A Dramatic Turn of Events Review

Track Listing:

1 – On the Backs of Angels – 8:43

2 – Build Me Up, Break Me Down – 6:59

3 – Lost Not Forgotten – 10:12

4 – This Is the Life – 6:57

5 – Bridges in the Sky – 11:01

6 – Outcry – 11:24

7 – Far From Heaven – 3:56

8 – Breaking All Illusions – 12:26

9 – Beneath the Surface – 5:26

Dream Theater has always had a flair for going over the top. Whether it be their carousel of live music they play at every venue, or their penchant for going off script and playing impromptu jam sessions live, DT has always managed to keep listeners on their toes. At least, that’s the way Dream Theater used to be. Their efforts since Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence have been spotty, but they’ve seemed to have settled into a less progressive, more straightforward metal band. That is, until Mike Portnoy left the band. It was a huge question mark on how his departure would affect Dream Theater’s overall sound, and now, with the release of A Dramatic Turn of Events, it’s clear which direction they’re headed.

In short, A Dramatic Turn of Events is a true return to form for Dream Theater. This is less Train of Thought and Systematic Chaos and more Six Degrees and Awake. That being said, they’ve seemed to have found a happy medium between the odd-meter crunchy prog music that made them famous and the more metal sound they’ve adopted in recent years.

The intro track, “On the Backs of Angels,” perfectly shows the veins of classic Dream Theater. All instruments playing at varying rhythms to create a perfect wall of sound is what Dream Theater of old does best, and it shows here, with a mix of the new metal they’ve picked up over the years. Rudess brings a wide variety of soundscapes to DT like never before, as the electronica grind to “Build Me Up, Break Me Down” is unlike anything they’ve ever produced, and is a welcome addition. He also shows off his classical piano skills in the track “Far From Heaven,” a straight-up ballad if there ever was one.

 “Breaking All Illusions” is a ride that can’t be missed. It starts with the most distinctive John Myung bassline since “The Glass Prison,” the song journeys from progressive to metal to old-school prog to a blues jazz and back to an odd-meter riff, all in the matter of minutes. “Bridges in the Sky” is similarly epic, hosting one of John Petrucci’s most mind-bending solos in a decade. Rudess also gets to bring back the vaunted “snarling pig” keyboard patch, a sound that needs to be heard to be believed.

Dream Theater’s newest effort is their most balanced to date, featuring equal parts crunchy riffage and soaring solos mixed with contemplative lyrics and atmosphere that’s moodier than any music they’ve ever produced. Half a point is deducted because James Labrie is still the lead singer, and he simply can’t sound decent without heavy, heavy voice effects.

Rating: 9.5/10

Standout Tracks:

On the Backs of Angels
Bridges in the Sky
Breaking All Illusions

– Smola