OCTAVARIUM

Man i was so syche about hearing Dream Theater making another studio album and every week i would go to their website to see what the cd would be about and well i didn't get much but hey i was patient. Anyway, WOW I must say that once again Dream Theater has made yet another great Studio Album but this time things are just a bit different for OCTARVARIUM. well first off people who say this is not a great ablum should really open their minds and realize how great this album really is as Dream Theater has not only displayed elements of prog metal but more than that as they go from old school prog rock, hard rock, pop, alternative, some funk, psychedelic, well just about everything that's in prog. its all wonderful as we start with the great heavy metal but in a way a groove rock kinda song with THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL, then with some soft piano with THE ANSWER LIES WITHIN (not a good track but hey its just one song) then you go into the AWESOME THESE WALLS one of my favorites as they display some eariler prog metal sounds, then to the very U2 inspired I WALK BESIDES YOU, then in my opinion DT's heaivest song PANIC ATTACK now if you like train of thought you'll love that song, then to another mike portnoy hate song NEVER ENOUGH which has some really good keyboard stuff to it. then to the what i would say a psychedelic hard rock sounding song that DT calls SACRIFICED SONS. really cool song as it builds up from a experimental psychedelic soft fill to an extreme metal symphonic hard rock sound great lyrics as well. BUT WAIT you also have in my opinion one of DT's best songs the oh so wonderful title track of Octavarium. and well i really have no words to say about this as you'll love the many influences made in this song not to mention how i love how it builds up. Yep this cd just about has it all plus each member does their part well. James Labrie shines once again from his very soft soothing and yet angry screaming metal vocals, John Myung really shines in this album especially at the beginning of panic attack and MEDICATE ME which is a section of the title track, Jordan Rudess IS A BEAST ON THIS ALBUM GAh he absolute owned this album, John Petrucci at the same time he does great but kinda dissappointed me for the lack of guitar solos but he does make up for it with the solos he has in this cd not to mention the great riffs he has, and plus Mike Portnoy outshines us once again by not only going over the top with great double bass and fill work but also getting into his groovy side with awesome cymbal work and great rhythms with his single pedal work as well. Let me tell ya if you some non stop great music from a lot of genres this is the album you need to great trust me its worth it. 4 stars