METROPOLIS PART 2 - SCENES FROM A MEMORY

This is a classical Dream Theater album: a long progressive metal record appreciated by many progressive metal fans. Compared to their outstanding "Images & words" album, "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory" is a bit less spectacular in terms of technical performance; the mellow bits are also less shiny, majestic and romantic here: there are also less lush & colorful streams of modern floating keyboards involved; maybe the "One last time" track evokes a bit more the feeling involved on the "Images & words" album. On the other hand, the compositions of the record here are more elaborated and less monotonic than the ones on the "Ocatavarium" album.

The sound of the rhythmic electric guitar is excellent, being quite razor and sharp. Labrie's lead vocals are excellent, as always. There are some catchy backing vocals like on the "Fatal tragedy" track: the fast, complex & instrumental part on this track is very impressive, clearly reminding the "Liquid tension experiment" band! "Beyond this life" contains some excellent instrumental parts containing trumpet-like melodies and Zappa- esque xylophone-like arrangements. Unfortunately, "Home" seems to have its best best part in the last minute, showing a progressive Middle Eastern-flavored passage; also just notice how excellent the electric rhythmic guitar sound is at the very end of the track: turn up the volume when the sustained final guitar note enters. The best track of the record is definitely "The dance of eternity": it consists in a serious/funny demonstration of instrumental & progressive performance with Jobson-esque keyboards and fully synchronized instruments played at high speed: impressive! The last 1.5 minute of "Finally free" is inspired from Roger Waters' sound effects and from his Final Cut album; I think the really end of the track cannot be more surprising: it seems to be the sound of a turntable cartridge that has slipped out from the vinyl.