Dream Theater

Black Clouds & Silver Linings (Roadrunner)

Rating: 4 out of 5

DT continues its winning formula of multilayered prog metal, creating epic-length adventures through odd-meter mind trips and personal, reflective lyrical content. Mike Portnoy keeps pushing his drumming abilities with an aggressive, musical approach. The opener, ‘A Nightmare To Remember’, is a metric-modulation tour de force, with Portnoy’s constantly shifting double bass patterns leading the charge impressively. Another rhythmically charged collection.

—Mike Haid