The first and only disappointment you experience when you unpack the 3-CD edition. The single syllable pieces jumbled a counter in cardboard sleeves. If you remove this and the successful booklet out of the box, it feels like having a poorly cemented cheap cardboard in his hand. While the price for the offered equipment is okay, but I'd rather pay a few euros more, rather than be put off me with a so shabby packing for my part. Fortunately, the presentation of the album is not necessarily indicative of its musical quality. The co-founder, innovators, pioneers and legends of the prog metal genre playing in its 24th year, progressive metal at its best. The in the recent past, not always successful integration of new elements no longer affects attached or copied brash, but blends harmoniously into the already extensive finally sound cosmos of Dream Theater a. The single "A Rite of Passage" has already made it clear that Portnoy & Co. are not willing to renounce growls and gloomy hardness, does not imply yet been compared to the "Systematic Chaos" (2007) quite as great cover -Artwork that Dream Theater this year play no flowers-prog-metal. "A Nightmare to Remember" will start immediately by a monumental intro before the song is whipped aggressively over the remaining distance, and quiet parts in between some nice take out the tempo and provide variety. While I do not perceive him at the first listening test properly, my attention was drawn the second time to the great chorus. "A Nightmare to Remember" is already more of a song, as it was most of the pieces on "Systematic Chaos" - and is therefore the motto for the whole album. Does the mentioned single had me convinced in advance. Nothing has changed. On the contrary: "A Rite of Passage" I think of all the catchy songs that have been written in recent years, Dream Theater, for the best. Even more so than the relatively discreet thrash elements precisely no longer a 1: 1 copy clearly sound of Metallica, but every second by Dream Theater. With "Wither" is found below in comparison with "Forsaken" significantly tastier ballad, which is due in particular to the lack of a similar pesky refrain. This shows once again that LaBrie by no means is a bad singer but that music and singing just have to be well coordinated. That was in the past few years not always the case, is possible in this album but consistently excellent. "The Shattered Fortress" is basically no new composition, but a series known Dream Theater - riffs -and melodies. Although this is so wanted because it "makes alcohol hollow pear" the conclusion of Mike Portnoy's private - Saga is, but does not change the fact that it is thereby entitled to lack autonomy, which is why he keep up my opinion with the rest of album not quite can. The absolute highlights have lifted Dream Theater again for the showdown. "The best of times", the melodic side of the band to the forefront. Here prove Dream Theater, that they can also play longtracks without instrumental excesses. In addition, since the hardness of very marginally fails, it is in "The Best of Times" basically an epic semi-ballad. The bird shoot Dream Theater from the final "The Count of Tuscany". 19 minutes Progressive Metal at its best. To me it did to the enormous spherical passage in the last third of the track above all. This leads after a few minutes in chilling guitar sounds over which lays LaBries warm vocals. If then uses even graceful keyboard playing and provides a low-tuned guitar for relining, is clear: "The Count of Tuscany" is the greatest, what have fabricated Dream Theater since "Scenes From A Memory" (1999). A Song to marvel. Large progressive art! Overall acts "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" compact and closed as "Systematic Chaos". Clear structures and compositions with recognizable feature of the album and likely (not just me) for significantly more in Rotierungen Player worry than with the not bad (just completely different) "Systematic Chaos". With "A Nightmare to Remember", "A Rite of Passage", "The best of times" and About Hammer "The Count of Tuscany" are four reservations for the next best of it. Since the non-best-of-suspicious residual "The Shattered Fortress" composed only of the pleasant ballad "Wither" and the lack of news is not entirely successful, I think the term exceptional album for more than justified.
In addition to the main work of the here discussed version is still a CD with instrumental mix of the album and another bonus disc with six cover songs of Rainbow (Stargazer), Queen (Tenement Funster / Flick of the Wrist / Lily of the valley), The Dixie Dregs (Odyssey), zebra (Take your fingers from my hair), King Crimson (Larks Tongues in Aspic Part 2) and Iron Maiden (To Tame A Land) at. This can, as is the case with most just cover songs, not compete with the originals. A worthwhile complement, they represent yet.
