OCTAVARIUM

I've listened to this album several dozen times already and I still want to listen more! Since Jordan Rudess appeared in the band, DT have never repeated themselves and Octavarium is no exception. After a concept, an excessive and a metal album here we are: the new effort is all about songwriting. Forget about shredding madness and ten- minutes instrumental sections. Everything is in right proportions here. Actually, the album is heavier than I thought it would be, but this isn't the bad side. Songs like The Root Of All Evil, Panic Attack and These Walls are some of the best headbangin' tracks the band has ever written, while I Walk Beside You and The Answer Lies Within are great slowdowns and Never Enough gives some really fresh feel (this song is about the fans that are never satisfied with the band, no matter what they do). Anyway, the highlight of Octavarium is definitely the last two epics. Sacrificed Sons tells about the 9/11 tragedy and features the best James LaBrie's lyrics ever, hands down. Great soloing and creepy vocals. And the title track is completely and totally mindblowing. It lasts 24 minutes which is more than their legendary A Change Of Seasons (although it's obvious that they added that extended SOYCD-style intro just to make the track longer than ACOS). I'm not sure if it's better (quite a thing to surpass!), mainly because it is very very different. The song flows in a more mellow style, with some really fast and heavy moments near the end, and seems like some pleasant dream. The only minor drawback I've noticed about this album is the mix. As far as I know, Kevin Shirley wasn't mixing this time and here's the result: vacal volume is too low in places; guitars and keyboards fade from time to time (great news for shred-haters!). But this surely can't spoil this record! Bottomline: probably not 'Scenes from a Memory', but definitely one of the best albums by Dream Theater and another masterpiece in my collection.