A View from the Top of the World
| Dream Theater
A View from the Top of the World
A View from the Top of the World is the fifteenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on October 22, 2021. This is their first album to be recorded at their own studio, DTHQ (Dream Theater Headquarters), as well as their first since Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009) to include fewer than nine tracks, and the first since Dream Theater (2013) both to contain a track of at least ten minutes in length and to end with the longest track. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
Show All-
Distorted Sound Magazine
While A View From The Top Of The World is yet another great record, we see where the band’s strengths lie. It is in the dark, the foreboding, and the fantastical commentary on our lives. DREAM THEATER strive to be a band which doesn’t follow the pack. In doing that, however, they follow themselves and become rooted to their own limitations, painting themselves into an impressive corner.
-
Ghost Cult Magazine
Skilful and slickly produced, A View From The Top of The World travels from minimalism to flamboyance in the blink of an eye as Dream Theater deliver one of their most rock solid records for years.
-
Metal Injection
A View from the Top of the World is a clear improvement on Distance Over Time – as well as Dream Theater – but that's about it. It goes for the same tricks and traditions that Dream Theater have drilled into the ground by now, but they still do it exceptionally well, with a few truly remarkable moments that rank alongside their greatest feats in recent memory.
-
Wall of Sound
Dream Theater are masters of prog, it’s undeniable. They’ve been killing the game since the 80s and they’re not stopping anytime soon. The composition of these songs is unbelievable and I cannot imagine the hours that went into each track ensuring transitions are seamless and that the melodies evolve in ways that honour the song’s integrity.
-
Sonic Perspectives
While this album may take a few listens to fully sync with some listeners, it largely accomplishes what it set out to do. Where on “Distance Over Time,” where the band felt internal and external pressure to return to something more concise and accessible than the massive opera known as “The Astonishing,” it does indeed feel like while the band may have had a few checklist items to scratch some creative itches, the album came together organically.
-
The Prog Report
With “A View From The Top Of The World”, Dream Theater continues to carry on their legacy as an all-time great band. While their longevity and prolific output of music is to be admired and respected regardless, DT has not only delivered once again, they have made one of the top albums of 2021. Considering the mountain of incredible releases this year, Dream Theater’s view from the top of the prog world is as epic as it ever was. Enjoy the view!
-
Consequence Sound
Dream Theater’s Prog Vision Remains Laser Focused on A View From the Top of the World.
-
Louder
Blessed with a grade-A chorus and rich atmospherics, it hammers home the self-evident truth that Dream Theater are in an extremely harmonious and creatively vital place right now. They have also never sounded better – kudos to producer Andy Sneap for a speaker-levelling mix – nor more delighted by each other’s absurd levels of talent. Not just proper Dream Theater, then, but something ever-so-slightly bigger and better.
-
At the Barrier
Housed in another superb piece of Hugh Syme artwork, A View From The Top Of The World is an an album that finds Dream Theater doing what they do best.
-
Blabbermouth
DREAM THEATER is not breaking new ground on "A View from the Top of the World", their 15th studio album. The current ground is poised to remain quite steady though should the paths explored on this and "Distance over Time" continue to be the blueprint for future work.
-
Metal Planet Music
Considering many long-running bands will have periods that divert from their usual trope, Dream Theater have for the most part stood solemnly in their own. This album will keep fans – old and new – satisfied with just enough speculative intrigueto keep them eager for the next.
-
Sputnik Music
A View from the Top of the World is an incredibly solid album that brings out the best qualities in Dream Theater’s current incarnation. Predictable, sure, but incredibly solid.
-
Blunt Magazine
A View From The Top Of The World seems unlikely to top too many lists of devotees’ favourite Dream Theater records, but as a latter-day effort from this polarising metal act, it ticks most boxes.
-
Drew's Reviews
Mesmerizing scale type chords followed by intricate guitar playing accentuated by well-placed drum kicks smother the album serving only to crush the spirit of any beginner player while aficionados will savor the varying long solos and instrumental jams in between bars of vocals that create musical mansions.
-
Metal Wani
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 purposeful album. One that chooses to be more emotional than logistical, showcasing Dream Theater at their finest.
-
Man of Much Metal
I am delighted to be able to genuinely and deservedly sing the praises of an album by one of the most important and influential bands that there has ever been within progressive music. ‘A View From The Top Of The World’ is as stunning musically as it is visually, thus creating the full package.
-
Tuonela Magazine
"A View From The Top Of The World” is a masterful mixture of musical virtuosity and emotion. That should say quite a lot, coming from someone who is not exactly a diehard fan of the band.
-
Stereoboard
Overall, this is another decent exercise in fan service that loses its lustre pretty quickly once you realise you’ve heard most of it before on better songs and albums. As with previous efforts since Portnoy’s exit, which can’t be overlooked given his concepts and penchant for risk taking, it’s hard to dislike ‘A View From The Top Of The World.’
-
Amnplify
A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD is Dream Theater at its musical finest expanding on the sound they helped create while maintaining the elements that have garnered them devoted fans around the globe.
-
The Elite Extremophile
A View from the Top of the World is a better album than I expected. The band sounded like they were having fun playing the music, there were lots of strong riffs, and Dream Theater avoided balladry. This album is still bloated as hell; there’s probably a solid 20 minutes you could lop off this thing. As with any DT album, the highs are pretty high, and the lows are pretty low. This is their best album since Octavarium, though, so I’m not too displeased. If you like Dream Theater, you’ll probably like this.
-
The Progressive Aspect
A View from the Top of the World is an album with no weak tracks; even Invisible Monster, which failed to capture my attention on the first listen, has a contrasting Haken-style second verse that shakes up the song and makes it that much more enjoyable. It’s so astonishingly good for a band so far along in their career that it’s difficult not to believe they might have peaked and that we’ll inevitably have to look forward to a worse album next time around.
-
Juan Guitar Music
A view from the top of the world has all the quintessential elements that the band has embodied through their entire career since 1985.
-
Headbangers Lifestyle
‘A View From The Top Of The World’ is an excellent DT album with a lot of killer songs; it is also definitely better than ‘Distance Over Time’.
-
Markus' Heavy Music Blog
‘A View from the Top of the World’ is the highly anticipated new Dream Theater album and lives up to expectation with 100%. Dream Theater presents all they stand for. This longplayer is a jaw-dropping good one that will find many friends and fans, a wow-moment in 2021.
Rate This Album and Leave Your Comments