DREAMLAND

Most people musically equate Italy with Epic Power Metal and with good reason, however they also have a nucleus of exceptional progressive and quasi-progressive rock/metal bands ie. New Trolls, Orme Le, Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM), Goblin, Finisterre, Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso and Deus Ex Machina. Even the excellent Progressive/Power Metal band Secret Sphere seem to have crossed over to full progressive on their newest release and popular goth metal band Lacuna Coil has always had a progressive feel for me.

Which leads me to DGM. I know, with a forgetful name like that, it's no wonder hardly anyone's ever heard of them. Well apparently they use all their imagination on their music and didn't have any left for an imaginative moniker. Anyway as the saying goes you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, so don't judge a band by it's name.

DGM

On Dreamland at least, DGM, for me, has a strong resemblance the the kings of Prog- rock/metal, Dream Theater. Are they Dream Theater rip offs? I don't think so but if they are are, I don't care, they are making music like I wish DT would have made recently. The song structures are fairly complex and will take a few listens to fully appreciate. Dreamland uses a powerful double bass throughout plus a strong use of keyboards. The keyboard layering is quite dense and dynamic, still providing an overall a pleasant neoclassical feeling. The guitar work on this album is impressive, loaded with intricate solos and shredding in the background on each and every track. The many time changes and thick keyboard layering prevent any dull or boring moments from appearing on this disc and as I mentioned, remind me of Dream Theater

Dreamland is, in my opinion, DGM's highest quality release, including their subsequent release, Hidden Place. DGM has been around ten years and had garnered some notoriety in Europe with their first three releases, however with the addition of the excellent vocals of Titta Tani DGM became a force to reckon with. The addition of Tatta made their remarkable sound complete.

Dreamland and the followup album Hidden Place are the only albums on which Tatta lends his enormous talents for Tatta has since, left the band.

Conclusion

Now I know that this music isn't for everybody and I certainly don't want you to buy something you won't like so, by popular demand, I'm reprising my plus and minus list for this album. Pluses first:

1] Music from Italy, something to show how worldly you are. 2] Resemblance to Dream Theater and Symphony X, a must have combination. 3] It's never been played on the radio and especially MTV. 4] You can experience great progressive rock and live to brag about it. 5] Show fellow music lovers how diverse your musical tastes are and make you seem debonair. See how many people you can fool. 6] Makes a great Xmas present for your mother in law. Watch her give you the evil eye and watch her squirm. 7] Your friends will ask you if that's a new D.T. album. To which you can reply, NO STUPID, IT'S DGM!!!! 8] Improve your sex life. 9] Impossible to confuse with Britney Spears 10]Has the Semismart seal of approval. Thats as good as money, backed by promises.

I could go on and on but we need to get to the minus:

1] Finally try something Semismart reviewed!!!! 2] Manni hasn't reviewed it, yet!!! 3] I might like it and never play Radiohead again!! 4] I'm not used to so much sex! 5] Your friends might say, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? To which you reply Dream Theater! 6] I might not like it but realize I don't really like Good Charlotte either! 7] I might be so impressed that I might start eating raw meat and groping my co- workers!(Did Arnold hear DGM?) 8] I Might like it so much I'd have to have the other four albums, thereby causing me to spend money! 9] I might like it and be curious about other Prog rock bands, thereby causing me to spend money! 10]I might start to take Semismart's reviews seriously, thereby causing me to spend money.

Well it looks like it's even, It's your call but if you like it and wind up spending lots of money, don't blame me.