REMEDY LANE

A depressing rock opera like 'The Wall' except that this one is metal!

But not only metal, this really defines what progressive metal should be like. Dream Theater plays lots of solos and extended pieces, but this album fuses many elements (rock, metal, ballads, pop, rap, jazz), is very complex and difficult, and has great lyrics. Daniel composed all of this on his own which interests me how gifted this musician is. Not to forget, his vocal range is phenomenal!! He decided to write a concept album based on his life, and unfortunately ... it is very depressing and dark in tone.

Beginnings and Ending Theme begin the album in a very heavy way, full of electric distorted guitars and heavy rhythms. Fandango changes the pace of the album and is probably the most difficult song to get into: All of its rhythms are done in very strange time signatures and styles. At the end, Daniel screams in extremely high notes (how does he do it?). This Heart of Mine begins with a great instrumental intro and leads into a very sad song (read the heartbreaking lyrics about a miscarriage). This Heart Of Mine is a nice love song with very nice melodies. Undertow is one of the big highlights of the album : A repetitive, yet never boring, dark melody is played on the guitar, then sung, then screamed desperately. Rope Ends is another depressing and anxious song about a mother (maybe his own mother) attempting suicide 3 times : the first two times, she doesn't take her life; the third time she dies. Musically and melodically, this song is another standout of the album. Chain Sling deals with breaking up with his loved one. Dryad of the Woods is a lonely soft piece that is very well arranged with piano, and acoustic instruments (another big highlight of the album). Remedy Lane has very strange synthesizers for two minutes, yet it sounds good. Waking Every God is a typical metal song and is my least favourite track of the album. Second Love is another love song (But this one is sad) and Beyond the Pale ...

... Sums up the whole album and it is a masterpiece lyrically and musically. The lyrics basically add up all of his feelings of hate, pain, sadness and confusion. Musically, this song goes through all these feelings. The introducion is constructed in a similar way to Pink floyd's 'High Hopes'. IT contains a strange acoustic riff repeating itself for over a minute while Daniel sings in amazing melodies in a mellow and dark tone. It is magnified with very heavy electric guitar riffing and explodes in a symphonic riff heard in 'Chain Sling' with some sharp 'one-word' growls. The climax is hit in the middle part of the song when the singer brings back references of the past songs in a heavy metal passage. The style of singing is between rap and numetal. After the climax, verses/choruses are repeated and the song ends with the 'We will always be so much more human then we wished to be' lyrical line.

1. Beginnings (7/10) 2. Ending Theme (7.5/10) 3. Fandango (8/10) 4. A Trace Of Blood (8/10) 5. This Heart Of Mine (8/10) 6. Undertow (9/10) 7. Rope Ends (8/10) 8. Chain Sling (8/10) 9. Dryad Of The Woods (9/10) 10. Remedy Lane (8/10) 11. Waking Every God (6/10) 12. Second Love (8/10) 13. Beyond The Pale (10/10)

My Grade : B

recommended!!