Dream Theater

When Dream And Day Unite

(Mechanic - MCAC 42259/Import)

Rating: 95 out of 100 (An Essential Buy)

Wow! Aural overload! From the moment I slipped this debut album into my trusty Sony, I knew it was something special.

Dream Theater have produced the kind of album first time round that took Queensryche three and Crimson Glory two attempts to achieve. Successfully blending the most attractive elements of mid-70’s progressive rock, pomp and 80 ‘s speed metal, Dream Theater offer the listener a work that draws your attention to something different each time. Each instrument jostles for position, demanding to be heard first – a healthy, powerful state of events that continues throughout all eight tracks.

“A Fortune In Lies” begins the proceedings with guitarist John Petrucci merely giving us a taste of better things to come. Vocalist Charlie Dominici’s strong, commanding range gives the tracks an added ambience, although he does continually remind me of Geddy Lee, especially on “Status Seeker”.

“The Ytse Jam” is an instrumental which showcases the Immeasurable talents of, apart from guitarist John Petrucci, drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist Kevin Moore and bassist John Myung, who all have solo spots.

“The Killing Hand” is one of the most diverse tracks, which builds from an acoustic intro to its majestic finale, engulfing numerous rhythm changes en route .

I’m hard pushed to criticize this album at all, there’s not a weak track on It, but what I will say is that there is often just too much going on for you to appreciate It all at once. What I mean is that all the Individual instruments are so well played that you would like to hear one on its own a bit more. A small complaint though!

Side two is every bit as memorable as the first, with the most ‘accessible’ track being “Afterlife” (which features an amazing guitar solo), and my pick of the bunch “Light Fuse And Get Away” where the keyboards maintain, and improve on, the original riff.

An essential purchase then for anyone whose tastes run from Rush to Queensrÿche, Kansas to Crimson Glory and stopping at all stations In between. Exquisite.

Dave Shack