Terminal Velocity (album)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Prog	Favorable[10]
Sonic Perspectives	[2]
The Prog Report	Favorable[9]
Ghost Cult Magazine	[3]

Writing for Prog, Malcolm Dome expressed relief that "rather than running riot delivering a battalion of dazzling, overcomplicated and overly long solos, he's [Petrucci] kept everything tight and allowed these delightfully eclectic compositions to shine". He pointed out Passion and Warfare-era Steve Vai, Permanent Waves-era Rush and blues influences on "Terminal Velocity", "Happy Song" and "Out of the Blue", respectively, and said "Glass Eyed Zombies" could have been an Octavarium track. He also saw George Harrison and Buck Dharma influences on "The Way Things Fall" and "Snake in My Boot", respectively.[10]

Sonic Perspectives' Rodrigo Altaf said "John pays homage to some of his heroes" and "explores different sides of his playing". He saw Joe Satriani's influences on the title-track and "Snake in My Boots" and of Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher on "Out of the Blue"; and echoes of Liquid Tension Experiment on "The Oddfather" and of Dream Theater on "Temple of Circadia". He summarized his review calling Terminal Velocity "an uplifting release, with a diverse musical approach. Through an abundance of riffs, the listener is led on an epic and grandiose journey. Funky and pop in places, aggressive and heavy in others, it is an impressive showcase of fretboard wizardry, as it is of feel and penchant for melody".[2]

On a positive review for The Prog Report, Kyle Fagala called Terminal Velocity "a balanced, yet eclectic album that works to display Petrucci's varied songwriting talents" and "a beautiful album from start to finish". He saw elements of Dream Theater on "The Oddfather" and "Temple of Circada" and of Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Avenged Sevenfold and Green Day on "Happy Song", while particularly praising "Out of the Blue" for reminding of Steve Vai's "Tender Surrender".[9]

On a mixed review for Ghost Cult Magazine, Weslie Negrón considered that the album has "music that is made to show off the skills that 'x' or 'y' musician has in their instrument". He praised "The Oddfather" and "Out of the Blue", but considered the remaining tracks "just an exaggerated overflow of sweep picking arpeggios that makes the whole album sound like one long, boring track that lasts fifty minutes". He was also unimpressed with Portnoy's performance, stating it "does not exceed as the superb drummer he once was". He concluded his review by saying the album "feels like watered-down Dream Theater tracks and does not bring anything new or interesting for the genre".[3]