I won't breach that subject in this review. Instead, I'll focus on post-Portnoy Dream Theater and how this album stacks up against the rest of the band's catalog.
I have to admit I'm a big fan of Mike Portnoy. Not only is he a legendary drummer but he's also a genuinely nice guy, at least that's the vibe I got from him when I met him earlier this year after the Neal Morse show in Denver. It's a bit strange to hear a Dream Theater album without him in it. It's almost like being friends with your best friend's ex - you still like the person but you can't help but feel like you're betraying your friend.
That being said, Dream Theater is still made up of world class musicians who are at or near the top of the heap in their respective milieus - John Petrucci, John Myung and Jordan Rudess - plus you can't leave out James LaBrie, who has proven he can handle the task of carrying an entire album through his solo work. So there's no lack of talent in this band. And Portnoy's replacement, Mike Mangini, is a seasoned professional who has the technical chops to fit in with the rest of the band.
And what they came up with is unmistakably Dream Theater. It's melodic progressive metal performed by musicians who are masters at that genre. The album starts out strong. The first three tracks - "On the Backs of Angels," "Build Me Up, Break Me Down," and "Lost Not Forgotten" - are classic Dream Theater and hold up against anything else in the band's past. There are some noticeable differences from past albums, though. First off, John Myung's bass is much more prominent in the mix. For as good as he is, he was always drowned out among the swath of guitars, keyboards and drums, and it's nice to really hear him on this album. And while LaBrie's voice has mellowed with age, he still shows a good dynamic range despite not being able to hit the high notes like he has in the past.
The drums on the album are put much further back in the mix. Perhaps this was done on purpose so as not to bring too much attention to the fact that Portnoy isn't there anymore, but it's enough to affect the sound of the songs. Mangini is a fine player, but the drums lack the same punch as past Dream Theater albums and is something that's missing from A Dramatic Turn of Events. The songs were written before Mangini joned the band, so maybe the next record will see more of his influence, but on this record, the drums just aren't as good as they've been with Portnoy.
Portnoy's departure also means that the other band members had to step up with lyrics. Mostly, they work, although much of the subject matter deals with quasi-Christian spirituality, which has almost become a cliche in modern progressive rock. There are also a few songs whose lyrics are more strained, notably "This Is the Life," which sounds like it was written by a teenager and whose lyrical melody seems forced. The song itself isn't really memorable, and probably could've been left off without anyone missing it. The same can be said for "Far from Heaven." The lyrics are forgettable and the song doesn't really shine. I know it's commonplace among progressive bands to fill almost every second of an 80 minute CD, but it's a practice I don't agree with as it means songs that should remain on the cutting room floor end up making it on albums and sounding like the filler they are.
The rest of the songs, though, are gems. Along with the first three tracks, "Breaking All Illusions" is a standout. And "Beneath the Surface" is a great closing track with an analog synth solo that would make Keith Emerson proud. Throughout the album, Rudess brings out the classic prog sound, relying heavily on organ and analog synth sounds along with classical piano movements. Also missing from the album are Portnoy's guttural barks that, let's face it, he wasn't really good at anyway. Dream Theater are more progressive and less metal without him and this album is all the better for it.
Dream Theater have emerged from their own dramatic turn of events to put out a strong album that solidifies their position as the masters of progressive metal. The album is a statement that they're more than just Mike Portnoy and they will do just fine without him. Despite a few hiccups, they've put together one of the best prog metal albums of the year and one that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with anything else in there repertoire. A Dramatic Turn of Events gets 4 1/2 stars.
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