Dream Theater
Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Two years after the very controversial "Systematic Chaos" was released, the 10th album Black Clouds & Silver Linings was released. What I've always liked about Theaters is that every next album is different from the previous one, but their style remains recognizable from album to album. The album contains 6 songs. It begins with a very frightening intro to the song "A Nightmare to Remember". The song itself is a mixture of black metal and progressive elements. Where the reviewer with the nickname Mifnar heard the power is not clear to me, although this fits into his review, where there is not a single rational link, but we will not leave the topic. The lyrics of the song are probably based on the personal life of Petrucci, who got into a car accident in his youth. The very tough first part of the song is replaced by a very lyrical and melodic piece. Overall, the song is very good and listens to in one breath. The next issue is the promoted "A Rite of Passage". The song is very simple in terms of structure. However, at the same time it has very beautiful lyrics and a catchy chorus. In the middle, the guys delight with a very driving instrumental part. Number 3 is the simplest song on the album "Wither". But it is her simplicity that makes a significant contribution to the hit song of this song. Under it it is quite possible to relax and think about the eternal. The most brutal song on the album is "The Shattered Fortress", which is the final part of Portnoy's alcoholic suite. It uses very actively fragments of the four previous parts of the alcoholic saga. But the theatergoers managed to perfectly combine them all into a complete song. The moment the theme from "The Root of all Evil" comes in is great. And it is very interesting to listen to already familiar fragments in an unusual arrangement. The fifth song "The Best of Times" is filled with very personal and touching lyrics. The son turns to his father, he recalls the times when they were together and were happy, but all good things come to an end. The text is saturated with sorrow, but light sorrow: “My heart is bleeding But I can take it all Your spirit guides me through life every day. " A stunningly beautiful and emotional solo perfectly complements the lyrics. Finally, the album closes with the epic creation "The Count of Tuscany", which tells the story of a man who meets a certain young, eccentric Count of Tuscany. They went for a drive in a car and arrived at the count's estate, where he introduces the hero to his brother, who seems very suspicious to him. We learn that the hero begins to fear for himself for his life from the stunningly driving and melodic chorus. At the end, the main character sits alone and tries to understand how it all happened, what he was to blame, he asks the count to explain, but he simply did not understand the count, most likely due to various cultural characteristics. In general, happy ending, everyone is happy and satisfied. Total: "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" - an ingenious album of "Theaters".

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Black Clouds & Silver Linings is not top album from Dream Theater. Less inventions, but still yet very solid, good compositions. That album I bought among last from discography. I am big fan of group and recommend it to other fans of quality progressive metal.

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