BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS

The last Dream Theater album featuring Mike Portnoy was their best record since "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" in my opinion.

So it's sad that the drummer parted ways after this album, but maybe that was the right thing to do because the music included in "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", despite its quality and being no doubt better than "Octavarium" and "Systematic Chaos", added basically nothing new in the band's career.

Nevertheless, if you like prog-metal you will easily enjoy the 6 fine tracks of the record if you can forgive the "I don't remember, I don't wanna day" cheesy lyrics, the predictable singing and the inability to explore new ways to expand their style.

Best Tracks: A Nightmare to Remember (strong and complex pure prog metal), The Shattered Fortress (some Metallica influences here) and The Best of Times (I love the Rush's feeling of the song)

My Rating: ***