New CD: Octivarium
Despite the fact that they're the band "everyone loves to hate," I've been a fairly content Dream Theater fan since they got Jordan Rudess in 1999. They released their eighth full-length studio album this week (conveniently titled "Octivarium"), and after having listened to it several times, I'll say that it's pretty good overall.
I wouldn't have even brought it up, though, except for the fact that it's not from the standard prog-metal mold that the last few CDs have been. Many of the tracks are almost "Muse" like, which is a sound that I know a bunch of the groovers on this board are fans of. The 24 minute-long title track is pleasantly trippy, and has -- get this -- no crunching guitars.
At the end of the day, I still think "Scenes From a Memory" is a peak that will not be topped, but I think "Octivarium" will be much more popular.
I wouldn't have even brought it up, though, except for the fact that it's not from the standard prog-metal mold that the last few CDs have been. Many of the tracks are almost "Muse" like, which is a sound that I know a bunch of the groovers on this board are fans of. The 24 minute-long title track is pleasantly trippy, and has -- get this -- no crunching guitars.
At the end of the day, I still think "Scenes From a Memory" is a peak that will not be topped, but I think "Octivarium" will be much more popular.