2112

If for no other reason than how very important I consider this album to be in Prog Metal and Hard Rock/Prog history, '2112' should be an item of interest to even the most general of prog fans. In this respect I consider it "essential". Not a masterpiece, but "essential" nonetheless.

Caress of Steel was a mere 'practice run' for this album. This is the album that marks the 'coming of age' of Prog-Arena Rock. '2112' was the band's breakthrough album as evidenced by the extent to which a blazing red star "held high in hand" would become deeply associated in the fans' consciousness as the band's "symbol" for no few years to follow.

This is the album that should be famous (some might say infamous!) for paving the pathway for our Prog-Metal music of today. While this album is not prog-metal at all, and many modern Prog-Metal bands may distance themselves from the association, virtually an entire generation of Proggie Metal-heads and Hard Rockers cited Rush as a major influence. Another very strong branch of the Prog-Metal family tree traces through Dream Theater back to Rush. The goal of Prog Metal-ites is not so much to reproduce Rush as much as it is to pick up where the band left off and to realize the fully complex and powerful potential of which the trio only 'scratched the surface' in the 1970's.

Of course, Prog Metal doesn't exactly have to be your favorite sub-genre of prog in order to enjoy this album on a purely musical level. The 'epic' "Side One" 7-part title track holds my attention from start to finish. Side Two is weaker but ends strong with the thoughtful, if slightly preachy, "Something for Nothing".