Images And Words

Dream Theater (Atco)

3.5 out of 4 stars

This American band has released a superb blend of art rock and heavy metal. Overall, Dream Theater's lengthy songs feature many of the best attributes from Queensryche, Gentle Giant, Rush and the Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, the Genesis that holds up better than the bland and boring odes sung by Phil Collins.

Directly, this group has genuine top-10 chart potential. And the only fly in the sonic ointment is the fact that its top tracks run in the seven- to 11-minute range. Will stations play a song of such length if it doesn't hail from another era?

As a former rock-skin pounder, I find the drumming of Mike Portnoy to have no complaint. His time signatures are spot on and his style powerfully displays a ton of taste.

Over the years, my favorite bands have been the ones that feature good musicianship. Those who can really sing and/or play an instrument, certainly have more to offer than those whose only ability is to sample the chops of others. (Isn't the Top 10 dreadful and filled with non-musicians at the moment?)

Anyway, if there is any fairness left in a business that contains the racism of rap and the centerfold hunk of country bunk that is fouling up the charts, this band should find the audience it deserves.

“Pull Me Under" is a dramatic tale filled with strong dynamics. Other tracks of note are the Peter-Gabriel-meets-metal – “Take The Time," "Metropolis PT.1," “Surrounded," a song that takes it's synthesizer riff from the book of Genesis and "Learning To Live" an 11-minute opus of the highest order.

Heavy metal can be utterly dumb and redundant. Thankfully, Dream Theater pumps new life into a cliche-ridden form.