Metal Reviews

jamming along to instrumental tracks is awesome

??? "A Change of Seasons" has a very long solo battle in the middle, and that's what makes long DT songs interesting. Whereas ACoS is not my favourite long track. That would be Octavarium, followed by In the Presence of Enemies who (is as a whole) absolut fantastic.

But I think on BCaSL the Song structures are VERY solid - more solid than ever. Sometimes TOO solid, where the surprising element is missing. I mean, progressive should not be painting by numbers, but it should bring unexpected turns. E.G. Threshold are really great, but their songs have nearly no experiments.

Just heard the whole thing, A Nightmare to Remember and Count of Tuscany were brilliant, but the other tracks were pretty boring, especially Wither. No way is this album of the year. Oh, and The Best of Times is flat out gay.

Oh, I meant TCoT has an old school sound, reminding me of A Change Of Seasons. I didn't mean it was the same in every way.

I like some of Threshold's stuff, but you're right, no surprises; just music.

A Rite of Passage put me off of this at first, thought it sounded really awkward and out of place as a DT song. Similar things happened as I sampled individual songs. 2 days ago however I finally had some time to myself and was able to just sit and take in the album as a whole and for some reason everything just clicked and sounded amazing. So far I think this album is my favorite from DT since Train of Thought (ToT is still better though).

I don't know. I liked ToT, when it was released, but I didn't knew anything else besides SDoIT. After I listened to things like Images and Words, Awake and Scenes from a Memory, ToT wasn't that good after all. Today I like only As I Am and This dying Soul and I think it is nearly the worst Dream Theater Album. Maybe because it is the least varied DT album.

On the other side, at this time, BCaSL is IMO the album of the year.

ToT is not my favorite DT album, of the new millenium however, it is. It sits in 3rd place overall after Awake and Images & Words. ToT was an odd one that took a long time to grow on me back when it came out and as it stands now I don't think there is a weak song in the bunch, my least favorite is As I Am but I still really like it (especially that solo). The instrumental is amazing and Endless Sacrifice and In The Name of God are both some of the greatest DT songs I've ever heard. At the very least we can agree that they seem to write something for just about anyone.

BCaSL so far is stuck in a tie for my number 1 of the year with Saga's new one.

ToT is the best DT album after Images and Words IMO.

Also, no way is BCaSL the best since ToT, SC destroys this one easily.

ToT is for me too boring. The spirit of DT is missing. Even Falling into infinity has more progressive elements than ToT.

Yes, SC is very good, but BCaSL has the extra DT kick. It's like comparing Awake with Scenes from a Memory. SC is heavier in general, but BCaSL sounds more like DT.

Hmm, maybe further listening is required.

Sometimes, the lyrics can just be so so bad.

In "A Nightmare To Remember," you have Portnoy doing his macho tough guy vocals saying "IT'S A MIRACLE THEY LIVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD EVERYONE SURVIVED"

??? Jesus Christ, if you're gonna be all macho and tough in a song about a violent car crash, then at least have someone die. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.

Also, in "The Shattered Fortress" you have those tough guy vocals again going like "KINDNESS!!! LOVE!!! SELF-RESTRAINT!!!"

Again, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT HOLY FUCK.

I just had to vent that. Seriously.

Besides, that, I love this album so far. Seriously, I do. It's fantastic.

LMAO - you're so right. I never thought about it like that until you mentioned it, but you're spot on.

Other than the lyrics this album is killer in my opinion. They really should encourage JM and JL to write again, but it will never happen (even Portnoy said so). Oh well, at least we have the great musical scores.

Yeah, lyrics have always tended to be DT's weak spot, and moreso on this album than ever before. Even still, this is a great album. The last part of The Count Of Tuscany (another song with "wtf" lyrics) makes me feel all tingly awesome. At this point, I'd go so far to say that The Count Of Tuscany is one of their all-time best songs.

Hey Sabja

Go jump in a fire would ya?

Do you even PLAY an instrument? Probably not. DT is a dynamic enigma. "Dicking around with their instruments" is WHAT THEY DO

Jebus cripes..