After almost four decades, two Grammy Award nominations, millions of records sold and hundreds of shows performed, Dream Theater continue to approach each new record as if it were their first. On their fifteenth studio album, the upcoming ‘A View from the Top of the World’, this approach continues to prove fruitful with the New York quintet producing one of their best works to date.
Within seven tracks, Dream Theater’s exploration of the architecture of a song is once again realized. As is their gluttony for the diverse subject matter. On ‘A View from the Top of the World’, no single theme or thread interlinks this collection of songs. Evident in the dichotomy between the albums leading singles. Beginning with “The Alien”, a nine-minute, sci-fi-influenced examination of the world from an extra-terrestrial point of view. Intricate in its jovial melodies, gliding through various time signatures with the same ease as a swallow through the air, “The Alien” offers a perfect window into both the album and the band.
While a great deal of the record leans toward the more genial, syncopated stylings of “The Alien”, its second single, “Invisible Monster”, shows a flair for the musically dramatic that it would have been wonderful to hear more of on ‘A View from the Top of the World’. This mid-tempo, hook riff track offers mind-bending solos from guitarist John Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess, as singer James LaBrie tackles the monstrous topic of anxiety, and how it can plague a person. With poignant verses like “Perched on a victim’s shoulder, whispering in its ear. Things that may never happen. Worries too much to bear”, highlighting just how strong a lyricist LaBrie is.
Throughout ‘A View from the Top of the World’, Dream Theater strike a balance of flow and energy. Pieces like “Answering the Call” live up to their name as members call and respond to one another. Particularly bassist John Myung and drummer Mike Mangini, who, together on this track, materialize one of the best rhythm dynamics the album has to offer. A deliberate shift in terrain, the album’s closing number, and title track is nothing short of an epic composition sure to leave prog fans drooling. One that parks any semblance of traditional craftsmanship, spilling over the twenty-minute mark with mesmerizing ease. Which, for seasoned Dream Theater listeners who have been trained to expect the unexpected, offers a space that invites you to lay back and become submerged in the music. For newcomers who may be intimidated by such a Herculean feat of a song, it is made easily accessible by sections allowing both the music and listener to breathe.
On ‘A View from the Top of the World’, there is no conventional or chronological frame to the experience. Because it is exactly that, an experience. A journey mapped out by its trusted creators whose impeccable reputation offers an incentive to follow them down the rabbit hole. A gateway to a fluid, flowing but a purposeful album. One that chooses to be more emotional than logistical, showcasing Dream Theater at their finest.
