A CHANGE OF SEASONS

And it is. But first, who is this Dream Theater band? Where did they come from? Don`t hear them being promoted in the audio, visual, or printed media. Been around for 20 years? So far sounds like something that I will like. Time for further investigation. Nothing about them in any record guide including the latest edition of The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock. Time to resort to a lesson I learned from a cildhood book called Green Eggs and Ham. I head down to the local record store and say to the clerk, "show me the way to this Dream Theater band son, I`d like to try some." " Right this way Sir, metal section." " Metal section? Thought these guys were supposed to be a prog band?" I say, elliciting a strange kook from the kid as if I had just arrived from another dimension. " Never mind, just show me the way my good son." I pick the one with the blue cover, The one with the kid on the beach. Wait a sec. Kid in the snow. Change Of Seasons? I double check to make sure that this is not a Marillion album which has been mis-shelved. No. Dream Theater heavy metal band. Oh yeah, with progressive elements. Hmmm... looks interesting. 23 minute "suite" track in 7 parts. Wait a minute here. Funeral For A friend? Perfect Strangers? The Rover? This is beginning to sound familiar. What`s this? In The Flesh, Bohemian Rhapsody, Carry On My Wayward son, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' and Turn It On Again all in one medley. Impossible. I`d like to see them pull this off without a hitch. They do. You would swear they had the sheet music in front of them complete with guitar tabs. Vocalist Labrie immediately reminds me of Bruce Dickinson. Wonder what he could do with Filght Of Icarus? Gotta hear that "suite" track. Nice melodic intro with acoustic guitar and voice. Crimson Sunrise. Good build up. Here come the keyboards and..... the head banging guitar. I was waiting for that. Great instrumental mid-section. lots of abrupt changes, even little section with some jazz-like phrasings. Thesecats can write and play in unusual time metres. More than obvious that they took their musical cues from a variety of styles just like the prog bands of old. The heavy aspect might be a little overbearing at first but one must come to terms with this in order to put the work in proper perspective. "Suite" track Change Of Seasons returns to original theme and resolves itself. Crimson Sunset. Brilliantly executed game ,set & match rock suite! Excellent recording showcasing Dream Theater in many elements concluding with the testimonial Big Medley which Appropriately signs off with Turn It On Again from Genesis. And I will. Highly rcomended disc from a multi talented "heavy rock band with progressive elements. PAY LOUD!

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