Dream Theater is out with their new self-titled album, and it seems they have gone crazier, heavier (at the same time more progressive) and better than their many of the bests.
This album is a perfect example of what a good metal album is.
This album contains almost everything.
Mike Mangini is a beast. He has shown some most superior drumming skills. Drumming is tight.
As usual, John Petrucci is brilliant. The riffs, the solos, the shredding, all of them are just awesome.
Jordan Rudess is as good as he gets. Look out for pieces of brilliant keyboard solos, orchestra and everything else you are capable of performing on a keyboard.
John Myung, supposedly one of the best bassists today, doesnt fail to amuse either. Watch out for pieces of Bass solos as well.
I personally am not a very big fan of James LaBrie’s vocals, but this time, he’s given me some reasons to counteract that. In-fact, in the tracks “The Enemy Inside” and “Behind the Veil”, he is surprisingly good.
Lastly, you’ve also invited yourself for a Lyrical Treat with this album. The lyrics are simply too good.
Well, I have put a track by track listing down here.
1. False awakening suite– Three part track – I. “Sleep Paralysis” II. “Night Terrors” III. “Lucid Dream “
This is the most Epic intro to any DT album ever and the credit goes completely to Rudess for this track.
Its tight, thrilling, and perfectly heavy. A perfect orchestro-metallic(I like to call it that) prelude to one of the best albums DT has delivered. You can imagine some epic, larger than life events, happening around you while listening to this song. This track, though, is a departure from their previous works, but is perfectly perfect.
2. The Enemy Inside
With crunchy starting riff, double bass and heavy atmosphere. This is one of the best songs of the album. Lyrics are brilliant. They leave you spellbound. The official video of the song shows how we citizens are unaware of the contribution of the veterans and their post war lives. Labrie’s vocals are good. And just when you thought that when is the Petrucci-Rudess duo solo is going to come, it is right there. I wouldn’t say much about Petrucci’s solo. It is good, but not brilliant, not something like which we had seen in Constant Motion or Black Clouds. But quite frankly, I haven’t been able to lay my ears off this track for sometime now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kivbHHazxFQ
3. The Looking Glass
This one is a complete proggy track. Like falling into infinity, status seeker and few more. Lyrics are good and inspiring.
What more, you can hear clear bass riffs from 3.05 to 3.50 from Myung alongwith Pettrucci’s brilliant solo.The bass and rhythm set perfectly in here.
4. Enigma Machine
You dont start like that DT! The first 15 seconds of the song are rather not good (I wouldnt say bad). But who cares when its party after that. The heaviness is evident after the first few “spooky electronic bad quality sounds”. This track is completely instrumental and its got its heaviness from earlier DT albums. Be it Train of thoughts, Systematic Chaos, Black clouds and Silver linings. There’s an orgasmic drumming moment at 5.00 which leaves you speechless.
5. The Bigger Picture
This is similar to excerpts from Metropolis 2. Lyrics are even better! This is a less heavier-more progressive sounding track, and as the other tracks, this one is good too. As you go right on the time line, it gets more progressive, merrier and better.
6. Behind the Veil
The most epic track on the list.
7. Surrender to Reason
Solitary shell and six degrees and scenes from a memory and hell’s kitchen and what not, this track is a complete killer in the lot. Myung’s Bass gives you orgasmic feeling at times!!
8. Along for the Ride
The only one which I didnt find very amusing.An Average DT track. The lyrics are quite inspiring though. Whats a very good thing about this track? This DT track is easy to learn!
9. The Illuminatiion Theory – Five Part – I. “Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire” II. “Live, Die, Kill” III. “The Embracing Circle” IV. “The Pursuit of Truth” V. “Surrender, Trust & Passion “
The mammoth track. I wonder what would happen if they play this one live!! I might never get as high as I would be then! The vocals are not very catchy though. I would have wanted this completely instrumental instead. The second part of the track wants you go meditating. Its so unlike DT. It could actually be an Epic movie’s epic soundtrack, until it changes gears at around 11.00. The perfect ending to the album is the Part III of the track.
Me (Teary Eyed) : Mom, I love this album!! :’)
Of late, this is the best album that DT has produced ever. Perfect for Intoxication.
The only thing which I feel could have been better would be recording quality. This is something which I am missing from the last album of theirs. Also, Mike Portnoy’s back vocals are terribly missed as well.
Dream Theater 2013 Self Titled Album Art P.S. – The album opinion is all of my own and is not influenced from anyone in particular, except for my love for Dream Theater!!