Dream Theater | ||
| Allmusic Biography : The Long Island-based quintet Dream Theater are, in the 21st century, the standard bearers of progressive metal. While the subgenres origins can be traced to Rushs song "Bastille Day" in 1975, and Queensrÿches 1988 concept offering Operation: Mindcrime was its first full-length album, Dream Theater have largely defined and expanded the musics horizons since 1986. The bands ability to deliver tight, melodic, musically sophisticated songs and thematic concept recordings that encompass elements of hook-based hard rock, riff-fueled metal, syncopated prog, and sophisticated lyrics have made them the act that subsequent genre bands aspire to and are measured by. While five of their albums have charted inside the Top 20 of the Top 200, ten have placed inside the top half of the chart; they have sold more than 12 million records globally. The recording that initially established their signature was second album 1992s Images and Words, while 1994s Awake, 1999s Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, and 2002s Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence cemented their place at the top of the metal heap. For 2016s The Astonishing -- a double-length dystopian sci-fi opera that reached the Top 20 on the albums chart -- they were accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and three choirs. Dream Theater is known for its high-energy concert performances, and while theyve released several live albums -- Live at the Marquee, recorded at the London club; Live in Japan, recorded during the Music in Progress tour in 1993; and Live Scenes from New York -- they remain one of heavy metals most bootlegged bands. Originally named Majesty (from a lyric in "Bastille Day"), the band was founded by Berklee College of Music students guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy; the band soon expanded with the addition of keyboard player Kevin Moore and vocalist Chris Collins. Releasing an eight-tune demo, Majesty Demo, as Majesty, the group sold 1,000 copies within six months. The departure of Collins in late 1986 left Majesty without a vocalist, and after a long period of auditioning possible replacements, the group settled on Charlie Dominici in November 1987. Changing its name, the group agreed on "Dream Theater," inspired by a now-demolished California movie theater. Signing with Mechanic Records, the group began working on its first full-length album. Delays caused by label mismanagement limited the group to performing at small clubs and bars. Frustrated by its experiences with the label, Dream Theater finally severed its ties with Mechanic. This was only one drastic change in the bands course of action. Firing Dominici, the group spent the next couple years searching for a vocalist. The search ended in late 1991 when a demo tape from Canadian vocalist James LaBrie, formerly of Winter Rose, arrived. After flying to New York to audition, LaBrie was invited to join the band. Signing with Atco Atlantic (which came to be known as East West), Dream Theater released its second album, Images & Words, in 1992. One of three videos based on songs from the album, "Pull Me Under," became an MTV hit. Although Theater showed considerable growth with their third studio album, Awake, recorded between May and July 1994, the group continued to be hampered by personnel changes. Before the album was mixed, keyboardist Moore left the group to focus on his solo career. Hired as a temporary replacement for the bands Waking Up the World tour, Derek Sherinian later became a permanent member. His first recording with Dream Theater was a 23-minute epic, "A Change of Seasons," written in 1989 and released in September 1995 on the album of the same name. Following a mini tour, Fix for 96, the members of Dream Theater separated for several months and became involved with a variety of outside projects. Petrucci was the busiest. In addition to joining Portnoy and keyboard player Jordan Rudess in the Liquid Tension Experiment -- a group that included influential bassist/stick player Tony Levin -- Petrucci played guitar with Trent Gardners Explorers Club and made a guest appearance on Shadow Gallerys Tyranny album. Myung and Sherinian collaborated with Kings X vocalist Ty Tabor in the band Platypus. LaBrie worked with Mull Muzzler, a group formed with Matt Guillory and Mike Mangini. Dream Theater experienced yet another change when Rudess was tapped to replace Sherinian, who had been fired in 1999. The band released the progressive rock-heavy Scenes from a Memory that year, a conceptual piece that followed the story of the 1928 murder of a young woman and how a modern man is haunted by the crime. It was followed by Live Scenes from New York in 2001, which suffered from an unintentional bout with controversy when its original cover featuring the city of New York in flames was pulled due to the events of September 11. The group continued in the progressive metal vein in 2002 with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, followed by the leaner Train of Thought in 2003 and Octavarium in 2005. The live album Score: XOX was released in 2006 and featured the band backed by a 29-piece orchestra. It was followed a year later by the new studio album Systematic Chaos, and in 2009 by Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Sherinian went on to record as a soloist and to play with a prog and jazz fusion band, Planet X. Petrucci released an eponymously titled solo album in 2003, featuring accompaniment by Dave LaRue of the Dixie Dregs and Boston-based drummer Dave DiCenso. In late 2010, Mike Mangini joined the group, replacing drummer Mike Portnoy, who left the band in September of that year. With a rigorous touring schedule to firmly break in Mangini, Dream Theater somehow found time to record. They pre-released the track "On the Backs of Angels" on YouTube via their label, Roadrunner, in June of 2011, followed by the CD release of the aptly titled full-length, A Dramatic Turn of Events, in the fall. After a period of rigorous international touring, the band took a break though its members continued writing. They reconvened in early 2013 and returned with a self-titled studio album in September -- this one with Mangini completely involved in the writing process -- followed in November with the concert recording Live at Luna Park on CD and DVD, which was recorded during the Dramatic Turn of Events tour over two nights at the Buenos Aires soccer stadium. Recorded live at the Boston Opera House on March 24, 2014, the concert recording Breaking the Fourth Wall arrived the following year, and in late 2015 the band announced their upcoming 13th studio album, The Astonishing. A completely conceptual sci-fi offering, it was released on January 29, 2016. After a world tour in which they performed the whole of the album, the band took an extended breather. At the end of 2018, Dream Theater released the single and video for "Untethered Angel" in advance of a North American tour. The full-length Distance Over Time was the first album by the band to clock in at less than an hour in length in over a decade. Petrucci credited the more economical running time to a more collaborative writing process that took merely 18 days to complete, and focused on harder-edged songs than more recent recordings. Distance Over Time was released by Inside Out in early 2019. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 26 Title: When Dream and Day Unite Released: 1989-03-06 Tracks: 8 Duration: 51:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Fortune in Lies (05:09) 2 Status Seeker (04:14) 3 The Ytse Jam (05:43) 4 The Killing Hand (08:38) 5 Light Fuse and Get Away (07:20) 6 Afterlife (05:24) 7 The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun (08:01) 8 Only a Matter of Time (06:35) |
