Label: Roadrunner Records
Release date: 12.09.2011
Producer: John Petrucci
Album length: 77.05 min
Genre: Progressive Metal
Dream Theater are the kings of a seriously seductive and technically demanding corner of music. When it comes to exploring and pushing ideas, nobody in the progressive metal world has done more. 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 some help from outside collaborators, they have a big say in how their records sound. The telling title A Dramatic Turn Of Events of course hints at the replacement of a founding member, drummer Mike Portnoy, with Mike Mangini, an established name on the scene. There are several reasons behind Portnoy’s departure, but the main one is supposedly that he proposed a five-year hiatus, which the rest of the band turned down. Still, losing one of Dream Theater’s key songwriters set off a lot of speculation, not just about who would replace him but about what the new music would sound like. The new drummer was picked back in November last year, but his name was only revealed this April. Soon after, Portnoy piped up and asked to come back, but it was too late. The music stayed unmistakably theirs: a powerful rhythmic-melodic foundation, virtuoso guitars and keyboards, and an expressive voice. Guitarist John Petrucci has become the main lyricist — he’d done some of that before, but it’s clear he’s now the boss of the band too. Singer James La Brie chips in a few times, but mostly he rounds out the epically convoluted songs with energetic vocals.
Those of us who’ve followed their path closely may sometimes get the feeling that they’ve overdone the record releases a bit over the last 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 often don’t dwell in resignation and hatred of corrupt world leaders, Dream Theater are tailor-made. New drummer Mangini didn’t take an active part in the songwriting this time, so maybe we’ll get more from him next time. He’s stepped into big boots, and if you listen closely, there’s nothing to blame him for. His playing is solid and punchy, maybe too dense at moments, but hey, that’s progressive metal. The album title obviously alludes to the drummer swap, though the band defends itself by saying it’s more about noticing the changes in society and in individuals, which can be physical or psychological. Maybe you buy that — I don’t….
The music fills the entire possible length of a CD, yet it contains only nine tracks. One of the shorter ones is This Is The Life, a meaningful, reflective snapshot of what we are, what we aren’t and where we’re headed. Complex compositions have been Dream Theater’s trademark since their beginnings in the late eighties. Good examples are On The Backs Of Angels, Bridges In The Sky and perhaps most of all Breaking All Illusions, which grows a grandiose musical forest out of a simple theme.
If the previous album Black Clouds And Silver Linings was already a bit limp idea-wise and the guys needed some fresh air, the new music, despite the different lineup, is honestly satisfying. Change happens everywhere, and nothing lasts forever for Dream Theater either. In the past they’ve swapped out two keyboardists and one singer, but four members have been together for more than twenty years, which is quite an achievement. With facts like that, the well of musical inspiration should be getting drier year after year. But Dream Theater aren’t experiencing that at all. A river of ideas finds its place on their records every two years, which of course delights their loyal followers.
The playing is still flawless, with otherworldly fast passages breaking against calm piano and guitar embellishments, then plunging back into a murderous 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 and not just from plastic boxes. So Dream Theater have brought home another album that’s solid and maybe more approachable than the last one, but going forward they’ll need to think hard about how to channel their ideas into music that isn’t overly stifling. The hardest part is figuring out how many extreme moves suit which part of the loyal audience. They’ll also have to watch what even their otherwise loyal ears can still take. For now, the new record A Dramatic Turn Of Events still works as a herald of progressive musical ideas.
author: Jernej Vene
rating: 8.5 / 10
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
Lineup:
James LaBrie – vocals
John Petrucci – guitar
Jordan Rudess – keyboards
John Myung – bass
Mike Mangini – drums
