IMAGES AND WORDS

Here we have one of the most significant progressive rock albums of nineties. This album meant rising of prog metal, and can be considered as historical breakthrough. I consider this record to be symphonic prog album with some dynamical drumming and occasional heavier guitar riffs. Actually I am not huge Dream Theater fan, but I must admit that this music really shines, through almost whole hour, and there are only few elements that made me little bit far from considering this as masterpiece of the genre. First, these are a bit weaker sides of LaBrie's singing style. He sometimes sings more loud and high than he should. His abilities are great in quieter singing. Singing quieter, he sounds astonishing, has got expressive and melodic, emotive voice. What I hate here are voice samples, that sometimes begin before vocals, I think that these samples are not necessary, and do not fit the best, but, thanks God, there are only few of these. And drumming here is awesome, Portnoy's style sometimes sounds like influenced by Neal Peart's, and fits perfectly in music. Keyboards are almost leading instrument in some songs and sound so relaxing and sweat

And here are some moments that impressed me deep: Saxophones in song "Another Day", rhythm guitars in "Metropolis", images of metropolis perfectly showed by instrumentation in same song, lyrics in "Under the Glass Moon", and the best to me is ending guitar riff in "Learning to Live". All in all, I recommend this album to every prog fan. Such albums are rare, and if James LaBrie sung higher notes better, this would be masterpiece to me.