BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS

After two years since their previous effort (Systematic Chaos), the Theater of Dreams returns with this "Black Clouds & Silver Linings". This was a really anticipated album for me (and for the majority of the prog-metal community). What I was expecting was a return to their more progressive roots while keeping a bit of the metallic edge found on Train of Thought and on SC. What I found here instead is a confused and uninspired mess. Everything, from the horrible growls of portnoy on "A nightmare to remember" (portnoy singing?? c'mon...) to the Iphone solo on "A rite of passage" seems so out of place. It's just like they've decided to take inspiration from the modern way of metalheads, blending elements from other bands to renew their sound and recurring to the Iper-speed playing to provide for the lack of inspiration and ideas. In this Theater of Decadence the real stars (negatively) are James LaBrie and Jordan Rudess. Let's face it, James's voice is probably gone. There's no sign of good vocals in this album, every single line seems forced, out of place and just doesn't fit the music. The utterly cheesy lyrics (never been so cheesy on any DT's album) just don't help LaBrie to reach the sufficiency. Sorry James, I just loved your voice even on SC, but this time I just can't stand it. While the lack of good singing it's forgivable thinking about the fact that James is now 46, what is really unforgivable is Jordan Rudess. I often find myself skipping song after song because of the clownish sounds that Jordan uses. Just listen to the beginning of "The Count of Tuscany" or the terrible solo of "A rite of passage" to understand what I'm saying. Even When Rudess tryes to be more romantic and naife, like in the beginning of "The Best of Times", he ends to be just cheesy. I know that one of the most discussed topics in DT's history is the eternal fight between Kevin Moore's fans and Rudess's ones, but after this record I'm sure that the first one had the prog- metal attitude and the emotional songwryting that Rudess will never have. I cannot say anything about Jordan's technical skills, that are just amazing, but if you are so good why you cannot write good music also?? This line fits perfectly also for the other musicians and for their uninspired performances. The only song that I wish to save is "The Shattered Fortress", that is a good ending for the AA Suite,recycling some parts from the other four songs in the saga while adding some tasty riffs (the Petrucci's ones). So in the end here we have probably the biggest letdown of the year, and I'm so disappointed because I've always considered them one of the best groups in the world and also because there are so many other 2009's releases that deserve a major attention and glory. (Klisias's "Cybion", The Mars Volta with "Octahedron", Vanghough with "Manikin Parade", Devin Townsend with "Ki", Mastodon's "Crack in the Skye" and so on...)

2/5 = 4/10

PS. sorry for my bad english, but I'm Italian and this is my first review on this site and also in a foreign language ^_^