| When Dream and Day Unite : Allmusic album Review : Dream Theaters first official release gave an indication that this was a talented band that combined the styles of Yes, Rush, and Queensrÿche. The latter seemed to be too big of an influence at this stage of their career. Vocalist Charlie Dominicis voice is not powerful enough to carry out the bands otherwise convincing intensity, and his attempt to sound like Queensrÿches Geoff Tate was unsuccessful. The music here is not as heavy as it would become in the 90s but could still be classified as progressive metal. Guitarist John Petrucci and drummer Mike Portnoy established themselves as competent musicians, but their individual styles were not yet refined. The bands originality does shine through on "Light Fuse and Get Away," "The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun," and "Only a Matter of Time." The odd-meter measures and numerous time changes gave the group a complexity that hadnt been experienced for an entire decade in the rock genre. "YTSE Jam" was essentially their answer to Rushs "YYZ" and became a staple in the bands live set. The session was marred mostly by subpar singing, too many metal clichés, and poor production. There is, however, enough interesting playing to make it a worthwhile listen for fans of this genre, and is certainly essential for Dream Theater fans. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 26 Title: Images and Words Released: 1992-07-06 Tracks: 8 Duration: 57:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pull Me Under (08:13) 2 Another Day (04:24) 3 Take the Time (08:21) 4 Surrounded (05:30) 5 Metropolis, Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper (09:32) 6 Under a Glass Moon (07:03) 7 Wait for Sleep (02:32) 8 Learning to Live (11:31) |
| Images and Words : Allmusic album Review : Dream Theaters first album with new vocalist James LaBrie is an excellent mix of progressive metal stylings with heartfelt vocals and thought-provoking lyrics. Guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy, all of whom trained at Berklee, show impressive ability on their respective instruments. Kevin Moores keyboards weave strongly through the intricately constructed songs, while operatically trained LaBrie shows an impressive range with his tenor. Standout tracks include the complex "Metropolis, Pt. 1," the Shakespeare-influenced "Pull Me Under" (also released as a single and video), the dramatic "Take the Time," and the 11-minute, thoughtful "Learning to Live." Dream Theaters musicianship and songwriting are a cut above the norm; this is a very good disc. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 26 Title: Live at the Marquee Released: 1993-07-25 Tracks: 6 Duration: 45:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Metropolis, Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper (09:33) 2 A Fortune in Lies (05:15) 3 Bombay Vindaloo (06:55) 4 Another Day (04:37) 5 Another Hand / The Killing Hand (10:46) 6 Pull Me Under (08:22) |
| Live at the Marquee : Allmusic album Review : This is a live recording featuring songs from When Dream and Day Unite and Images and Words. There really isnt that much going on here that cant be heard on the studio records. "A Fortune in Lies" is treated with more aggression than the original and remains one of their gems from the past. "Bombay Vindaloo" is a jam session that features some creative drumming from Mike Portnoy and some diverse playing from John Petrucci. Especially impressive were the muted, Al DiMeola-style quotes. "Another Hand - The Killing Hand" is a combination of an instrumental ("Another Hand") commonly featured in their live shows and the now-infamous "The Killing Hand." The latter is given a great update by singer James LaBrie and probably didnt have too many people missing Charlie Dominici. This is a good live session that will appeal mostly to the diehards of this excellent progressive metal band. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 26 Title: Awake Released: 1994-10-04 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:15:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 6:00 (05:32) 2 Caught in a Web (05:28) 3 Innocence Faded (05:42) 4 A Mind Beside Itself: I. Erotomania (06:44) 5 A Mind Beside Itself: II. Voices (09:54) 6 A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man (03:48) 7 The Mirror (06:45) 8 Lie (06:34) 9 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream (06:05) 10 Scarred (10:59) 11 Space-Dye Vest (07:29) |
| Awake : Allmusic album Review : Dream Theaters third studio release, Awake, marks a definite change in the bands tone. From the moment the guitars enter on "6:00," the first track, a darker sound is immediately evident, and it continues through the entire 75 minutes of the disc. The complex song structures, marked by arrangements that would give many good players fits, are very impressive. Drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci, in particular, reach new heights with their instruments, but keyboardist Kevin Moore and bassist John Myung hold up quite well, adding to the prog metal sound with their own contributions. There are several good tracks here, but the best are the crunch-heavy "Lie," the 11-minute "Scarred," the thought-provoking "Caught in a Web," and the deeply personal, moving "Space-Dye Vest." This disc also marks keyboardist Moores last recording with the band; he left not long after to pursue other musical directions. The heavy guitar sound may turn some off, but Dream Theaters musical ability cant be denied. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 26 Title: Falling Into Infinity Released: 1997-09-23 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:18:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 New Millennium (08:20) 2 You Not Me (04:58) 3 Peruvian Skies (06:43) 4 Hollow Years (05:53) 5 Burning My Soul (05:29) 6 Hell’s Kitchen (04:16) 1 Lines in the Sand (12:05) 2 Take Away My Pain (06:03) 3 Just Let Me Breathe (05:28) 4 Anna Lee (05:52) 5 Trial of Tears (13:05) |
