Dream
Theater is an institution in progressive metal, they set the bar extremely
high with their debut album 'When Dream and Day Unite' back in 1989 and have
never looked back since. Their second album 'Images and Words' (1992) is by many
considered as the cornerstone of progressive metal and the album
everything is measured up to, and in 'Metropolis 2: Scenes from a Memory' (1999)
they created what is considered as a modern masterpiece in terms of conceptual
albums. Ten years later and five albums down the line we are once more
challenged by them with 'Black Clouds & Silver Linings', because they have been
evolving and exploring new territories throughout their career and
this album
is no exception.
They are
still second to none in almost every category; song writing, musicianship,
talent and and..., but what will we remember from this album when we look back
in a few years time? That 'Black Clouds & Silver Linings' is superior to most
(progressive) metal released in the last ten years as far as technical abilities
and musicianship go and that the band sound tighter than ever, but I feel they
are still chasing their own shadows, never quite catching them. Sure they have
created awesome and innovative albums within the last ten years, 'Train of
Thoughts' (2003) is a prime example of that, but I do not think they have
reached the same extreme high level again like they did with
'Metropolis
2: Scenes from a Memory'.
I have
lived with this album for the past five month's, listening to it intensively in
the beginning and have just gone back and rediscovered it, and must admit that I
like it a lot, not quite as much as the albums I consider to be their
masterpieces. They are (still) the undisputed champions and 'Black Clouds &
Silver Linings' just another statement from them.
Am I
biased and should have been excused from doing this review? Most likely - they
are my absolute favourite band and I might not be as objective as many could
wish, but that does not change the fact that this is a great album, an album
that include one of their finest pieces ever in "The Count of Tuscany"! Not
their best album ever and it probably won't make my Top 10 this year, but
still...
