the end of the day I'd rather have better records if I had to pick, so I'm sort of glad portnoy is out if it means more records like the last one.
nomisofsiman
Member
I'm in this boat. The only one I for the most part can't bare to listen to is Falling into Infinity. I see what people complain about with SC and BC & SL. Neither of those albums are perfect by any stretch, but I would say they are solid. Octavarium was my first Dream Theater album and besides Scenes From a Memory, it's their best disc in my opinion.
nomisofsiman
Member
I sort of agree with this. I think with Portnoy it's two issues. 1. Most people hated the vocals he was inserting into the songs. They had no place in Dream Theater. 2. This is just my opinion, but I think with all the projects he was working on and such he rushed the music writing process.
I don't really get the hate for Systematic Chaos, which for me was the best DT album in years. Also, I find it funny people complain about the lyrics, when DT hasn't written great lyrics in years. It just isn't a strength for the band.
AeonicSlumber
srs
- Aug 14, 2008
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Most of their lyrics are/were usually about real life issues and are/were relatively good imo. They almost never ever sung about undead Pharaoh mummies or monsters/demons or whatever. Super out of place and generally poorly written. "The Count of Tuscany"? Are you serious? That sounds like the name of a Halloween special at Olive Garden.
Except for the Systematic Chaos backing vocals, I never really had a problem with his vocals. But yeah, on SC they were pretty cringeworthy. I think I remember them being equally bad on Black Clouds, but I'll need to revisit that one.
Except for the Systematic Chaos backing vocals, I never really had a problem with his vocals. But yeah, on SC they were pretty cringeworthy. I think I remember them being equally bad on Black Clouds, but I'll need to revisit that one.
Justin G
Member
ToT was love at first listen for me. After 6 Degrees I was just happy to hear simpler, heavier metal.
Justin G
Member
edgeofthorns
24 Hours Ago...
I liked ToT a lot as well. I haven't been able to really get into anything they've put out since that release. As for Falling Into Infinity, I love that album! They went a different direction and they executed it perfectly.
~Brian~
~Brian~
Disagree about falling Into infinity, love that album. By far their most underrated album. Songs like Hell's Kitchen, Lines in the Sand, trial of Tears and New Millennium are some of the best songs the band has ever written
Azrael LenGraden
Lake Of Fire
SavaVIDude
Savatage Fanatic
Funny how different tastes are here. I & W was my favorite DT album for a looooong time. Then, came SFAM and THAT was my favorite. Then, BC & SL came out and that is my favorite. IMO, it is the heaviest DT album and I can't hear "Nightmare to Remember" enough!!!! I didn't like a number of DT albums (especially SDofT - didn't even buy Octavarian), but they are still one of my favorite bands. I like the Mangini album pretty well, but preferred the heavy DC & SL. I go see them live every time they are here just to be marveled by Mr. Petrucci!!!
Chris
Chris
