Metal Reviews

I agree with Radagast in that Dream Theater does not strike me as a "heavy metal" band in the normal sense. I think they are more closely linked to a band like Rush, who kind of flirt with metal and hard rock, but can't really be defined as either.

I definitely agree that they usually aren't very good at being heavy. I still like some of their newer stuff though, especially Train of Thought. I even thought Systematic Chaos was decent.


Top 3:
1. Scenes From a Memory
2. Images and Words
3. Awake

Bottom 3:
1. Octavarium
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Systematic Chaos

despite being their third worst, Systematic Chaos is still worth listening to I think.

I find Systematic Chaos a lot more enjoyable than Octavarium and Falling Into Infinite.

Exact same order as me, although I think Images & Words may replace SFAM in the top spot...but anyways, I'd say I like those three about equally. I also agree about Systematic Chaos being better than Octavarium (I dont have Falling into Infinity). The only song I bother listening to off of Octavarium is the title track, while most of Systematic Chaos is pretty good.

But anyways, I thought Dream Theater did a great job on heavy with Train of Thought, although not so much on Six Degrees and Systematic Chaos. As I Am and This Dying Soul are two of my favorite songs by them and also two of their heaviest. Other heavy songs like Beyond This Life and The Mirror are also some of their best, so I wouldn't agree that Dream Theater don't do heavy well.

I respect their ability and live they are awesome. But since SFAM they have lost something. There are still some gems amongst their newer albums but overall they are not as good.

I agree something's been lost in their newer albums. Based on some things I've seen and read, I believe James is only in DT half-heartedly nowadays, which comes across to me in some lifeless performances on recent albums. I also don't think they sound right when they try to be really heavy on some newer songs. It worked back on Awake when they were younger. Now it sounds like great musicians who know technically how to play heavy but just don't "get it" anymore. They were my favorite band for years, but I don't even own anything past Scenes from a Memory.

I would like to see them go back to sounding like they did instead of like so many other bands.

ALRIGHT

I've listened to Dream Theater way more now, and I ate some Images and Words to digest. I still found Systematic Chaos to be rather mediocre, but the more I listened to the other albums, the more I caught onto their brilliance.

I still don't understand songs like Honor Thy Father from Train of Thought, and the quick talking parts are kinda weird, along with the lyrics in general.

I found Images and Words my favorite (obviously).


ALSO

I picked up the Liquid Tension Experiments, and that shit is pure awesome opossum.