REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: dream theater (Page 3 of 3)

DREAM THEATER – Falling Into Infinity

This is the fourth album from the progressive metal titans, and it just so happens to be my favourite. It has the right balance between crunch, melody, and instrumental interplay with great production from Kevin Shirley. Think of this as their Dark Side Of The Moon, or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as it’s when the band became of age and anything was possible for them after this album. I know there were a lot of tensions within the band, and certain members were reliant on certain liquids and substances to get them through the day. There were also rumours that La Brie maybe not be around for long. This was also the only album to feature Derek Sherinian, which was a crime as I think he was a lot more inventive and off the wall compared to Jordan Rudess, who is an amazing classically trained keyboard whizz, but he’s not very spur of the moment which I love.

There are some absolute epic tracks on this record and New Millennium is one of them and it opens up the record. There is a great middle section with a heavy riff and groove that will melt your face. There were three singles that were released from the record: Burning My Soul, You Not Me (which has Desmond Child as a co-writer), and Hollow Years which was the one that had most success, but was not what the band was all about and give a somewhat false impression to those that had not heard them before. Lines In The Sand is one of the most iconic songs the band have ever recorded and is still a live staple today. Petrucci’s solo is incredible with so much feel and passion it sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. The intro to the song Hells Kitchen is what Sherinian is all about with the creative and inventive side of his playing. Now we get to see him and Portnoy in Sons Of Apollo doing the harder edged stuff which DT seem to have forgotten how to play.

Burning My Soul is another classic DT monster track with a super heavy main riff, killer instrumentation, and keys from DS. Just Let Me Breathe again is a killer track with the right balance between melody and heavy. The album closes with Trail Of Tears, a huge track that is in 3 parts and gives the listener the full on Dream Theater experience. I know the record company wanted hits from the band, and in my opinion they delivered a near perfect album. It’s just that Atlantic did not know how to market them as Pull Me Under would become a heavy weight round their necks. As I said, I love this album and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory

This whole album is a concept piece and a sequel to Metropolis Pt. 1 that appeared on the Images and Words album. To try and explain this quicklyL it’s about a man called Nicholas who goes into regression therapy, and while he is under hypnosis he sees a girl named Victoria Page. He learns that she was murdered and she is now haunting him to reveal the truth about her murder. This also the first appearance on record of Jordan Rudess on keys – after the departure of Derek Sherinian.

This is one of the best albums of the Prog rock genre, and is rightly regarded as a masterpiece. I am lucky enough to have seen this performed in its entirety (with the original recording line up) on various occasions – and you felt like you were seeing something special. I won’t bother to dissect each song as it is one whole piece that is split into sections. The highlights for me (and there are many) are: Overture 1928 and Dance Of Eternity/One Last Time – they are just other worldly and supremely written and composed pieces that I never tire of hearing. If you don’t shed a tear with The Spirit Carries On then you are not human. In my opinion, the band miss the creativity of Mike Portnoy. There is that spark missing from the albums recorded after his departure. If you are a fan of this genre, then you know how good this record is. If you are are somewhat curious, then you should buy this at the earliest your wallet allows.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – Black Clouds & Silver Linings

So here we have Dream Theater’s 10th studio album, and unbeknownst to everyone at the time, this would be Mike Portnoy’s last with the band. The band that he started at college, the band his father named, the band he near enough single handedly controlled he would no longer be part of. In my opinion DT have definitely missed his presence in the band as none of the albums they have released after have been up to their high standards.

So we kick things off with the absolutely epic (which DT song isn’t epic😜?) A Nightmare to Remember. Up there with the very bast DT songs. Great riffs, massive hooks, unreal solo sections and a fantastic melody – plus some unreal drumming from MP. Let me get my breath!!!!!

Next up the more straight (for DT) ahead Rites of Passage, quite Metallica-ish in places. Then we have another absolute monster, the final part of the 12 steps suite, The Shattered Fortress, which has documented MP’s battle with alcoholism. So that’s the 1st record done and only 3 songs in.

Record 2 starts with the obligatory ballad Wither and then into The Best Of Times, which MP had written about his father who was battling cancer at the time and ultimately would be taken by the disease. Final track, The Count Of Tuscany, takes up the whole of Side 4, and again in true DT style, is an absolute monster of a tune.

Hindsight being a wonderful thing, I can see why MP wanted the band to take a break after the touring cycle of this album as there was obviously a lot of personal turmoil in his life at the time. I’m sure you all know what Dream Theater are all about by now, and if you don’t own this album, the last great DT album, then you probably should.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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