The Astonishing
by Dream Theater
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 76
  3. Negative: 6 out of 76
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  1. gprison
    Feb 10, 2016
    4
    I think every DT album has a great opening, at least the 10 first albums got it, but
    The Astonishing is really an album with no glow, an album perhaps made for new fans or
    just for who likes progressive rock, because for those who really like heavy metal, man, this is a boring album, without passion. I don't know what's going on with DT, but they really need to restart and maybe don't    I think every DT album has a great opening, at least the 10 first albums got it, but
    The Astonishing is really an album with no glow, an album perhaps made for new fans or
    just for who likes progressive rock, because for those who really like heavy metal, man,
    this is a boring album, without passion. I don't know what's going on with DT, but they really
    need to restart and maybe don't think like a rock star, because albums such Coma Ecliptic are a thousand times better than "this Astonishing".    … Expand
  2. TDA
    Feb 4, 2016
    5
    I may have to listen to it again but, as a longtime DT fan, I found this album to be kind of difficult to sit though. It was very long without much variety in sound or style (variety in style is something that has always made the band great in my mind) and didn't hold many memorable moments that I wanted to listen to over and over. Usually when I listen to DT albums I find dozens ofI may have to listen to it again but, as a longtime DT fan, I found this album to be kind of difficult to sit though. It was very long without much variety in sound or style (variety in style is something that has always made the band great in my mind) and didn't hold many memorable moments that I wanted to listen to over and over. Usually when I listen to DT albums I find dozens of musical passages that I end up going "MAN! THAT WAS SICK!" and rewind that 12 second passage over and over because it blew my mind. I can honestly say that that did not happen once with this album. I came into it really eager to sink my teeth into some meaty DT musicianship and songwriting, I ended up still very hungry. I own the album and am proud to support the band still but I have to be honest and say that this album just isn't an album ill be singing the songs to or humming the melodies at work. In fact, at the end of the album I thought to myself "If I knew DT was coming to town to play a show and knew ahead of time that they were playing this album in its entirety and not playing anything else, I probably wouldn't go." And that makes me sad because they are truly my favorite group and some of the most talented guys out there. Still waiting for the next SDOIT,Train of Thought, Awake, Metropolis 2 or Octavarium. Those albums blew me away. Those albums had balls even when they were being soft, those albums were albums I could show my music buddies and I could say "dude, you wanna hear a bass solo? i'll show you a bass solo!" or "Listen to these crazy changes, Like what kind of freaks are these guys?" If this album was 1/2 as epic as John Petrucci's beard I would have loved it, well on the bright side, I still have John Petrucci's beard to idolize!… Expand
  3. CardboardBox
    Jan 31, 2016
    4
    "The Astonishing" takes the irksome nuisance that has been John Petrucci's knack for religious platitudes and makes it the crux of bloated double-disc LP. If you like ham-fisted soap opera plots with religious overtones presented as a bloated two-hour marathon, "The Astonishing" is for you.
  4. Danm95VFF
    May 9, 2016
    5
    This album is the proficiency of Dream Theater taken to a rather self-indulgent extreme. There are some nice melodic musical passages that take you back to albums such as Images and Words or Scenes of a Memory, but compared to the band's earlier work, it's very underwhelming and there's not enough that really stands out to me across this 130 minute mammoth to demand repeated listens. It'sThis album is the proficiency of Dream Theater taken to a rather self-indulgent extreme. There are some nice melodic musical passages that take you back to albums such as Images and Words or Scenes of a Memory, but compared to the band's earlier work, it's very underwhelming and there's not enough that really stands out to me across this 130 minute mammoth to demand repeated listens. It's worrying that albums such as SoaM and Octavarium were able to pack three times the impact and emotion in one disc than this album could in two. I was hopeful that the band could remain strong and consistent in quality following Portnoy's departure but their sound just feels cheapened now. There's little in the way of atmospheric diversity here, which doesn't help John Petrucci's case as to why people should make more time for music. I praise singer James LaBrie for trying to bring out the best of the crazy bloated storyline, but I can't say the same for all of the other bandmembers; the rhythm section does not stick out to me as being well utilized either.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - 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
  1. Record Collector
    Feb 1, 2016
    100
    With seamless storytelling through its 34 songs, magical moments of intricate instrumental interplay abound, magnified by an orchestra and massed choirs, while a template for the staging of a musical production sees the principals realising a grandiose next-step in their creative development.
    Read full review
  2. Kerrang!
    Jan 29, 2016
    80
    An epic adventure that is, in every single way, truly astonishing indeed. [16 Jan 2016, p.51]
  3. Rolling Stone
    Jan 29, 2016
    70
    The results won't please every Dream Theater partisan, nor will they convert the skeptical. But it would take a hard heart to deny Petrucci, co-composer and keyboardist Jordan Rudess and their mates credit for the boldness of their aspirations and the assurance with which they achieve them.
    Read full review
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