| Falling Into Infinity : Allmusic album Review : Like many other progressive bands playing difficult music, Dream Theater inevitably chose to trim down both their bombastic production and intricate songwriting for a more laid-back approach, both live and in the studio. The result, Falling Into Infinity, is something of a disappointment. Never before have the bands influences been worn so openly on their sleeves, which translates into a derivativeness that undermines much of the material on this album. Guitarist John Petruccis solos sound like cloned Steve Vai more often than not, which stands in direct contrast to his groundbreaking work on earlier platters. James LaBrie, though gifted with a strong, bellowing voice, has a range too limited to properly convey the emotive resonances of the lyrics: hes either singing in a soft whisper on the gentler passages or yelling at the top of his lungs during heavier moments. Subtler shading is needed before he can properly be classed in the same league as Robert Plant or even Steve Perry. New keyboardist Derek Sherinian gives the best performance on Falling, establishing himself as an accomplished musician and songwriter without blindly following in his predecessors footsteps. Unfortunately, his presence fails to turbo-charge the rest of the group, who turn in a halfhearted creative effort under the direction of new producer Kevin Shirley. Most of the songs here rely on the same device to build tension: a bold riff is repeated while the drums quicken pace and crescendo in volume beneath the rhythm. In addition, the "progressive" songs are relatively subdued compared to earlier efforts, particularly "Trial of Tears," which drags on for over 13 minutes with little hint of either songwriting ingenuity or instrumental virtuosity. "Hells Kitchen" and the middle of "New Millennium" prove Dream Theater havent forgotten their roots, but elsewhere theyre content to trot out standard AOR clichés. This brazen attempt to woo a more mainstream audience has resulted in the bands weakest effort since their debut. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 26 Title: The Making of Falling Into Infinity Released: 1997-12 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:15:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 New Millennium (basic tracks) (01:47) 2 New Millennium (piano, acoustic guitar, stick and 7-string guitar overdubs) (03:17) 3 You Not Me (basic tracks) (02:04) 4 You Not Me (strings, piano, vocals and key overdubs) (03:35) 5 Peruvian Skies (basic tracks) (01:38) 6 Peruvian Skies (Rhodes, mellotron, acoustic guitar and vocals overdubs) (05:18) 7 Hollow Years (basic tracks) (03:58) 8 Hollow Years (acoustic, edge and classical guitar and vocals overdubs) (04:28) 9 Burning My Soul (basic tracks) (01:14) 10 Burning My Soul (guitar, key, vocals, talk box and whisper overdubs) (03:47) 11 Hells Kitchen (writing the finale) (06:07) 12 Lines in the Sand (intro, key, piano, and string overdubs) (03:49) 13 Lines in the Sand (bass, guitar, synth, and vocal overdubs) (03:27) 14 Lines in the Sand (Doug Pinnick vocals) (03:01) 15 Take Away My Pain (alternate take) (06:12) 16 Take Away My Pain (basic tracks) (02:07) 17 Take Away My Pain (space guitar, Hawaiin keys, heavy keys, and vocal overdubs) (02:16) 18 Just Let Me Breathe (basic tracks) (01:02) 19 Just Let Me Breathe (feedback and rhythm guitars, leadguitar and keys, vocal overdubs) (02:28) 20 Anna Lee (Derek noodling at the piano) (02:14) 21 Anna Lee (basic tracks) (03:46) 22 Anna Lee (mellotron, acoustic and Leslie guitars, slide guitar overdubs) (02:55) 23 Trial of Tears (basic tracks) (02:11) 24 Trial of Tears (lead guitar, bass, acoustic guitar, and piano overdubs) (02:51) 25 Trial of Tears (the end(?)) (00:23) |
 | Album: 7 of 26 Title: Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory Released: 1999-10-25 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:17:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Act I: Scene One: Regression (02:06) 2 Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928 (03:37) 3 Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu (05:12) 4 Act I: Scene Three: I. Through My Words (01:02) 5 Act I: Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy (06:49) 6 Act I: Scene Four: Beyond This Life (11:22) 7 Act I: Scene Five: Through Her Eyes (05:29) 1 Act II: Scene Six: Home (12:53) 2 Act II: Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity (06:13) 3 Act II: Scene Seven: II. One Last Time (03:46) 4 Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On (06:38) 5 Act II: Scene Nine: Finally Free (11:59) |
| Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory : Allmusic album Review : Dream Theater is almost aggressively out of fashion in 1999. Few bands subscribe to their dense blend of progressive rock and post-Halen metal, and those that do usually dont have major-label contracts, the way Dream Theater does. There was a point where they tried to straighten out their sound somewhat, as they flirted with straight-ahead, laid-back metal on 1997s Falling into Infinity, but with its 1999 studio sequel, Scenes from a Memory, Dream Theater delves straight into old-fashioned prog rock. Scenes from a Memory is an unabashed concept album, told in two acts, about the 1928 murder of a young woman and how a modern man is haunted by the crime. A convoluted, difficult tale is told in a convoluted, difficult fashion, with no less than four tracks clocking in at well over ten minutes and three others ranging from 6:30 to 8:50. Clearly, this is intended as some sort of masterwork, and whats remarkable is that Dream Theater comes close to creating a masterwork with Scenes from a Memory. The album plays more like a suite than a collection of individual songs. At times, that means the album can bog down slightly in its own flights of fancy and long instrumental sections, but concentrated listens reveal the intricacies of the song structures and the musicianship. Occasionally, it can seem as if James Labrie oversings, but thats a minor point -- the overall end result of the album is quite impressive indeed. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 26 Title: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence Released: 2002-01-21 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:36:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Glass Prison (13:52) 2 Blind Faith (10:21) 3 Misunderstood (09:32) 4 The Great Debate (13:45) 5 Disappear (06:45) 1 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: I. Overture (06:49) 2 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: II. About to Crash (05:50) 3 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: III. War Inside My Head (02:08) 4 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: IV. The Test That Stumped Them All (05:03) 5 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: V. Goodnight Kiss (06:17) 6 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: VI. Solitary Shell (05:47) 7 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: VII. About to Crash (reprise) (04:04) 8 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: VIII. Losing Time / Grand Finale (06:01) |
| Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence : Allmusic album Review : The godfathers of progressive metal have been amazing and delighting their dedicated fans since the late 80s. Throughout their impressive and unlikely career they have continued to push themselves and the genre into new and challenging directions. While arguably hitting their peak with 1994s Awake, the band continued to grow with each new release (save for perhaps Falling into Infinity). Their previous studio effort, Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From a Memory, was a milestone in their career, finding all of the bands best attributes amalgamated into a fully realized whole. Although "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" may not be another magnum opus, it is still another fine addition to their impressive discography. The band continues to explore new directions, but the results are not always consistent on the two CDs worth of material. Their overall sound is heavier, for better or worse, than it has been and they make some interesting compositional and lyrical choices, but their usual afflatus is missing. Petrucci in particular seems content to recycle his already-established pyrotechnics, which mostly come off as ostentatious and often out of place. With the exception of the high-octane "The Glass Prison," disc one is made up of more experimental tracks, with influences such as Radiohead and Tool being explored. The band also offers up one of their only political tracks in "The Great Debate," which deals with stem cell research. Disc two is comprised of the eight-part "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" epic and is more in line with their traditional approach. The "Overture" incorporates a full orchestra with surprisingly effective results and is the recordings standout track. Keyboardist Jordan Rudess gets more of an opportunity to demonstrate how valuable he is to the bands compositional and sonic depth. Fans of Pantera may cry foul when they hear "The Test That Stumped Them All," but this is meant more as a tribute than the blatant thievery it appears to be. While each member of Dream Theater has proved to have a more sophisticated and mature side -- as evidenced by side projects such as Transatlantic, Platypus, Liquid Tension Experiment, and Mullmuzer -- they understand where their proverbial bread is buttered. So exists Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, an intentionally pretentious, somewhat juvenile, but undeniably likeable recording. Despite the nearly impossible task of satisfying their mostly youthful fan base while still nurturing the bands natural maturation process, Dream Theater has mostly managed to deliver once again. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 26 Title: The Majesty Demos 1985–1986 Released: 2003-05-29 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:17:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Particle E. Motion (01:38) 2 Another Won (05:26) 3 The Saurus (01:23) 4 Cry for Freedom (06:31) 5 The School Song (06:12) 6 YYZ (04:03) 7 The Farandole (03:16) 8 Two Far (instrumental version) (05:40) 9 Anti‐Procrastination Song (00:13) 10 Your Majesty (instrumental version) (03:56) 11 Solar System Race Song (00:17) 12 Im About to Faint Song (00:09) 13 Mosquitos in Harmony Song (00:12) 14 John Thinks He’s Randy Song (00:10) 15 Mike Thinks He’s Dee Dee Ramone Introducing a Song Song (00:16) 16 John Thinks He’s Yngwie Song (00:15) 17 Gnos Sdrawkcab (00:23) 18 Another Won (05:27) 19 Your Majesty (03:45) 20 A Vision (11:24) 21 Two Far (05:25) 22 Vital Star (05:44) 23 March of the Tyrant (05:34) |
 | Album: 10 of 26 Title: The Making of Scenes From a Memory Released: 2003-05-29 Tracks: 28 Duration: 2:37:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Regression (02:02) 2 Overture 1928 (03:43) 3 Strange Déjà Vu (05:01) 4 Fatal Tragedy (04:01) 5 Beyond This Life (07:02) 6 Through Her Eyes (04:50) 7 Home (06:31) 8 Home (07:09) 9 The Dance of Eternity (02:57) 10 The Dance of Eternity (05:53) 11 The Spirit Carries On (05:11) 12 The Spirit Carries On (06:42) 13 The Spirit Carries On (02:34) 14 Finally Free (05:32) 15 Finally Free (07:42) 1 Opening Scene (01:22) 2 Act I: Scene One: Regression (02:06) 3 Overture 1928 (03:38) 4 Strange Déjà Vu (05:19) 5 Through My Words (01:55) 6 Fatal Tragedy (06:16) 7 Beyond This Life (11:30) 8 Through Her Eyes (06:03) 9 Home (13:03) 10 Act II: Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity (06:13) 11 Act II: Scene Seven: II. One Last Time (03:46) 12 The Spirit Carries On (06:48) 13 Act II: Scene Nine: Finally Free (11:59) |
 | Album: 11 of 26 Title: Train of Thought Released: 2003-11-08 Tracks: 7 Duration: 1:09:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 As I Am (07:47) 2 This Dying Soul (11:27) 3 Endless Sacrifice (11:24) 4 Honor Thy Father (10:14) 5 Vacant (02:57) 6 Stream of Consciousness (11:16) 7 In the Name of God (14:14) |
| Train of Thought : Allmusic album Review : Coming a year after Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, its great to hear that Dream Theater hadnt lost their überheavy edge. John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess, and bassist John Myung effectively peeled back the pretentious excesses of Six Degrees, turned them in on themselves, and came up with a leaner, meaner but no less ambitious outing. The centerpiece track, despite the fact that it is second on the disc, is "This Dying Soul: IV. Reflections of Reality (Revisited)." A tome about alcoholism and recovery, its strident riff opens out onto vast sonic panoramas where pianos and rhythm section offer Petrucci the space he needs to take his guitar playing into overdrive. Also, lyrically this is an evolutionary track on the set; it opens doors for the rest of the narratives here. Whereas the opener, "As I Am," is an anthem of resistance and independence, from "This Dying Soul" onward, themes of acceptance, surrender, and willingness become the M.O. for transcendent transformation. Struggles with the past, new encounters, and near despair are common themes, as on the brilliantly textured and detailed "Train of Though." Note the beautiful interplay between the guitars and keyboards on "Endless Sacrifice," the insane drums and buzz saw attack on the intro to "Honor Thy Father," or the brilliant play on the intro to "Seasons of Whither" in the intro to "In the Name of God," before the almighty riffing takes it into crunchland with a deep, poignant reflection on spiritual and religious hypocrisy. This is hard, heavy progressive metal at its very best lyrically and musically. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 26 Title: When Dream and Day Unite Demos 1987-1989 Released: 2004-03-22 Tracks: 25 Duration: 2:26:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Afterlife (instrumental) (05:23) 2 The Killing Hand (instrumental) (08:06) 3 The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun (instrumental) (07:25) 4 Ytse Jam (instrumental) (05:54) 5 Cry for Freedom (instrumental) (06:46) 6 Resurrection of Ernie (instrumental) (06:44) 7 Drum Solo (Mike Portnoy) (01:53) 8 A Fortune in Lies (instrumental) (04:31) 9 Only a Matter of Time (instrumental) (06:26) 10 A Fortune in Lies (05:21) 11 Afterlife (05:41) 12 The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun (07:29) 1 A Fortune in Lies (05:21) 2 Afterlife (05:40) 3 Ytse Jam (05:51) 4 Only a Matter of Time (06:52) 5 The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun (07:35) 6 The Killing Hand (08:25) 7 Light Fuse and Get Away (instrumental version) (07:54) 8 To Live Forever (demo) (04:26) 9 Mission: Impossible (01:25) 10 Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End (06:14) 11 O Holy Night (04:11) 12 A Vision 89 (08:31) 13 [untitled] (02:09) |
