Author: Jernej Vene
Artist: Dream Theater
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release: 2011
Runtime: 77:05
Rating: 3.8/5
Dream Theater are the champions of a hugely seductive and technically demanding style of music. In the world of progressive metal, nobody has done more when it comes to exploring and delivering ideas. Judging by the road they’ve already traveled, they’re also middle-aged now. They’ve always chased sonic perfection, so it’s no surprise that, with the help of outside collaborators, they have plenty of say of their own in how the records sound. The telling title A Dramatic Turn Of Events of course hints at the swap of a founding member, drummer Mike Portnoy, for Mike Mangini, a well-established name on the scene. There are several reasons behind Portnoy’s exit, but supposedly the main one is that he proposed a five-year hiatus, which the other members of the band rejected. Still, the departure of one of Dream Theater’s key songwriters set off a lot of speculation, not just about who would replace him but also about what the new music would sound like. They picked the new drummer back in November last year, but only revealed his name this April. Soon after, Portnoy spoke up and begged to come back, but it was too late. The music remained unmistakably theirs. A strong rhythmic-melodic base, virtuoso guitars and keys, and an expressive voice. Guitarist John Petrucci has become the main lyricist, which he did before too, but it’s obvious that he’s now the boss of the band as well. Singer James LaBrie pitches in a few times, but mostly he just rounds out the epically convoluted songs with energetic singing.
Those of us who follow their path closely sometimes get the feeling that they’ve gone a bit overboard with releases over the past decade. For the die-hards, of course, even that’s not enough. A Dramatic Turn Of Events is their eleventh studio album, so they’re keeping up the pace and putting out records every two years.
The music on offer today is exceptional. For those of you who swear by technical mastery, with lyrics that mostly don’t dwell in resignation and hatred of corrupt world leaders, Dream Theater are made to order. The new drummer Mangini didn’t take an active part in the songwriting this time, maybe he’ll contribute more next time around. He’s stepped into big boots, and if you listen closely, there’s nothing to fault him on. His playing is solid and punchy, at moments maybe a bit too dense, but hey, this is progressive metal. The album title of course alludes to the drummer swap, though the band insists it’s more about noticing changes in society and in individuals, whether physical or psychological. Maybe you believe them, I don’t…
The music fills the entire possible length of a CD, yet there are only nine songs. One of the shorter ones is This Is The Life, a meaningful, contemplative picture of what we are, what we aren’t and where we’re headed. Complex compositions have been a Dream Theater trademark since their beginnings in the late eighties. Good examples are On The Backs Of Angels, Bridges In The Sky and maybe most of all Breaking All Illusions, which builds a grandiose musical forest out of a simple theme.
If the previous album Black Clouds And Silver Linings was already a little wan in terms of ideas and the guys needed an airing-out, the new music, despite the different lineup, is, I’d say, satisfying. Changes happen everywhere, and at Dream Theater too, nothing lasts forever. In the past they’ve already swapped out two keyboardists and one singer, but four members had been together for more than twenty years, which is a nice achievement. With facts like that, the wellspring of musical inspiration should be getting drier year after year. But Dream Theater simply don’t experience that. A river of ideas finds room on their records every two years, which of course thrills their loyal followers.
The music is still flawlessly played, with otherworldly fast passages broken up by calm pianos and guitar embellishments, then falling back into a killer gallop. Of course, these days that’s only tolerated from the few who can still get their albums onto the American or British charts. They can’t hold out against corporate-conducted instant pop princesses for long, but they do remind us that real music still comes from wooden instruments too, not just from plastic boxes. So Dream Theater have wrapped up another album that’s solid and maybe more approachable than the last, but going forward they’ll need to think hard about how to channel their ideas into music that isn’t overly stifling. The hardest thing is figuring out how many extreme moves suit which part of the loyal audience. They’ll also have to watch what even their otherwise faithful ears can still take. For now, the new record A Dramatic Turn Of Events still works as a herald of progressive musical ideas.
Lineup
James LaBrie – vocals
John Petrucci – guitar
Jordan Rudess – keyboards
John Myung – bass
Mike Mangini – drums
Production
John Petrucci
Tracklist
1. On The Backs Of Angels
2. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
3. Lost Not Forgotten
4. This Is The Life
5. Bridges In The Sky
6. Outcry
7. Far From Heaven
8. Breaking All Illusions
9. Beneath The Surface
