I've read comparisons to Images And Words. I don't hear that all. Comparison's to Scenes From A Memory. Somewhat in that DT has incorporated more of thier tear drop, lush pompous prog since Scenes. ADTOE doesn't come close to Scenes IMO. Not the heart and soul felt on Scenes.
This album sounds like a split between thier previous three albums and Scenes/Six Degrees. Really, nothing new. It's DT. Of course the musicianship is excellent although some parts the complexity is overbearing. Petrucci riffs are fantastic but at times wander off to wankery. The keys don't work on the prog-metal tracks with the heavy guitar riffs with the synthetic Styx like sound. A heavy handed Hammond would be much more suited IMO.
Where's the drums? Mangini has been smothered. Maybe Portnoy had some type of clause in his contract that his replacement be irrelevent.
DT has to be one of the most polarizing bands in metal. Definitely in prog-metal. Love 'em or hate 'em. I'm neither. I consider myself a centrist.
Maybe DT will do something different next album. It's becoming tiresome. Take a risk, like Opeth. If someone wants to hear something refreshing in prog-metal, check out Leprous' last two releases, 'Tall Poppy Syndrome' and 'Bilateral' from this year.