OCTAVARIUM

1. The Root of All Evil starts off like Tool, and reeks of aggression. At times grungy and others rock n' roll. 2. The Answer Lies Within in like an Oasis song in many ways, though that is not a bad thing. 3. These Walls is possibly my favorite as it reminds, me of Marillion, especially the start. Great slab of processed commercial progressive metal (if that means anything to anyone). The guitars remind me of Steve Rothery a little here. Great keyboards too on this song. 4. I Walk Beside You is very commercial but I am always a fan of these poppy kind of songs. Everyone's said it and ME2, it's a lot like U2!! A sure song to promote DT on the radio. 5. Panic Attack is thrashy and older DT like the name suggests. Typically jerky and powerful. Will take some time to grow on me. I do like the Iron Maiden bit in the middle. 6. Never Enough is, like everyone says Muse-like. Great guitars here and drumming. 7. Sacrificed Sons is clearly close to DT's heart, especially coming from Long Island themselves. From a political point of view I hope they also come out with a song AGAINST the Iraq war on the next album. Both are as bad as each other. Song sounds poignant and often sad and drawn out. That the good thing about progressive music, the sounds also tell a story. I don't know of any DT song that is over 10 minutes long and is not good. This is no exception. The mix of fast and slow gives you the feeling of devastation and hope, but also alarm I feel. 8. The start of Octvarium sounds blatantly like Gilmore doing War of the Worlds maybe even Porcupine Tree. Then it sounds like Steve Howe with his jangly guitar. Then slow DT. Then Mark Kelly from the Clutching at Straws era. Then Progressive DT. Bumble an' all. Think I even hear Jungle Bells in there. Then DT aggression last seen on WDADU Then DT building up to the end like they normally do with the long songs. Then it ends as the CD started - Full Circle

Overall, I have only heard it 2 times so it is not a real evaluation yet, but on first impressions it is very different and more accessible. Good for new listeners. I don't think DT will ever reproduce the originality of WDADU which is clearly the best DT album. Nevertheless, this will grow as all quality albums do. The album is very techno in places which is strange. Going forward it will move DT into more commerciality which is not a bad thing when mixed with progressive music. Listen Rush, listen to Marillion nowadays, they seem to be doing it well. 1 question? Where is the instrumental? 4 stars from me, good but not perfect.