This was the first stuttering steps to Dream Theater’s ascent to Prog metal gods. Released back in ´89 and produced by Terry Date, who would go on to give Pantera, gave them huge leg up with a killer production. However, the sound he gets here is a bit thin and lightweight, and does not get the best out of the songs. This is the only album to have Charlie Dominici on vocals and although Charlie is a decent vocalist, his voice does not suit the material and it’s obvious a change was needed.

The band obviously rate a lot of the material because occasionally some of these songs are played live to this day, namely A Fortune In Lies, The YTSE Jam, and Only A Matter Of Time.  The YTSE Jam is my favourite track because it has all of the elements for future DT music, and I’m a sucker for an instrumental.

Not a classic by their standards but still a great listen.

8/10 from The Grooveman.