Distance Over Time
by Dream Theater
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
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  1. Consequence
    Feb 22, 2019
    91
    The album flow is really smooth, as focused and catchy tracks like “Paralyzed” co-exist well with songs that take longer to unfold and have lengthier progressive sections, such as “Fall Into the Light” and “Pale Blue Dot”. The musicianship is flawless.
  2. Kerrang!
    Feb 22, 2019
    80
    Sacrificing none of that trademark musicianship, this is Dream Theater at their most accessible, and they lose nothing for it. [23 Feb 2019, p.55]
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  3. AllMusic
    Feb 22, 2019
    80
    Dream Theater reaffirm their identity on Distance Over Time, displaying a collective hunger, abundant energy, creativity, and musical (re)discovery. This set should erase the schism between fans and win the band a whole slew of new ones.
  5. Exclaim
    Feb 22, 2019
    80
    Dream Theater are by no means breaking any new ground on Distance Over Time. The album pulls from the same bag of tricks as the rest of their discography. What Distance Over Time does offer, however, is that "it" factor you can't quite put your finger on. Many lifelong fans claim the band lost their mojo the day founding member Mike Portnoy left the band. If that's the case, they seem to have found it on this release.
  6. PopMatters
    Feb 25, 2019
    70
    The briskness of Distance Over Time means that the good stuff feels more concentrated, with the mediocre material mere blips on the radar. While any other band's 14th studio album might start to reveal fatigue, Dream Theater balances polish, consistency, musical excellence, and excitement on Distance Over Time.
  7. Classic Rock Magazine
    Feb 22, 2019
    70
    There are brief pit-stops for pensiveness on the whirling Room 137 and the baroque Barstool Warrior, but the dominant thread is superior thrash.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 51
  3. Negative: 1 out of 51
  1. DTester26
    Dec 9, 2021
    9
    A pretty good album. The guitar solos in Barstool Warrior and A Wit's End are absolutely amazing, and the rest of the tracks are pretty solid.A pretty good album. The guitar solos in Barstool Warrior and A Wit's End are absolutely amazing, and the rest of the tracks are pretty solid. The downside is that it doesn't have such a powerful climax like those of their legendary albums.… Full Review »
  2. Giovannov
    Aug 20, 2021
    7
    Il fallait revenir à quelquechose de plus consistant/classique après un "The Astonishing" qui, malgrès sa prouesse et sa taille, a divisé leIl fallait revenir à quelquechose de plus consistant/classique après un "The Astonishing" qui, malgrès sa prouesse et sa taille, a divisé le monde du prog.
    Le mix est plutot bon, les tracks s'enchainent bien, aucune "epic" track, bien que At Wit's end tente quelquechose à la fin.
    Dream Theater a choisit de se retrouver façon groupe d'ado à l'ancienne afin de composer cet album sous une forme de spontanéïté qu'ils avaient peut etre perdu. recherchaient-ils une cohésion perdue? qui sait?
    En tout cas cela nous donné quelques pépites, l'opening avec un catchy untethered angel, en C tunning digne successeur de l'époque As i Am (mix aux **** oignons en plus). Un Barstool Warrior super mélodique, un mood très DT late 90's avec probablement la palme du solo le plus mémorable de l'album. Paralyzed et son down tunning très lourd : efficace/ok et taillé pour du live.
    Fall into the light sera l'hommage Metallica sans aller sur le plagiat. Ils l'annoncent comme leurs single. Celle ci restera dans leurs prochains best-of à coup sur.
    Un cran en dessous j'y vois Room 137. out of reach
    S2N donne un énorme groove sur l'intro, une note de 7 cordes en prime mais n'arrivera pas à ce hisser dans les cultes.
    Pour conclure l'album, le groupe nous propose sa "proggiest" track : Pale blue dot. Pour moi c'est un echec, n'ayant pas reussit à rentrer dans le mood de celle ci. Je sais qu'elle plaira au plus grand nombre mais c'est un non pour ma part. Meme le lead de fin ne me fait pas vibrer.

    En résumé, on est à pas grand chose d'un album culte mais ce manque de prog, de track longues, de tentatives ternissent le tableau. 3 ans plus tard je ne me prends pas à le re-écouter spontanément.

    1. Untethered Angel 8
    2. Paralyzed 7
    3. Fall into the Light 8
    4. Barstool Warrior 8
    5. Room 137 4
    6. S2N 5
    7. At Wit's End 7
    8. Out of Reach 4
    9. Pale Blue Dot 6

    Total : 6,3 --> 7 pour la cohérence et le retour en force après The Astonishing    … Full Review »
  3. Odibel
    Apr 19, 2019
    6
    Short running time is a welcome given the well that is Labrie's vocal melodies dried up a long time ago.
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