New Dream Theater Album
 

I was appalled. It sounds like the soundtrack for a bad musical. Maybe they were trying to achieve the theatricalness of King Diamond or something but sort of a failure . . .
Thoughts?

Yep, there's a new Dream Theater album alright.

Compared to the other modern albums we've been getting since Systematic Chaos, I thought this was was good even without the story. Dream Theater has needed to change their style a little for a long time. You can only sound like Pink Floyd meets Queensryche for so long before it gets tiring. This one was different. Dream Theater was at their best during the 90's.

I have a review on the album in my 2016 journal. That might interest you.

They've needed a dire change in sound since 1985.

To me these guys are the definitive example of what Frownie said in another recent post (no idea which post it was) about how technical proficiency does not necessarily equate to high art. Portnoy is a beast on his kit, Myung utterly destroys me on bass, Sherinian or the other guy (I lost interest a long time ago) just shred all their chops, I don't care, it's just calisthenics, it's boring.

Beat me to it.

God Dream Theater are bad.

I personally thought their 2013 self-titled album marked a resurgence for them, but evidently not. The Astonishing seems like a series of poorly sung and written eighties ballads. At least the new album means they're going on tour again--the only good thing about them nowadays.

Yeah, at least then you know where they are and you can steer clear

I don't know of any guitarist more proficient at shredding than Petrucci. I'd go just to see him.