Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Does this album holds to it title? How is it? Haven't heard a single note.
What do you say?

It is certainly a departure from the everything they've done post octavarium

The sound and style of the album reminds me very much of the disc long title track to six degrees of inner turbulence. A little too much filler, but some solid tracks. This one is really going to be like time release medicine, I don't think I'll be able fully decide on it till I've had multiple listens.  I will say this however, this is overall one of James finest vocal performances post '95, an instant highlight for me. 
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Just bought it yesterday and am importing it to the computer as I type this. Can't wait to dig into it! Though I hope it's a lot better than the last album, which I was not impressed with.

I can assure you this one is a wholly different beast than the last album was.

DevZor wrote:I can assure you this one is a wholly different beast than the last album was.

Is that a good or a bad thing?

I can't answer that for you, . There are times when I'm just dying for a hook.  Other times I'm totally immersed in the sounds vibe of it. Anybody looking for a reslly heavy record will be very dissapointed, it's overall vibe is very soft.

It's kind of funny, for as overblown and and ambitious as the astonishing is it also features dream theater at some of its most restrained. The traditional DT tropes of instrumental shredding, and extended prog-metal jams are actually very far and few between.  

A new beginning is amazing. An instant classic.