 | Album: 13 of 26 Title: Images and Words Demos 1989-1991 Released: 2005-02-05 Tracks: 18 Duration: 2:22:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Metropolis (instrumental demo) (09:26) 2 Take the Time (instrumental demo) (09:22) 3 Learning to Live (instrumental demo) (11:09) 4 Under a Glass Moon (instrumental demo) (07:25) 5 Dont Look Past Me (feat. John Hendricks) (06:25) 6 To Live Forever (feat. John Hendricks) (04:46) 7 To Live Forever (feat. Steve Stone) (04:44) 8 A Change of Seasons (feat. Chris Cintron) (17:35) 1 Metropolis, Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper (09:15) 2 To Live Forever (04:30) 3 Take the Time (07:58) 4 Pull Me Under (07:38) 5 Another Day (04:27) 6 Surrounded (05:42) 7 Under a Glass Moon (07:12) 8 Wait for Sleep (02:38) 9 Learning to Live (12:08) 10 Olivers Twist (09:42) |
 | Album: 14 of 26 Title: Octavarium Released: 2005-06-06 Tracks: 8 Duration: 1:15:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Root of All Evil (08:25) 2 The Answer Lies Within (05:33) 3 These Walls (07:36) 4 I Walk Beside You (04:29) 5 Panic Attack (08:13) 6 Never Enough (06:46) 7 Sacrificed Sons (10:42) 8 Octavarium (24:00) |
| Octavarium : Allmusic album Review : Prog rockers Dream Theater tallied 19 years as a band with the release of Octavarium, but in listening youre apt to suspect otherwise. As a collective they remain as tight as they were on 2003s obsessively dark Train of Thought (like all music-school outfits, theyve exacted an all-for-one formula that doesnt allow a single player more than his share of swagger), but a post-hardcore edge -- call it a leap into 2005 -- has invaded their pledge of allegiance to theatrical heavy rock. Hear it on "I Walk Beside You" and "The Answer Lies Within," both of which, at under five minutes, play like charming haikus from a band known for its epic poetry, and also on the orchestra-backed 20-plus-minute final cut, which skips around from Pink Floyd to Rush to Black Sabbath influences, stopping off every so often at a place fans of My Chemical Romance might find familiar. As with all the bands discs, guitars loom large and both doom and redemption seem no further than the next twisted verse. Whats changed is Dream Theaters commitment to carrying on their reputation as underground progressive rocks classicists, and it seems well-timed. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 26 Title: Awake Demos 1994 Released: 2006-04-23 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:17:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Scarred (11:17) 2 6:00 (05:31) 3 The Mirror (10:15) 4 Caught in a Web (05:46) 5 Erotomania (06:33) 6 Voices (09:31) 7 The Silent Man (03:47) 8 Lie (05:04) 9 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream (06:14) 10 Innocence Faded (05:43) 11 Space-Dye Vest (07:19) |
 | Album: 16 of 26 Title: Systematic Chaos Released: 2007-06-01 Tracks: 8 Duration: 1:18:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 In the Presence of Enemies, Part I (09:00) 2 Forsaken (05:35) 3 Constant Motion (06:55) 4 The Dark Eternal Night (08:53) 5 Repentance (10:43) 6 Prophets of War (06:00) 7 The Ministry of Lost Souls (14:57) 8 In the Presence of Enemies, Part II (16:38) |
| Systematic Chaos : Allmusic album Review : Few bands in the history of rock have warranted the "either you love them or hate them" tag as much as Dream Theater, as fanatics consider them musical geniuses, while detractors sneer at their bombast. Either way, theres no arguing that the group has built a large and loyal following over the years by doing things their way, and with little to no help from radio or MTV. And on their tenth full-length overall (and first for their new label, Roadrunner), 2007s Systematic Chaos, the quintet sticks to the prog metal game plan that theyve followed since their inception. In true Dream Theater fashion, the gentlemen are not ashamed to show off their chops -- as evidenced by the album opener, "In the Presence of Enemies, Pt. 1," in which James LaBries vocals do not kick in until after the five-minute mark. Elsewhere, "Forsaken" proves wrong those who say that Dream Theater is all about instrumental gymnastics and not songwriting, at least momentarily, while "The Dark Eternal Light" features some nifty Pantera-esque riffing from John Petrucci. Additionally, "Repentance" is one of the albums four ten-minute-plus, mid-paced epics, and features a prerequisite of countless extended prog suites and spoken word passages. Unlike other veteran rock acts that attempted to update their sound with the times (and failed miserably), Dream Theater has admirably stuck to its guns through thick and thin -- much to the delight of their legion of admirers -- and they continue to do so on Systematic Chaos. And for that, we salute you with a flurry of flawlessly sweep-picked arpeggios. [The 2007 CD/DVD edition features the entire album remixed for 5.1 Surround on an included bonus DVD.] | ||
 | Album: 17 of 26 Title: Falling Into Infinity Demos 1996–97 Released: 2007-09-09 Tracks: 16 Duration: 2:19:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Raise the Knife (11:35) 2 Where Are You Now (07:26) 3 Take Away My Pain (06:49) 4 You or Me (06:25) 5 Anna Lee (06:36) 6 Burning My Soul (08:57) 7 The Way It Used to Be (07:47) 8 Lines in the Sand (13:32) 1 Just Let Me Breathe (05:24) 2 Peruvian Skies (06:47) 3 Trial of Tears (12:54) 4 Cover My Eyes (03:21) 5 Hollow Years (06:26) 6 New Millennium (08:19) 7 Speak to Me (06:10) 8 Metropolis Pt. 2 (live rehearsal version) (21:25) |
 | Album: 18 of 26 Title: Greatest Hit (…and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) Released: 2008-04-01 Tracks: 22 Duration: 2:18:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Pull Me Under (08:13) 2 Take the Time (08:22) 3 Lie (05:01) 4 Peruvian Skies (06:43) 5 Home (05:38) 6 Misunderstood (05:14) 7 The Test That Stumped Them All (05:00) 8 As I Am (07:14) 9 Endless Sacrifice (11:24) 10 The Root of All Evil (07:16) 11 Sacrificed Sons (09:41) 1 Another Day (04:25) 2 To Live Forever 94 (04:56) 3 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream (06:05) 4 A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man (03:48) 5 Hollow Years (05:53) 6 Through Her Eyes (06:03) 7 Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On (06:38) 8 Solitary Shell (04:10) 9 I Walk Beside You (04:29) 10 The Answer Lies Within (05:15) 11 Disappear (06:45) |
