OCTAVARIUM

Dream Theater, Techincally, is proabably one of the best bands ever played in the prog-rock-metal scene, the line-up of the band is really a "dream team", and the sound is also magnificent. But, as we look at "Octavarium", it is problematic. The main problem is that it sounds too much like other prog-rock bands (you can call it an influence, but it is much more in my opinion. I can only mention their second album, "Images & Words", when you can hear the influences by Rush, but it's not so radical as it is here, when it sounds perfectly like an out-take of other bands). Some examples are "Panic Attack" and "Never Enough" - when the last is almost a copy of Muse's "Stockholm Syndrome"

The worst moment of the album is "I Walk Beside You", which in my opinion is embarassing Dream & this album, as well. I must say that when i heard it the first time, i could swear it was a mistake and a U2 song has recorded on Dream's album.... But on the other hand, some tracks are really a ray of light in this dark album. One great example is "The Answer Lies Within", one of the best Dream Theater ballads ever written. It comes with striking melody & very moving writing. Other excellent track is "Octavarium" - the theme song of the album - which is one of my favorite Dream Theatre tracks, which includes a great finish with the reprise of the first track, "The Root Of All Evil", and also the opening seconds of "Someone Like Him".

There is a controversy about "Octavarium" - some will say it's the weakest, some will say it's not bad but also not very good. In my opinion, i would say it's average. Average album could get an average rank - 3 stars.