It’s always unpopular to have an opinion on an album that isn’t favorable.
Liquid Tension Experiment – III
John Petrucci delivered a great solo album in 2020, but when LTE reformed with Petrucci, Portnoy, Ruddess and Levin, the “III” album didn’t have the same impact as the first two LTE albums which I saw as ground breaking instrumental albums.
The first two albums were released in the late 90s and they came out at a time when most instrumental artists brought in an industrial sound to their albums because that sound is what was popular however LTE didn’t conform to what was popular.
Songs like “Acid Rain”, “Paradigm Shift” and my favourite “Universal Mind” which Petrucci borrowed from for “Happy Song” are instrumental masterpieces.
And the deeper you dig into the first two albums you’ll hear other awesome tracks like “Kindred Spirits”, “Freedom Of Speech” and “When The Water Breaks”.
But if you do want to press play on a track from this album, then “Blink Of An Eye” is the one. It’s got this groove that it’s intoxicating and it sets the foundation.
Trivium – In The Court of The Dragon
I’m a big fan of Trivium and in April 2020 just when lockdowns started around the world, they dropped the excellent “What The Dead Men Say”.
And they couldn’t tour behind it. Matt Heafy did a side project and the band got together and wrote another album.
Which didn’t have the same impact as “What The Dead Men Say”.
Dream Theater – A View From The Top Of The World
I will buy it as a Dream Theater fan so I can have it in my collection but it didn’t connect with me.
But like previous releases there are some nice instrumental sections.
I’m also not a fan of riffs created on the super heavy gauge of an 8 string guitar. It’s too low and muddled for my ears.
Black Veil Brides – The Phantom Tomorrow
It’s their third rock opera.
I really want to like it, but I couldn’t wait for each song to finish.
Bullet For My Valentine – Bullet For My Valentine
We fall in and out with our favorite artists.
At the moment I’m out with BFMV who I think are suffering an identity crisis.
George Lynch – Seamless
I purchased it as I have all of his recordings and while it was okay, I was expecting something else.
destroyerofharmony 
I didn’t listen to any of those so I can’t say good or bad but I do believe you.
I played the Trivium, I didn’t mind it but it didn’t move or really excite me any. I never have really connected with DT. I totally respect their talent but their music just doesn’t really have a home in my collection. I hadn’t got around to the George Lynch, his results do seem to vary a lot.
I like the Lynch album as musically its Dokken. Too bad Don lost his chops as this would have made a great Dokken album.
I used to listen to Black Veil Brides in high school during my alternative rock phase. What the heck is rock opera, though?