SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE

6DOIT had to follow the highly-successful predecessor "Scenes from a memory", which introduced a substantial shift in the sound of the band - probably, in hindsight, the real sound the band always wanted for itself. Compared to earlier outputs, the advent of funambolic Jordan Rudess to keyboards gave a stronger symphonic edge to the overall sound, but also and a large kick toward the virtuosos-first tendency that was going to degenerate in later productions of the quintet. In between the concept album "Scenes" and the mainly heavy dark metal "Train of thought" appeared this 6DOIT. An it was a very good one.

6DOIT sees the band in a highly inventive and originality-seeking mood throughout. They were able to produce something different from the honorable predecessor while keeping a very high quality standard. They reproposed a sort of melting pot environment that first appeared in "Falling into infinity", but far more pretentious and far reaching. And rightly so.

Each of the six tracks of the album has its own peculiarities and personality - this is recognized as a DT trademark, which has here its main manifestation. In disc 1, the furious opener "The glass prison" builds a hugely energetic intro to the album in the first minutes, later expanding into mellowed sections. All the bands technically shines in this Metallica-but-many-times-better-than-Metallica long but subtle song (probably the best, together with "This dying soul", of the inaugurated AA saga). Then "Blind faith" cools down the tone with a pretty, poppish still symphonic sound supported by interesting lyrics. Amazing instrumental middle section, starting with a bluesy Petrucci solo on a composite odd time signature, on with an elegant piano section by Rudess and a symphonic reprise with a tasty solo by Petrucci coadiuvated by nice keys. Then "Misunderstood", original, hybrid, explorative but too long. Acoustic intro, tight progression toward the refrain and a sort of free, inventive final section with a little abused finale with twisted distorted guitars. "The great debate" then follows, but takes time to express its potential since the intro has a long series of quotations from media and speeches about stem cell research. Then the main theme starts with its hypnotic odd bass line. Though a bit repetitive, the song has a very fine instrumental section which rises the overall status of the track. The first part of the work ends with the delicate and melancholic "Disappear", a nice jewel ballad. But little anticipates at this point what is hidden in the second disc.

The title track is probably the best, most coherent and rich single track produced by DT, along with "A change of seasons". Grand, symphonic, surprising, well-thought and dense. Starting from the "Ouverture" to "Loosing time", it is a rollercoster through sensations and situations, thrilling, rarefied, deep, obsessive, maniacal, schizofrenic and mellow at times. Great arrangements, top-notch performance by band. From jazz interludes to Queen-like choruses, from Dixie Dregs solos to raging licks, from classical orchestration to full-blown progmetal complexities in signatures and layerings. A must in its own.

A great addiction to every proglover collection - which would have even been fundamental if some redundancies in the 3rd and 4th tracks were eliminated, as they are superfluous and dilute the pathos of a great achievement of a work.

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