IMAGES AND WORDS

Ah, the album that revolutionized metal music and inspired masses of metalheads to convert to prog. That's all good and all, it's obvious that "Images and Words" inspired many people to start practicing those guitars that Kirk Hammett inspired them to purchase a year before. But how is the music contained on this revolutionary album? It has some merits, the musicians were young and still practicing their asses off, so this was their peak musically. Kevin Moore created a very engaging harmonic back drop to Petrucci's riffs, and after Moore's departure, this kind of a sound was what the band missed the most. Petrucci's rhythmic style was not too shabby itself, he was still using more than one octave for chords unlike now, and he even added in some "color" notes here and there. I really wonder what has happened since those times. Portnoy's drum sound is.......cheesy. In fact that's probably the most accurate way to describe this album using one word: cheese. From those syrupy smooth bends, to the high feminine voice and the undynamic reverb-heavy snare sound. There is even a sax solo in the style of Kenny G. for a good measure. A fairly enjoyable piece of dated cheese is how I look at this album strictly musically.