| Greatest Hit (…and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) : Allmusic album Review : Dream Theaters Greatest Hit (....And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) collection is a strange animal indeed. Despite the bands amazingly longevity -- they cut their first demo in 1986 -- as a touring act and as a steadily selling concern in the product marketplace, theyve had exactly one hit, sort of, in 1992s "Pull Me Under" from the album Images and Words. That they are still together and still a viable touring and recording enterprise is testament enough in these strange times. Apparently, though, thats not enough for them. Drummer Mike Portnoy and his bandmembers assembled this collection with a few twists that make for rather curious listening. Divided into two discs collecting 22 cuts, the first oddity is that the epic, intricate pro-pop metallic jams they are most closely associated with are almost entirely absent here. In their place, as Portnoy goes to great lengths to explain in his liner notes (which amount to more of an apologia than anything else), are a "dark side" disc reflecting the more riff-centric, metallic, guitar and double bass drum tunes that have been influenced by everyone from Black Sabbath and Judas Priest to Iron Maiden and Metallica. The other disc, is, predictably enough, the "light side." Here, the tunes reflect the more melodic, accessibly progressive aspect of the band that has been influenced by, "...U2, Pink Floyd, Journey, and Peter Gabriel." Whatever. Whats worse, Portnoy somehow thinks that this set is for the uninitiated, and claims he sees it almost as a "TV commercial or a coming attraction for a film...something that will lure the viewers/listeners in and inspire them to dig deeper, eventually leading them to experience the full picture..." Apparently, he hasnt been paying attention to whats been going on in a marketplace increasingly reliant on digital media. As for the music itself, heres the rub: the only real thing to attract veteran fans are some 2007 remixes including "Pull Me Under" (they messed with their sole pop culture classic!!!!), "Take the Time," and "Another Day," and edits that include shortened versions of "Lie," "Home," "Misunderstood," and "Solitary Shell." There is also an alternate album mix of the track "Through Her Eyes." The cover sticker reflects this, but the actual track listing on the back of the package does not. Musically, if you are a Dream Theater fan and need to have everything, you already know these tracks, and have them in at least two versions -- live and studio -- anyway, and the remixes are nothing whatsoever to write home about. If you are a novice, youd be better of picking up one of the bands truly classic recordings such as Images and Words, Change of Seasons, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, or Scenes from a Memory to hear their studio magic, on the one hand, or, Live Scenes from New York on the other. This double-disc makes little sense. Excess is one of the greatest things about Dream Theater: they are one of the best live bands on the planet and understand that big rock & roll is about the show as well as great musicianship, but sometimes, even grand excess is a little to o grand for its own good; this is just such a case. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 26 Title: Black Clouds & Silver Linings Released: 2009-06-19 Tracks: 18 Duration: 3:16:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Nightmare to Remember (16:10) 2 A Rite of Passage (08:36) 3 Wither (05:25) 4 The Shattered Fortress (12:49) 5 The Best of Times (13:09) 6 The Count of Tuscany (19:16) 1 Stargazer (08:11) 2 Tenement Funster / Flick of the Wrist / Lily of the Valley (08:18) 3 Odyssey (08:00) 4 Take Your Fingers From My Hair (08:18) 5 Larks Tongues in Aspic, Part 2 (06:32) 6 To Tame a Land (07:15) 1 A Nightmare to Remember (15:39) 2 A Rite of Passage (08:36) 3 Wither (05:28) 4 The Shattered Fortress (12:47) 5 The Best of Times (13:20) 6 The Count of Tuscany (18:47) |
| Black Clouds & Silver Linings : Allmusic album Review : After finally running out their 13-year, seven-plus album deal with a poisonously indifferent Atlantic Records via 2005s workmanlike Octavarium, progressive metal standard bearers Dream Theater took advantage of their well earned free agent status to enjoy a heated courtship from several interested labels, before eventually settling on the artistically simpatico Roadrunner. But, ironically, Dream Theaters first album for the label that heavy metal built, 2007s Systematic Chaos, was relatively accessible by the groups standards, complementing every epic and complex composition with a comparatively concise and hooky song, thus leaving it to its 2009 successor, Black Clouds & Silver Linings, to really flex the bands progressive metal muscles to their maximum girth. And in fact, Dream Theaters tenth long-player is about as dense and challenging as any album in their daunting discography (and certainly the darkest of spirit since 2003s Train of Thought), by emphasizing not only the virtuoso members ever stupefying musicianship, but also their most aggressive and thoroughly metallic songwriting tendencies. Sixteen-minute opener "A Nightmare to Remember" and its half-as-long follow-up, "A Rite of Passage" (later edited further for release as the albums first single), quickly establish this agenda via frequently thrash-paced staccato riffing, some of John Petruccis most blistering guitar solos ever, and the return of drummer Mike Portnoys syncopated growls (no doubt inspired by his pal Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth), providing contrast for singer James LaBries soaring melodic elegance. Third track "Whither" -- a tender ballad and mere babe at five minutes in length -- is this albums only concession to commerce (and one of Dream Theaters better stabs at the form it is, too); but after that its right back to prog rock in excelsis, via the final chapter in the bands "AA Saga," "The Shattered Fortress," which references songs from previous albums such as "The Glass Prison" and "The Root of All Evil," in emulation of the "Conceptual Continuity Clues" method favored by one of Portnoys heroes, Frank Zappa. Only two, not surprisingly massive song suites remain now, and interestingly, both pay evident tribute to Rush! First up, "The Best of Times" boasts an extremely Alex Lifeson-like lead guitar motif and verse chords that were clearly evolved from "The Spirit of Radio," later showcasing the most versatile and classically steeped performance on this record by keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess. Second, the revealingly named "The Count of Tuscany" (surely a thinly veiled allusion to the Rushs famed instrumental, "La Villa Strangiato") catches Portnoy in the act of outright Neil Peart worship, colluding with Petrucci on their own version of "Xanadu" before leading their bandmates into another heady prog-metal magnum opus brimming with more ideas, notes, and time changes over 19 minutes than most bands bother with over a ten album career. That last bit sound at all familiar? Thats because, at the end of the day, one must admit that Black Clouds & Silver Linings, for all its abundantly positive qualities and minor but clear distinctions from prior efforts, is still an archetypal Dream Theater album; one thats unlikely to broaden their audience all that much, but is conversely guaranteed to thrill their hardcore converts with its renewed devotion to the most exigent and stimulating facets of the bands chosen musical domain. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 26 Title: Train of Thought: Instrumental Demos 2003 Released: 2009-07-23 Tracks: 7 Duration: 1:07:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 In the Name of God (12:43) 2 As I Am (07:07) 3 Honor Thy Father (10:01) 4 Endless Sacrifice (11:18) 5 This Dying Soul (11:39) 6 Vacant (02:47) 7 Stream of Consciousness (11:40) |
