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Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events



7.7 | 893 votes |
Release date: 7 September 2011
Style: Progressive metal

Owners:

726 have it
90 want it
1 trades it


01. On The Backs Of Angels
02. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
03. Lost Not Forgotten
04. This Is The Life
05. Bridges In The Sky
06. Outcry
07. Far From Heaven
08. Breaking All Illusions
09. Beneath The Surface

Additional info
Notes:

* The limited Deluxe Collector's Edition of A Dramatic Turn of Events includes a second disc with instrumentals of all the tracks.
* "Bridges in the Sky" was originally titled "The Shaman's Trance".
* A Dramatic Turn of Events is the first Dream Theater album to feature lyrics by bassist John Myung since "Fatal Tragedy" from Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory.
* Paul Northfield is credited for the spoken words in "Breaking All Illusions".

Staff review by
Daniell
Rating:
5.8
It seems that something like that must have happened eventually. Mike Portnoy is gone, and A Dramatic Turn of Events is the first occasion for the metal community to find out how Dream Theater fares without their co-founder and co-leader. Let me tell you straight away that it sucks. It sucks much more than I feared it would having heard the first song off the album, whose name I won't even bother to mention. Why would I want to waste time typing names of crappy songs?

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published 21.09.2011 | Comments (186)

Staff review by
Dream Taster
Rating:
7.9
There is no denying Dream Theater has been an enormous influence on progressive music for the last two decades. Every new release of theirs usually generates a buzz among fans and media alike. But since founding member, natural leader and revered drummer Mike Portnoy left the band unceremoniously last year, the free press the band is getting has been off the charts. After an overly publicized series of auditions whence drumming instructor Mike Mangini came triumphant, expectations were at an expected all-time high. A lot of doubts and uncertainties were lingering in the air. So what? You ask. Well, it all depends who's giving you the answer. Reviews have been split across the internet spectrum. But since you're stuck with me, here are my thoughts.

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published 02.11.2011 | Comments (28)

Guest review by
Roman Doez
Rating:
5.0
Dream Theater is my favorite band. They've been for a while now. However, a lot of people classify their music as mindless wankery and dislike them because of that, and while it's true that their 2000's releases to some extent fall in that category, for a long time I never really could understand what made that so unappealing to some. However, after hearing this album, I instantly knew what they meant. Following the pretty good Black Clouds And Silver Linings, which was a huge step up from the very mixed Systematic Chaos and Octavarium, it seemed like everything was going great again for Dream Theater. However, the departure of founding member Mike Portnoy left them in quite a weird spot; he had been one of the lead writers for two decades and was one of the pillars behind their success. The band now had to prove themselves capable of writing great stuff without him, using their new drummer Mike Mangini. And I'm gonna be honest, they did anything but succeed.

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published 29.12.2020 | Comments (52)

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Comments: 164   Visited by: 1823 users
09.09.2011 - 15:46
Yavanna

I have listened to it several times, and really, is not such a great thing... Is not a letdown because I expected nothing from this album
I mean, is not bad, but is not good either. The long songs sounded quite boring to me, it's different from the "old" DT
Anyway, didn't liked it
----
Carry me to the shoreline
Bury me in the sand
Walk me across the water
And maybe you'll understand
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09.09.2011 - 15:47
Rating: 9
Mohamads7

Same as before in this album D.T started a new concept.
I'm so happy that they are still creative.
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09.09.2011 - 20:31
Rating: 9
The Benighted

Probably their best album since the second Metropolis release. I'm sad to see their new drummer pushed back in the mix because of the rest of DT's wariness, but he's a good fit here and in general the lack of Portnoy has decreased the pretentiousness of the material. It's more cohesive and generally consistent than the last couple releases and in general this is a solid release.
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Learn to adapt to the change, or get washed away like tears in the rain.
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09.09.2011 - 20:56
Rating: 7
Risto
Wandering Midget
Written by Daniell on 09.09.2011 at 15:14

Oh, "Build Me Up, Break Me Down", "This Is the Life" and "Far From Heaven" are absolutely terrible, pathetic attempts at radio exposure.

