METROPOLIS PART 2 - SCENES FROM A MEMORY

My late arrival to the Prog Metal genre, and what an opener it is.

'My God, what have I been losing?' was my first thought just a few years ago when I heard this album for the first time. Well, this may be enough to shun you all away from my review ' has this nerd been hibernating, or what?
Almost right, because until I found PA and on that account began to expand my musical interests, I always ran away from any scent of metal in my music. Glad all that prejudice is behind now.
As this Metropolis was for me the turning point, I hope someone reading this review eventually goes the same way.

Global Appraisal

In fact this is not metal and this is not prog, this is Great Music no matter how you tag it.
The band rocks absolutely in the highest gear, probably attaining here the zenith of their careers: Composition is top notch, all the playing with no exception is virtuosic, production - faultless!

The music totals about 75' and in spite of this extended length it works as any concept album should do resulting as a coherent whole listening experience; nonetheless the themes are so varied in mood, time signatures and orchestral arrangements to never be monotonous or repetitive.
You get a succession of fast rockers, complex instrumentals, melodic ballads, gospel choirs, assorted solos, you name it, capturing you in a rolling dynamics that doesn't let go until the last note.

Goodies

We all recognize by now Mike Portnoy proficiency as a drummer in different genres (I first noticed him on Transatlantic live shows, what a thrill to see/hear) but here in 1999 his playing is absolutely stellar - he opens the book and you ask yourself what else can be said or done after this display.

The just arrived Jordan Rudess (he will remain in the band until this day) carries his classical training and inclinations into the majestic approach he has on the keys, being a sure co-responsible for the symphonic general feeling.

LaBrie deserves a special note: I don't particularly like his vocal timbre and high pitch, in fact in other DT albums his singing even gets to displease me.
If any of you reading this ever felt the same way, well, good news, here the man nails it alright.
I'll say, the vocals are so tight with the playing that you don' t conceive any other in his place.

The label Metal could, for another neophyte like me, bring the idea (fear) of the usual and much over-abused cliches of the genre ' no such thing here!

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