Review : DREAM THEATER – “Black Clouds and Silver Linings”

Dream Theater – “Black Clouds and Silver Linings”
released June 23, 2009 on Roadrunner

The tenth studio album from the first word in prog metal is drenched in death; an exhausting and challenging endeavor that is ultimately satisfying once it processes. Their darkest album to date is also their most unified body of work since Awake, and a return to form following the more accessible execution of their last effort, Systematic Chaos.

DT invokes symphonic black metal––complete with pummelling blastbeats from Mike Portnoy––for the first time in their storied career on the opening track, their heaviest and most successful song this century. The lead single follows, and manages to stay epic in half the time, with a sinister performance from James LaBrie. They work through a surprisingly convincing ballad (“Wither”) and the welcome conclusion to the ‘A.A. Saga’ (“The Shattered Fortress”), before unfurling the first of two Rush-worshipping tracks. “The Best of Times” has some sweet “Spirit of Radio” riffing at the three-minute mark, and I believe “The Count of Tuscany” may live in “La Villa Strangiato” (though it sounds like they travel to “Xanadu” about eleven minutes in).

True, the lyrics must constantly be a forgivable offense (and Portnoy really needs to reconsider his growls), but to quibble is to ignore the grander picture: these modern masters have recorded a future classic.

A Best of 2009 pick!
FCC OK
Try *1*, 2, 4, 6

01. A Nightmare to Remember
02. A Rite of Passage
03. Wither
04. The Shattered Fortress
05. The Best of Times
06. The Count of Tuscany

Rating: