Not if you are a prog-rock fan though.
It's all here: the screaming guitar doodling, vituosic keyboard, crazy time signatures and a bizarre concept about a dystopian future without music and a band of rebels trying to defeat an oppressive regine with, you guessed it, music.
Vocalist James LaBrie might still sound like he is auditioning for Air Supply, but you have to give credit to producer and super-shredder John Pretrucci for pulling together a body of work that is insane in scope and grandeur: a prog-rock feat that should delight fans of the genre.
• Dream Theatre. The Astonishing. Warner Music .
• Three and a half stars (out of five)
Single download: Lord Nafaryus
For those who like: Yes, Opeth, Rush
- Mark Orton