So you like "Breaking All Illusions" but dislike "Far from Heaven"... You might have something to pursue between these two songs because they're musically connected.
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09.09.2011 - 21:20
Rating: 5
Daniell
_爱情_
One is an ambitious song with many layers, another is a simple bullshit exercise in musical mediocrity. Even if they do share some musical similarities, I don't enjoy them to the same extent.
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09.09.2011 - 23:10
Rating: 5
Acidjunkie

Just finished an almost complete listen to thisalbum. I have to agree with Danlel. Aside from more adventurous songs like "Lost Not Forgotten" and "Breaking All Illusions" there is nothing I would like to listen to again. Most of the rest seem mediocre fillers to me, why anyone would tag them as progressive metal is beyond me.
As mentioned almost complete listen, because I skipped half of "Bridges in the Sky'" and "Far From Heaven". Both horrible tracks, reminds me of cheesy Italian 80's rock, ugh.
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11.09.2011 - 06:06
Rating: 8
BaneConall
Fart Enthusiast
I found it a bit more interesting than Black Clouds and Silver Linings. Lets see if it holds up.
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12.09.2011 - 03:46
Rating: 6
Opethian

Why does everyone always compare to 'Older Material" ? Embrace is the word i suppose.
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12.09.2011 - 11:22
Rating: 6
RockeRoy

Sounds like there is alot of different opinions on this album.. better check it out for myself and find out the truth;)
----
You found god? If nobody claims him in thirty days, he's yours

Walk with me in hell
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12.09.2011 - 11:47
Rating: 5
Acidjunkie

Written by Opethian on 12.09.2011 at 03:46

Why does everyone always compare to 'Older Material" ? Embrace is the word i suppose.

Not comparing it to older material. I don't even know all the Dream Theater Classics. Just not impressed by this album. Of course, feel free to disagree.;D
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12.09.2011 - 14:31
Rating: 8
truenoacero

This album is the DT's comeback to their roots, and they cannot do it better. A great album from beginning to end. 8/10
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12.09.2011 - 23:54
Rating: 5
Fat & Sassy!

Jesus Christ, guys. Such a lame release. And I swear, James's vocals on Dream Theater's albums have started to annoy me so much that I can't enjoy the songs at all unless he's not singing. Whatever this band used to do for me, they have completely stopped doing it with this album.

Written by BehzadSh on 09.09.2011 at 00:14

Somehow it reminds me "Awake" album, maybe I'm wrong


Wait. What? God no. It does compliment that album nicely in terms of the title. They should have called this new album Sleep! >:[

EDIT: Breaking Illusions has its moments though. I mean, so do other songs, but it's not enough to keep me awake and attentive to the music often enough.
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13.09.2011 - 01:44
Rating: 7
Metal_4Ever

Written by Yavanna on 09.09.2011 at 15:46

I have listened to it several times, and really, is not such a great thing... Is not a letdown because I expected nothing from this album
I mean, is not bad, but is not good either. The long songs sounded quite boring to me, it's different from the "old" DT
Anyway, didn't liked it

Yeah me too
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13.09.2011 - 23:09
Rating: 7
Parasomnia

Written by truenoacero on 12.09.2011 at 14:31

This album is the DT's comeback to their roots, and they cannot do it better. A great album from beginning to end. 8/10


I completely agree. To me, it's Dream Theater's return to being a progressive rock band, who use metal the same as any other influence. Best album since Metropolis Pt. 1, imho.
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14.09.2011 - 03:47
Rating: 8
godisdead

Jesus christ what the hell is with the low scores. Progressive rock? What the fuck is wrong with you? Awake was definitely metal and even their recent albums are great compared to the commercial shit thats coming out of europe and america.
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14.09.2011 - 09:19
Rating: 5
Daniell
_爱情_
Written by godisdead on 14.09.2011 at 03:47

Jesus christ what the hell is with the low scores. Progressive rock? What the fuck is wrong with you? Awake was definitely metal and even their recent albums are great compared to the commercial shit thats coming out of europe and america.


Jesus christ what the hell is with your stupid post. Some people like the album less than you. You fail to grasp such an idea. What the fuck is wrong with you?
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14.09.2011 - 09:42
Rating: 6
R'Vannith
ghedengi
I have to say I thought that bringing in a new drummer might shakes things up a bit, but this is very much 'heard this before' material for me.
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14.09.2011 - 16:24
Rating: 9
jhook

Just got this, acutally sounds quite promising, "build me up break me down" was a great song... if this ends up living up to the low ratings im going to be very sad
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14.09.2011 - 18:49
JohnDoe
Account deleted
It's funny to see people saying they didn't like the album but still rate it a "7".

