Subtle and well balanced

Some fear the orientation very "metal" that takes recent Dream Theater albums. Personally I did not like Train Of Tought more than that: the arrangements were too dense for my taste ...
It is therefore with some impatience Octavarium I expected to see which direction would take the group to renew.
Overall, I was quite surprised (for good!):
whereas Train Of Tought put forward many guitar and drums, Octavarium is better proportioned: keyboards have a more important place, the most melodic song ...
DT seems to be, according to the pieces, metamorphosing their music: sometimes play in the style of Muse (Never Enough), U2 (I walk beside you), jean-michel jarre (octavarium) or pink floyd (octavarium yet ... ).
James even takes intonations so "M" at a time!
We obviously find some guitars-keyboards duets (the solo of The Root Of All Evil for example).
Progressive fans will not be disappointed: the pieces, with few exceptions, are rather long and complex. "Octavarium", the finale, is also the gem of the album: the song starts with an intro so Jean-Michel Jarre and Pink Floyd, to chain with later (24 minutes of happiness in total).
The eight tracks largely fill the cake (75 minutes total).
This album, which Recelle many subtleties (everything seems to be centered around the number eight - 8 pieces, 8th album ...-), does not reveal so easily, and it will take several listens before you start to drill mysteries.
Only disappointment, "The Answer Lies Within", the only ride of the album, is frankly disappointing and bland ...
But otherwise it's all good!