BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS

I know DT since "Images and Words", but I am not a DT die-hard fan and I can understand why some progheads underestimate and bash this Dream Theater's last album. Well ladies and gentlemen DT gives us a real and authentic Progressive METAL work, and I underline Metal. Precisely I love Systematic Chaos, because is straight, hard and powerful metal, in fact the all lauded and praised "Scenes from a Memory" didn't stick so quickly on my taste, but everytime I listen to more prog I appreciate a lot more the non-so-metal-and more prog DT albums. But hey, I eat Hard Rock and Metal since 17 years ago, so when I listened this masterwork called "Black Clouds And Silver Linings" I couldnt believe my ears, DT rock as hell. This is without a doubt the heaviest and darkest effort to date, and of course we can say it's not the more original, but know what? I don't give a damn, because they deliver as brilliant as always. Heck, they can play polka and it 'll be a classic; maybe Metal, more than Prog, needs more this kind of solid and powerful masterpieces. Now, I 've got to say that LaBrie sounds to me less annoying, ( I liked him in MullMuzzler's "Keep It Yourself", though) but sometimes I wonder what if DT had another vocalist.

The only fly in the soup is what others have said: the growls! sorry, but If I want good growls I listen to my glorious Death Metal records, and I think that mix it with progressive is not a good result. That's why bands like Opeth don't stick hard on me. So please no more growls, DT don't need them.

The special edition is a delight. Just for the Queen's "Tenement funster - flick of the wrist - lily of the valley" medley is worth it. Has anyone covered these great pieces before? Wait, Maiden?, Rainbow? oh boy, DT, you made my day.

To sum up, this is an excellent album that maybe appeals to metalheads more than die-hard progheads, because is very, very heavy and darker than ever before, but hey there's still soft melodies and progresiveness. No track is disposable and "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" deserves a spot in the masterpieces' throne, although old progheads and close minded die-hard fans don't think so.