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Black Clouds and Silver Linings – Dreamtheater

The precision with which progressive metal stalwarts Dreamtheater play their compositions isn’t something unknown. Had these guys not been making music, they would have been involved in some hallowed scientific or engineering pursuit, where exactitude is the key parameter for execution – quite possibly. Crafting meticulously timed melodies has been Dreamtheater’s forte. Their previous album “Systematic Chaos” may have digressed from their standard fare, but “Black Clouds and Silver Linings” promises to take their stature to another level. DT has mostly enjoyed a cult status, and it doesn’t seem they are unhappy with it either. After all, an album which has most songs crossing the fifteen minutes threshold doesn’t do much good in the name of radio and chart friendliness these days. The epic duration of the songs allow them to play out to their (and the fans) content, with each band member exemplifying some mammoth musical finesse in their contributions. Portnoy, apart from being the time keeper, lends his voice in the form of syncopated growls on some tracks, acting as the perfect foil to LaBrie’s soaring vocals. Petrucci on guitar and Rudess on the keys are who lead from the front on most tracks. Both of them showcase some blistering solos, kickbacks into unison, and getting back onto shredding apart the music, literally. Myung, as always, continues to provide that foundation on his bass guitar for the song structure. Multiple time signature changes abound the album, which never allow you to reach that zenith of pleasure. It rather shifts direction just before each zenith to result in successive peaks, all aggregating into an entire range of gratification.