This was Dream Theater’s ninth album, and the first for Roadrunner after their split from East West. They went out with a bang after the release of Octavrium, which is one of their best albums. This album doesn’t get mentioned a lot as peoples’ favourite and often gets overlooked, but the quality of the tunes is very high indeed.
In The Presence Of Enemies Part 1 is a monster tune, and one of their best. The intro is superb, and it goes on for like three minutes before the vocals kick in. There is all the usual DT widdleisms and Metallica-esque riffage. On Constant Motion, you get both in the same track. The Dark Eternal Night however, is my personal favourite track. Right from the low end riffage at the intro, to the killer instrumental section, this track just melts your face and has the jaw dropping in awe. When they are on boy they are ON!
The band have lost that spark somewhat, and they need a reinvigoration. But, this gets…
9/10 from The Grooveman.
