Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory - Dream Theater

Considering I have reviewed a fair few concept albums lately from the likes of Marillion and Pain of Salvation I thought I would review what has to be one of the greatest concept albums of all time. This goes beyond the norm and tries to actually tell a story rather than relying on sub-context to guide the listener through its intricacies. Dream Theater (no, I haven't spelt it wrong - they're American) are a progressive rock band formed originally in 1985 under the name of 'Majesty'. The name Dream Theater, which the band name eventually became, was taken from a movie theatre in California. The group consists of five people each one being classically ...  Read the complete review

In my mind, this is, without doubt, Dream Theater's finest work. The whole album is one illustriously produced concept - following the twisted story of a young girl's murder in the early 1900s and how a modern man comes to terms with his haunting past. Musically, this album is breathtaking. Each musician (and there are only five of them, believe it or not!) is an expert in their field. From John Petrucci's soaring, highly melodic and blistering precise guitar playing, to James LaBries strident vocals these guys really know how to rock! They also know how to shift time signatures regularly, surprise the listeners with gentle, gospel-like movements ...  Read the complete review

Dream Theater’s 1992 album Images and Words pioneered the progressive metal genre and remains for many the band’s best work, finding a perfect balance between the band’s influences in prog rock and metal. The album’s most technically impressive song ‘Metropolis part 1’ was finally followed up seven years later with the most ambitious Dream Theater release yet, 1999’s Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory. Scenes From a Memory is the band’s only concept album, an inevitable release for experimental progressive musicians that became something of a cliché for seventies rock acts. Dream Theater’s influences are extensive, but are most popularly cited as prog and ...  Read the complete review

This is Dream Theater's 5th full length studio release, and with the help of new keyboardist Jordan Rudess, they have produced their first concept album, and what I believe to be their best album. The album kicks off with the lovely acoustic Regression which sets the scene for the whole story, which is too complicated for me to explain. After the lovely end chord of the 2 minute opener, the keyboard kicks in with the anthemic drum rhythm and the album really starts with Overture 1928, a 3 and a half minute classic prog metal instrumental, which leads perfectly into the next song, Strange Deja Vu, which I think is one of the best on the ...  Read the complete review

As some of you may have noticed, this text has been lifted in part from the review ‘Dream Theater – Progressive Music Today’. This, their most recent album ‘Metropolis Part II – Scenes From A Memory’ sees the band reinvent the idea of the concept album and pull it off brilliantly. Set against a rather sinister plot the storyline is propped up perfectly by their tasteful musical arrangements and you’ll have no real problem putting your feet up and listening to this album from start to finish…twice. As with most things they’ve got better with age (not that they’re old) and the calibre of musicianship ...  Read the complete review