Not a fan anymore.
Back in the day when I first discovered them (summer of 95, saw Take the Time on MTV - imagine that), thus discovering progressive metal/rock, I declared Images and Words to be the greatest album in history. I still stand by this statement. When Dream and Day Unite is on a solid 2nd place (DT-wise, not in history
), but I felt it went downhill with Awake and then onwards. Scenes from a Memory holds a few really positive parts, like 1928 Overture and Strange DejaVu plus some other bits here and there, but for me it ends there.
The worst thing I know about these bands is how they claim to have "matured". I saw an interview with DT after the shows they did for the A Change of Seasons-EP-thing, and I think it was Myung that said that they had matured now. Matured how? Why does it mean that when a band "matures" they have to put in that "#¤% seventh string and make all dark and monotonous "chugga-chugga" riffs. People say "'cause that's what's metal". Well, if that's metal, what were the fresh and exciting and last but not least MELODIC(!!!) parts and riffs from Images and Words? Pop? Jazz? Hardly..
Naturally, I understand that bands don't want to make the same record over and over again - we all know how many Images and Words-clones there are out there and how bad many of them are. But still, where does it say that at some point, they have to "grow up" and not have the somewhat youthful and "explorative" approach they had before? Did it all go downhill for Dream Theater when Kevin Moore left? I feel it did, because all the really good melodies disappeared. Everything they've churned out since then (apart from said pieces off of Scenes but those are spawned from the original Metropolis pt I) is repetitive, boring and nowhere near as grand as it used to be.
So for the new album, sans Mr Portnoy: First off, I know all about his role in the band and that without his dedication, (which, let's face it, was without a doubt the best any bandmember has ever done for their band - at least that I can think of), they probably wouldn't be where they are today. But at the same time I saw his departure as a fresh start for the band. Sadly, I was disappointed - again! Ok, there are some parts here and there that are good, I especially enjoyed (hey, I'm not all negative) "Breaking All Illusions", it has a very positive feel to it - for me at least. But other songs, many of them contain the "ok, we have to have some weird, proggy things in here, it's mandatory! let's go nuts!" -parts. They can be ok, but I feel that here they just sound misplaced.
All in all; a small step in the right direction - let's hope the next one will be bigger!
Granted, I have no musical credibility whatsoever and this is all in my humble(?) opinion, so.. yea. I might as well say nothing, but I had some time to kill during my lunch-break
Oh and please excuse my use of parentheses - I just love them (
)
