Dream Theater

Images And Words (Atco)

Rating: 3 (out of 4 or 5?)

Blending keyboards and heavy guitars, Dream Theater combines the adventurousness of Seventies progressive rock with the bone-crunching slam of heavy metal, creating a unique Yes-meets-Metallica hybrid. A cool idea, but Dream Theater leaves the task somewhat unfulfilled. You can’t help but marvel at the band’s dexterity, and many of the instrumental excursions on this album (the New York-based band’s second) do provide some enjoyable moments. But like a lot of progressive bands, Dream Theater’s music seems to come more from the head rather than the gut, making this an interesting though unthrilling album.