 | Album: 21 of 26 Title: A Dramatic Turn of Events Released: 2011-09-07 Tracks: 9 Duration: 1:17:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 On the Backs of Angels (08:42) 2 Build Me Up, Break Me Down (06:59) 3 Lost Not Forgotten (10:11) 4 This Is the Life (06:57) 1 Bridges in the Sky (11:01) 2 Outcry (11:24) 3 Far From Heaven (03:56) 4 Breaking All Illusions (12:25) 5 Beneath the Surface (05:26) |
| A Dramatic Turn of Events : Allmusic album Review : A Dramatic Turn of Events, the 11th studio long player from progressive hard rock act Dream Theater, is understandably among the most anticipated in their decades-long career. Founding drummer Mike Portnoy -- long considered, with guitarist John Petrucci, to be DT -- left the band and was replaced with veteran Mike Mangini. This is the set that answers the question about his impact on their sound. Interestingly enough, its not that much. Mangini is as much a complex, intricate drummer as Portnoy was, though he is more an ensemble player; he plays more on the beat than behind it. A Dramatic Turn of Events is a much more keyboard-driven offering, though there is plenty of good old-fashioned prog metal here, too. Given its nearly 80-minute length, there is something here for virtually every fan -- or detractor -- to grab hold of. Singer James LaBrie doesnt indulge his high metal screech here that often, and prefers to sing plainly -- a good thing. Three tracks -- “Outcry,” “Breaking All Illusions,” and “Lost Not Forgotten” -- feature wildly long instrumental segments with more odd time signature changes than you can likely count. The latter of these sounds almost like Meshuggah with keyboards and stacked with multi-part harmonic vocals. Opening track and single "On the Backs of Angels" contains all the DT trademarks: disciplined drumming, intricate seven-string guitar riffs that grow increasingly more explosive, a Gothic chorale, and John Myungs insistent basslines, which are nearly buried in the mix. Jordan Rudess keyboards counter Petruccis guitar and Manginis drums for dominance and come out on top. That said, the melodic structure of the tune harkens back to DT albums previous to the last decades. As melodic as it is, its almost knotty compared to the sheer melodicism of “Build Me Up, Break Me Down” that follows it. One does have to wonder about the inclusion of the ballads "Far from Heaven" and the string-laden "Beneath the Surface," which have clunky, trite lyrics, sappy instrumentation, and feel like filler; it would have been better to have trimmed them to keep the album a reasonable length. In sum, a Dramatic Turn of Events, while not a perfect offering, has enough of what makes Dream Theater attractive to make it a necessary purchase for fans. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 26 Title: Original Album Series Released: 2011-10-14 Tracks: 49 Duration: 5:56:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pull Me Under (08:13) 2 Another Day (04:24) 3 Take the Time (08:21) 4 Surrounded (05:30) 5 Metropolis, Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper (09:32) 6 Under a Glass Moon (07:03) 7 Wait for Sleep (02:32) 8 Learning to Live (11:31) 1 6:00 (05:32) 2 Caught in a Web (05:28) 3 Innocence Faded (05:42) 4 A Mind Beside Itself: I. Erotomania (06:44) 5 A Mind Beside Itself: II. Voices (09:54) 6 A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man (03:48) 7 The Mirror (06:45) 8 Lie (06:34) 9 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream (06:05) 10 Scarred (10:59) 11 Space-Dye Vest (07:29) 1 New Millennium (08:20) 2 You Not Me (04:58) 3 Peruvian Skies (06:43) 4 Hollow Years (05:53) 5 Burning My Soul (05:29) 6 Hell’s Kitchen (04:16) 7 Lines in the Sand (12:05) 8 Take Away My Pain (06:03) 9 Just Let Me Breathe (05:28) 10 Anna Lee (05:52) 11 Trial of Tears (13:05) 1 Act I: Scene One: Regression (02:06) 2 Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928 (03:37) 3 Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu (05:12) 4 Act I: Scene Three: I. Through My Words (01:02) 5 Act I: Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy (06:49) 6 Act I: Scene Four: Beyond This Life (11:22) 7 Act I: Scene Five: Through Her Eyes (05:29) 8 Act II: Scene Six: Home (12:53) 9 Act II: Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity (06:13) 10 Act II: Scene Seven: II. One Last Time (03:46) 11 Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On (06:38) 12 Act II: Scene Nine: Finally Free (11:59) 1 As I Am (07:47) 2 This Dying Soul (11:27) 3 Endless Sacrifice (11:24) 4 Honor Thy Father (10:14) 5 Vacant (02:57) 6 Stream of Consciousness (11:16) 7 In the Name of God (14:14) |
 | Album: 23 of 26 Title: The Triple Album Collection Released: 2012-10-16 Tracks: 25 Duration: 3:30:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Change of Seasons (23:09) 2 Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding (10:49) 3 Perfect Strangers (05:33) 4 The Rover / Achilles Last Stand / The Song Remains the Same (07:29) 5 The Big Medley (10:34) 1 Act I: Scene One: Regression (02:06) 2 Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928 (03:37) 3 Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu (05:12) 4 Act I: Scene Three: I. Through My Words (01:02) 5 Act I: Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy (06:49) 6 Act I: Scene Four: Beyond This Life (11:22) 7 Act I: Scene Five: Through Her Eyes (05:29) 8 Act II: Scene Six: Home (12:53) 9 Act II: Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity (06:13) 10 Act II: Scene Seven: II. One Last Time (03:46) 11 Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On (06:38) 12 Act II: Scene Nine: Finally Free (11:59) 1 The Root of All Evil (08:25) 2 The Answer Lies Within (05:33) 3 These Walls (07:36) 4 I Walk Beside You (04:29) 5 Panic Attack (08:13) 6 Never Enough (06:46) 7 Sacrificed Sons (10:42) 8 Octavarium (24:00) |
 | Album: 24 of 26 Title: Dream Theater Released: 2013-09-18 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:14:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 False Awakening Suite (02:42) 2 The Enemy Inside (06:17) 3 The Looking Glass (04:53) 4 Enigma Machine (06:01) 5 The Bigger Picture (07:40) 6 Behind the Veil (06:52) 7 Surrender to Reason (06:34) 8 Along for the Ride (04:45) 9 Illumination Theory (22:17) 10 The Enemy Inside (instrumental) (06:17) |
