Dream Theater’s tenth studio release titled, “Black Clouds & Silver Linings” finds the band as uncompromising as ever with four tracks 12 or more minutes long. The disc as a whole has a great combination of aggression and melody. I normally don’t review cds on a song-by-song basis, but since there are only six songs, it makes the most sense.

 

A Nightmare to Remember - A haunting, desolate piano melody begins this song. Seconds later the band comes crashing in! This is one of the heaviest songs DT has written in years. Drummer Mike Portnoy’s aggressive vocals fit one section of the song (much to some of the fans dismay). The sound effects add another dimension (siren, car brakes, EKG machine, etc.). The twist in the middle of the song is a slow, melodic section that’s absolutely beautiful.

 

Rite of Passage - I heard this song on the band’s website before the cd was released. I immediately knew that their latest cd would be something special. Rite of Passage has an exotic groove. The verse sections are pretty intense. The chorus compliments the verse. This song offers arguably the most memorable chorus on this cd. Keyboardist Jordan Rudess has some blistering solos. He utilizes some patches that sound otherworldly…

 

Wither - This is an amazing ballad that moves and keeps your interest. Vocalist James Labrie shines on this piece. The lyrics are thought provoking. This is one fo the few songs that bassist John Myung can be heard. This has to be my favorite DT ballad since Hollow Years.

 

The Shattered Fortress - This is the final chapter in The Twelve Step Suite. It deals with Mike Portnoy’s personal struggle with alcoholism. Recurring themes that are heard on this song include passages from: The Glass Prison, Repentance, and The Root of All Evil. Portnoy’s drumming is one of the highlights. This song offers one of John Petrucci’s best guitar solos (it’s on par with Under A Glass Moon and Lie [take a listen at 9:54]).

 

The Best of Times - Upbeat and tense are two words that are rarely used within the same sentence. The Best of Times has both elements. The violin playing caught me off guard (but in a good way). It’s obvious that Petrucci and Portnoy spent some additional time on their vocals (the back ground vocals sound better than usual). The outro guitar solo is breathtaking.

 

The Count of Tuscany - Coming in at 19:18, this is the unequivocal epic. This is officially my new favorite DT song (witnessing the band play it live could have swayed my opinion J While the lyrics fall short compared to Learning to Live or Scarred, it excels in all other aspects. The clean guitar intro creates a unique atmosphere. After a few measures, the layers build. The musicianship is limitless. The guitar and keyboard interplay is sheer brilliance. The chorus is powerful and contagious. The section in the song where the guitar is strumming and the vocals are quiet displays DT’s ability to use dynamics at the right moment. Once, I listened to this song three times in one day. I heard something different each time (there just aren’t many bands that can do this).

 

My only real issue with this cd is that bassist John Myung is practically buried in the mix (it’s not the first time). With that aside, this is DT’s strongest effort since Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (at times, I feel that ‘Black Clouds’ is more interesting than ‘Six Degrees’).

 Rating: 9/10

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