Originally published in Kerrang magazine 394 · May 1992
Progressive Dream Still Alive
News1 min read
US Progressive Metal maestros Dream Theater have completed work on their second album, titled Images And Words, and due through Atlantic on June 22.
Produced by David Prater (noted for his work with Firehouse), it features the following tracks:
Side One; ‘Pull Me Under’, ‘Another Day’, ‘Take The Time’, ‘Surrounded (The Longest Night)’.
Side Two; ‘Metropolis – Part One’, ‘Under A Glass Moon’, ‘Wait For Sleep’, ‘Learning To Live’.
The album, described as ‘a cross between Metallica and Yes’, is the first to feature new Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie, who was recruited after the band had tried out some 200 hopefuls.
“This album is really diverse,” drummer Mike Portnoy told Mayhem last week.” You have real heavy stuff like ‘Pull Me Under’ and ‘Under A Glass Moon’, and quintessential epics like ‘Another Day’ and ‘Metropolis (Part One)’.
Asked about the band’s ‘Progressive Metal’ tag, Portnoy commented: “We go way beyond progressive rock. We’re not living in the past. We have Yes and Genesis influences but we also have Metallica and other Thrash bands as Influences. All of those elements are there. We don’t fit into any obvious category.”
Dream Theater have just signed a deal with management heavyweights Sanctuary, who look after Iron Maiden and W.A.S.P. They hope to embark on an extensive touring schedule to coincide with the album release, which will kick off when they support Iron Maiden in the US.