Originally published in Spartan Daily · November 1992
Dream Theater offers nothing for the narrow-minded categorists
By Eric Hove
Review2 min read
Labeling the band Dream Theater is a difficult task. To heavy metal fans there are times on their new effort “Images and Words” when it gets into head-banging riffs that rival Metallica in the opening song “Pull Me Under.”
At other times jazz fans would be more enthralled with a saxophone weaved into the song “Learning to Live.”
The east coast-based band defies a definite label and by labeling Dream Theater it may be a letdown for the die-hard fan. If the aim is to listen to 60 minutes of thrash metal that pounds your senses, don’t bother. Likewise, if the goal is to listen to an hour of melodic tunes with a mellow theme, this isn’t the album either.
Comparisons to a heavier, more updated version of Kansas, or Styx comes to mind when the album is first taken in. “Images and Words” incorporates strong, heavy guitar sounds with a heavy dose of keyboards and synthesizers. Some more contemporary comparisons may be Queensryche or the Dregs.
The songs on “Images and Words” are longer then many, with “Pull Me Under” more than eight minutes long. Dream Theater incorporates the change of pace style of Metallica or Iron Maiden to incorporate many pieces into one. There is no pattern to the length of the songs, according to drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy. They don’t worry about how long a song is.
“We start a song and wherever it goes, we go,” said Portnoy.
Like Queensryche, Dream Theater’s lead singer, James LaBrie has a fine voice with range and melodic tone. It is very unlike that heavy dark tones of the metal singer, such as James Hetfield of Metallica or Brian Johnson of AC/DC.
Again defined categorization, LaBrie disappoints as a true “heavy metal” singer, but if listening to someone who can actually carry a note asked to the music, he may be the man.
To enjoy Dream Theater, listeners must be diverse enough to appreciate music that is complicated and melodic while still being a metal head’s dream. Narrow minded categorists need not bother with “Images and Words.”