| Dream Theater : Allmusic album Review : Though Dream Theater recruited drummer Mike Mangini to replace Mike Portnoy on 2011s A Dramatic Turn of Events, his drum parts had all been scripted before the change, leading to the rather stilted feeling of the album. This self-titled offering, the bands 12th album overall, marks the first time Mangini was involved in the writing and creative decision making from the jump and it shows. Produced by guitarist John Petrucci and recorded and mixed by Richard Chycki, this is one of the more dynamic, far-reaching albums in DTs catalog. Opener "False Awakening Suite" is a brief but cinematic near-instrumental with twinned guitars and keyboards riffs from Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess, all underscored by a string section and layered choral vocals by James LaBrie. The bands harder edges are displayed immediately after in "The Enemy Inside," with Manginis fast, syncopated tom-tom and heavy drumming charging through the labyrinthine changes, as prog and death metal join in an unholy alliance; LaBrie is in command, atop it all. "The Looking Glass" is an obvious tribute to Rush, particularly the big arena anthems like "Spirit of Radio" and "Free Will" in its crunchy intro. It moves beyond that into something darker and more intricate with numerous time changes and interludes, yet always returns to the hook. These three tracks make for a fantastic opening trifecta, but the rest doesnt disappoint either. The driving, labyrinthine instrumental "Enigma Machine" features some of Petruccis finest playing on the album, while "Behind the Veil" reveals itself slowly, emerging from lithe, whispering keyboard lines to engage explosive drumming and punishing guitar riffs and varied, thrumming bass parts from John Myung. All efforts lead to the five-part, 22-minute closer "Illumination Theory." Though it borrows a riff from "The Enemy Inside," inspiring its first instrumental section, it moves afield quickly. This is Dream Theater at its most creative. Rudess keyboard playing comes right out of Frank Zappa in several sections, but particularly in "Live, Die Kill." There is an atmospheric interlude in the second instrumental part "The Embracing Circle." In the fourth section, "The Pursuit of Truth," Rudess, Petrucci, and Myung exchange fours, sixes, and eights in syncopated time signatures as Mangini prods them with explosive fills and elephantine rolls between verses. To finish, the music becomes positively majestic (à la Queen) in the final section "The Pursuit of Truth," whispering to a close with acoustic piano, strings, and a single-line guitar melody. Dream Theater is one of the quintets big ones; it holds inside it everything a fan could want, yet also expands the reach of American prog metal. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 26 Title: The Astonishing Released: 2016-01-29 Tracks: 34 Duration: 2:10:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Descent of the NOMACS (01:10) 2 Dystopian Overture (04:50) 3 The Gift of Music (04:00) 4 The Answer (01:52) 5 A Better Life (04:39) 6 Lord Nafaryus (03:28) 7 A Savior in the Square (04:13) 8 When Your Time Has Come (04:19) 9 Act of Faythe (05:00) 10 Three Days (03:44) 11 The Hovering Sojourn (00:27) 12 Brother, Can You Hear Me? (05:11) 13 A Life Left Behind (05:49) 14 Ravenskill (06:01) 15 Chosen (04:32) 16 A Tempting Offer (04:19) 17 Digital Discord (00:47) 18 The X Aspect (04:13) 19 A New Beginning (07:40) 20 The Road to Revolution (03:35) 1 2285 Entr’acte (02:20) 2 Moment of Betrayal (06:11) 3 Heaven’s Cove (04:19) 4 Begin Again (03:54) 5 The Path That Divides (05:09) 6 Machine Chatter (01:03) 7 The Walking Shadow (02:58) 8 My Last Farewell (03:44) 9 Losing Faythe (04:13) 10 Whispers on the Wind (01:37) 11 Hymn of a Thousand Voices (03:38) 12 Our New World (04:12) 13 Power Down (01:25) 14 Astonishing (05:51) |
| The Astonishing : Allmusic album Review : Few bands could have conceived of, let alone pulled off, the exercise in excess that Dream Theater have with The Astonishing. In a vast catalog that includes several album-length conceptual statements -- Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence -- this is so extreme that it pushes at what their fans (a fanatical lot) may accept. Guitarist John Petrucci has written a double-disc sci-fi rock opera, set in a dystopian future in an invented country (the package contains maps). In it, music created and/or performed by humans has been outlawed by the state. Only government-sanctioned and programmed machines are entrusted with those functions. A small band of rebels cling to and fight for the vision (and redemption) of human music. Petrucci consciously sought to create as grand a statement as Tommy, The Wall, and Operation: Mindcrime. Whether or not he and the band have succeeded will likely be debated for some time. Well over two hours long, The Astonishing contains 34 tracks. Dream Theater are accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and three choirs, all conducted by maestro David Campbell (Becks dad). Petrucci entrusted the character voices to vocalist James LaBrie, who executes them authoritatively with his vast range and remarkable control. Keyboardist Jordan Rudess is the wheel all this music turns upon. In addition to his grand pianos, organs, and beautifully wrought synth sounds setting up melodies and harmonies, he handled the choral arrangements, and provided orchestral direction for Campbell. Petruccis guitar playing is, as usual, breathtaking (check "A Better Life"), though he doesnt solo as much. Bassist John Myung and drummer Mike Mangini arent used as prominently as they usually are, but a musical narrative of this scope demands rhythmic flow and consistency. There are a couple attempts at singles -- the excellent melodic prog rock of "The Spirit of Music" and the more metallic "Moment of Betrayal" -- but singles arent the point. Several other individual selections do stand out: "Dystopian Overture" (which deliberately pays momentary homage to the "Overture" from Tommy); "A Life Left Behind" (whose intro reflects Yes influence); "Three Days" (Manginis shining moment, which commences as a ballad but transforms into a prog metal anthem); "Chosen" (a power ballad sure to become a concert fave); and "The Path That Divides" (an angular metal powerhouse overdriven by Rudess manic organ). But these tracks serve almost as "arias" in classical opera; they are connected by much more "recitative" (a narrative device to move the plot along). Though it may be grandiose to say, like opera, The Astonishing shouldnt be disassembled, but judged holistically. It was planned as an immersive, one-sitting listening experience. As demanding as it is, the story and music are worth the effort. Dream Theater have invested in the "album" concept (and in listeners attention spans) even as the music biz doubles down on the notion that long-players are merely envelopes to hold singles. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 26 Title: Distance Over Time Released: 2019-02-22 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:00:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Untethered Angel (06:14) 2 Paralyzed (04:17) 3 Fall Into the Light (07:04) 4 Barstool Warrior (06:43) 5 Room 137 (04:23) 6 S2N (06:21) 7 At Wit’s End (09:20) 8 Out of Reach (04:04) 9 Pale Blue Dot (08:25) 10 Viper King (04:00) |