Once again, the band redefined. If Dream Theater are one, then you definitely champion reorienting. "Octavarium" has up to 2, 3 exceptions (notably "The root of all evil", the driving "Panic Attack" and) and hardly anything in common with the ultra-hard last album "Train Of Thought". Also one can draw no clear comparisons to another album by the band. Somehow a bit of everything here. The melodies of "Images And Words" (see: "These Walls"), the change from "Scenes From A Memory" (see "Sacrificed Sons"), the orchestral sounds of "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (CD2)" (see "Sacrificed Sons", "Octavarium" (and the mentioned hardness of "Train of Thought". Dream Theater unite on "Octavarium" any items that have been tried and win their sound still new facets from. And to the extent that the work much more open, positive and sometimes more pop acts. An "I Walk Beside You" you have not heard before from Dream Theater. A maximum of U2. Would it be a U2 single, they would be highly likely to be very successful. Frickelorgien there in the sense no. At least none that stand out annoying. All instrumental excesses fit into the songs. So the prime example of a detailed longtracks "Octavarium", said a long title track does not reach the class of "A Change of Seasons". Dream Theater will present on their 8th studio output even more progressive metal at a high level. Except for "The Answer Lies Within" there is no failure to report. In return, however, also lacks a really outstanding highlight. One of these Momemente where you aufhorcht and the album has immediately fallen in love, lacking in my opinion. "Octavarium" can therefore produce no emotional attachment, as was the case with "Images and Words" and "Scenes From A Memory". However it is also far from soulless technique masturbation. A halfway house. Neither genius nor mediocrity. Somewhere in between, the album ranked qualiativ equal footing with works such as "Awake" and "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" a. A little creeps one the impression that the band had achieved everything you can achieve musically in prog metal. The question remains, where the band actually still want to go. "Octavarium" shows convincingly but indecisive. It will be interesting what the band has still in store. Usually, should appear on the next album after "only" very good CD is a masterpiece. Until then, "Octavarium" a successful discovery of one's own music remains.
