avelanchefan
05-29-2005, 10:57 PM
The new CD will not be released until June 7th, but it has been leaked on the internet, and I was able to get a copy early. (I Have it on pre-order) This is an 8 song set that takes the listener on one hell of a ride.
Track 1: "The Root Of All Evil"- This song is a continuation of the AA saga that Mike Portnoy has been writing over the last 3 CD's. ("The Glass Prison"-Six Degrees, and "This Dying Soul"- on Train of Thought) The first two songs covered the first five steps of alcoholism, how many steps this covers I have no idea, but the song is just fantastic. Hard riffs, and great drumming....classic DT.
Track 2: "The Answer Lies Within"- After the hard start this song really slows the tempo down. I am not big on DT ballads, but this one is one of the better one's in recent memory.
Track 3: "These Walls"- After the mellow melody, DT comes back strong on These Walls. The band takes a little different direction with this song. Has a great melody, but Jordon Rudess (keyboards) really shows his diverse playing. This is a fantastic song, so much so that it could be a radio hit, if properly edited.
Track 4: "I Walk Beside You"- Here I was thing "great another ballad" when seeing the name of the song. I was so shocked at what I was hearing. Being classic DT they give tribute to another band with their playing style. They never come out and say it, but you hear the resemblence in playing. This one is no different, but surprisingly DT gives tribute to Van Halen. If they would have thrown Hagar behind the mic, you would have thought it was Eddie and the boys. It was a great effort, and a good song.
Track 5: "Panic Attack"- Now after the surprise by the last song, classic DT comes rearing it's head again. This is one kick ass song. So fast, then slows the pace just a bit during the singing, but when James is silent the pace is so in your face. It makes you want to bang your head until you can no longer handle it. [:0]
Track 6: "Never Enough"- I have yet to give this song a chance, I really have not formed an opinion on it. It's just a different direction on it. It reminds me a bit of Queensryche. That is not a bad thing, but the song has surprised me by the sound of it. Obviously by my writing you can tell that this one has me stumped.
Track 7: "Sacrificed Son's"- This song pays tribute to the victims of 9/11. The opening of the song you hear news clips of the reporters who were watching the whole thing unfold in front of their eye's. Some powerful words. As for the song, it starts off fairly slow, but towards the middle the pace quickens and takes the song on a whole different direction. It was a great change of pace and make the song worthy of multiple listens. The song clocks in at nearly 11 minutes.
Track 8: "Octavarium"- Now after approximately 54 minutes of prog rock bliss the title track literally picks you up off you feet and makes you wonder what the hell just happened. Even if you did not like what you heard the first 54 minutes this song would make it worth the wait. Clocking in at a full 24 minutes (that's right 24 minutes!!), what a way to end a fantastic CD. I do not want to say anything about the song, because if you ever get the chance to listen to it, you would understand why. I do not want to diminish the impact the song has with words.
But lets just say if this is DT's last CD, and Octavarium is their last song...wow, what a way to go out!!
9 stars out of 10. The VH tribute, and the strangeness of Never Enough brings it down a star.
Track 1: "The Root Of All Evil"- This song is a continuation of the AA saga that Mike Portnoy has been writing over the last 3 CD's. ("The Glass Prison"-Six Degrees, and "This Dying Soul"- on Train of Thought) The first two songs covered the first five steps of alcoholism, how many steps this covers I have no idea, but the song is just fantastic. Hard riffs, and great drumming....classic DT.
Track 2: "The Answer Lies Within"- After the hard start this song really slows the tempo down. I am not big on DT ballads, but this one is one of the better one's in recent memory.
Track 3: "These Walls"- After the mellow melody, DT comes back strong on These Walls. The band takes a little different direction with this song. Has a great melody, but Jordon Rudess (keyboards) really shows his diverse playing. This is a fantastic song, so much so that it could be a radio hit, if properly edited.
Track 4: "I Walk Beside You"- Here I was thing "great another ballad" when seeing the name of the song. I was so shocked at what I was hearing. Being classic DT they give tribute to another band with their playing style. They never come out and say it, but you hear the resemblence in playing. This one is no different, but surprisingly DT gives tribute to Van Halen. If they would have thrown Hagar behind the mic, you would have thought it was Eddie and the boys. It was a great effort, and a good song.
Track 5: "Panic Attack"- Now after the surprise by the last song, classic DT comes rearing it's head again. This is one kick ass song. So fast, then slows the pace just a bit during the singing, but when James is silent the pace is so in your face. It makes you want to bang your head until you can no longer handle it. [:0]
Track 6: "Never Enough"- I have yet to give this song a chance, I really have not formed an opinion on it. It's just a different direction on it. It reminds me a bit of Queensryche. That is not a bad thing, but the song has surprised me by the sound of it. Obviously by my writing you can tell that this one has me stumped.
Track 7: "Sacrificed Son's"- This song pays tribute to the victims of 9/11. The opening of the song you hear news clips of the reporters who were watching the whole thing unfold in front of their eye's. Some powerful words. As for the song, it starts off fairly slow, but towards the middle the pace quickens and takes the song on a whole different direction. It was a great change of pace and make the song worthy of multiple listens. The song clocks in at nearly 11 minutes.
Track 8: "Octavarium"- Now after approximately 54 minutes of prog rock bliss the title track literally picks you up off you feet and makes you wonder what the hell just happened. Even if you did not like what you heard the first 54 minutes this song would make it worth the wait. Clocking in at a full 24 minutes (that's right 24 minutes!!), what a way to end a fantastic CD. I do not want to say anything about the song, because if you ever get the chance to listen to it, you would understand why. I do not want to diminish the impact the song has with words.
But lets just say if this is DT's last CD, and Octavarium is their last song...wow, what a way to go out!!
9 stars out of 10. The VH tribute, and the strangeness of Never Enough brings it down a star.