I liked the album, it's not great, it's enjoyable, much better for me than their previous 2 albums. Breaking All Illusions is the highlight for me, a very pleasant surprise, one of the best songs they have ever done.

My biggest complaint about the album is that Rudess is all over the place, he's such a show off. The best description of his work on the new album was given by a fellow user on the romanian prog forum where I sometimes post: "Rudess is like one of those guys that gets drunk and talks too much, becomes tiring and annoying and no one knows what to do to make him stop and shut his mouth". Unfortunately I agree.
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14.09.2011 - 22:15
Being and Time

Written by Fat & Sassy! on 12.09.2011 at 23:54

Jesus Christ, guys. Such a lame release. And I swear, James's vocals on Dream Theater's albums have started to annoy me so much that I can't enjoy the songs at all unless he's not singing. Whatever this band used to do for me, they have completely stopped doing it with this album.


Yeah, I agree with you here. To me, the last time his vocals didn't bug me was...Train of Thought era Dream Theater.
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15.09.2011 - 02:56
Rating: 9
jhook

Surprising theres no review yet...
anyways i finished listening to it and thankfully i really enjoyed it. Its not the greatest thing ever but theres alot of good songs, and im glad the identity crisis of the TOT- systematic chaos era is over. Its also nice that DT is free of portnoy's annoying vocals, i do miss his drumming though.
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15.09.2011 - 07:19
Soulhole

Well at least Symphony X killed it this year...
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16.09.2011 - 03:28
Rating: 8
godisdead

Written by Daniell on 14.09.2011 at 09:19

Written by godisdead on 14.09.2011 at 03:47

Jesus christ what the hell is with the low scores. Progressive rock? What the fuck is wrong with you? Awake was definitely metal and even their recent albums are great compared to the commercial shit thats coming out of europe and america.


Jesus christ what the hell is with your stupid post. Some people like the album less than you. You fail to grasp such an idea. What the fuck is wrong with you?

My problem was that people were calling dream theater progressive rock. I mean they definitely have progressive rock elements and songs and this is a lighter album but they are a metal band. It isnt a great album (for them) but that doesnt justify rating it below a 6.
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16.09.2011 - 09:09
Rating: 5
Daniell
_爱情_
It does, because the album is weak. I rate it 6, so I'm not surprised if someone likes it even less.
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16.09.2011 - 11:07
Angelic Storm
Melodious
After putting it off for a while now, I think Im finally going to give this a listen today. lol Looking at the comments, opinions seem very evenly divided about it, so it's going to be interesting to hear what it's like! I do very much like "On The Backs Of Angels" though, so hopefully that's a good sign for the album itself.
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16.09.2011 - 11:47
Rating: 5
Daniell
_爱情_
It's in the making. As for guest reviews, you need to wait 3 months before you can publish one (provided it gets accepted).
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16.09.2011 - 11:59
Rating: 7
Risto
Wandering Midget
Written by Daniell on 16.09.2011 at 11:47

It's in the making. As for guest reviews, you need to wait 3 months before you can publish one (provided it gets accepted).

That was to my post stating I'm considering of reviewing the album, which accidentally got deleted

And that three month buffer is only in case there's no official review available, if the instructions are correct.
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16.09.2011 - 12:15
Rating: 5
Daniell
_爱情_
Yes, it's true. But the review from a staff member is coming. Not me, in case someone is worrying that I will bash the album.
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16.09.2011 - 15:46
Rating: 9
jhook

Written by Angelic Storm on 16.09.2011 at 11:07

After putting it off for a while now, I think Im finally going to give this a listen today. lol Looking at the comments, opinions seem very evenly divided about it, so it's going to be interesting to hear what it's like! I do very much like "On The Backs Of Angels" though, so hopefully that's a good sign for the album itself.


If you liked "on the backs of angels" you should like the rest of it
does "outcry" remind anyone else of metropolis part 1? soaring chorus, wanky but fun middle section, powerful ending....
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16.09.2011 - 18:27
His Eminence
Account deleted
I didn't really like this album at all. It sounds very uninspired.
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