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Dream Theater: Men, Martians or Machines? Few other bands have thrived and prospered in the realms of the underground music scene as Dream Theater. With a fan base that borders on obsessive, yet keeps a very critical eye on their heroes, this quintet has managed to stay at the top of the progressive scene for a good 9 years, and show no signs of letting go off their reigning status anytime soon. Blending the progressiveness of vintage Rush and the heaviness of pre-90's Metallica with their own rhythmic fury, instrumental prowess and soaring melodies, Dream Theater are constantly reinventing themselves.Back in 1989, the band released their first album When Dream and Day Unite. Although the production lacked in strength and depth, the songs were there and provided a good indication of where the band would head in the future. 1991's Images and Words saw the band evolving into a tighter ensemble. The songs were better, the production much tighter and the band had found the perfect vocalist for their sound. James LaBrie gave the band the edge they needed and helped the songs soar higher than they had on their debut. Not only was Images and Words a classy album from start to finish but the songs stood on their own. Proof of this was that the band managed to have their first single hit both radio and MTV airwaves. On 1994's Awake, Dream Theater took a darker direction, with moodier songs and heavier instrumentalization. Still, it was undeniable that Dream Theater had unveiled a monster unto the masses and that their sound would become the new standard for progressive metal. Original keyboardist Kevin Moore left the band soon after the release of Awake and fans held their collective breath, waiting to see who would replace one of the strongest songwriters the band had. Ex-Alice Cooper keys wizard Derek Sherinian entered the picture and fans were again nervously waiting to see what the future held for their mighty idols. After a show of hands (pun intended) from the fans proved effective (in the form of an online petition), the band's record company decided to allow Dream Theater to release a studio version of one of their most sought after songs: A Change of Seasons. The song was released along with four live songs from their Uncovered gig. If anything, this EP proved that Dream Theater's core (the team of guitarist John Petrucci and drummer Mike Portnoy) was as strong as ever. When the following album, 1996's Falling Into Infinity, was released, many were disappointed with the band's obvious more song-oriented approach. Sure, the songs were not as progressive, diverse and limit-stretching as they had been in the past, but the Dream Theater sound, and chops, was still there. The supporting tour saw the band have fun with their set list, incorporating excerpts of other bands' songs into their own, extending jamming outros and even switching instruments for a cover of Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers." Sherinian left the band in 1998 when Dream Theater decided he was not the right player for their next project. The search for a new keyboard player ended when the band decided to acquire the talents of virtuoso Jordan Rudess, who had collaborated with Petrucci and Portnoy on the Liquid Tension Experiment albums. The band kept details of their new album under a tight "veil of secrecy," although that didn't stop people on the web from finding mp3's and getting a taste of what was to come. What was to come was, arguably, Dream Theater's finest moment yet. Delivering one of the most fan-requested songs from the band: Metropolis pt. 2. A conceptual masterpiece, Metropolis pt 2: Scenes from a Memory borrows both lyrically and musically from the song it "continues." Yet it is not a simple rehashing of the previous song: the new album takes cues from pt 1 and develops them into a new musical entity that pushes the limits of what this band can accomplish even farther out. At a time when many progressive metal bands have shamelessly copied DT's sound, the band has stepped beyond it and have set a new standard on what progressiveness means. The album encompasses all stages of the band, from the shred-fest of "Dance of Eternity," to the smooth balladry of "Through Her Eyes" to the epicness of "Home." Currently, the band is awing audiences all over Europe, after selling out large clubs all over the US. This tour should not be missed since it will most likely be the only time the new album is performed in its entirety. The show uses video screens to show parts of the story, making this a truly must-see performance. One can only wonder how Dream Theater plan to top this - well, remember that 8 years ago the band came out with the awe-inspiring Images and Words and the progressive world has never been the same since. The band still has quite a few aces under their sleeves and, now with the aid of Rudess, might surprise us a few more times. |
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