AWAKE

Right from the start we hear that Dream Theater ditched the 80's hair metal sound in favor of a drier grunge sound that was popular at the time. But that can be expected of Dream Theater, always following the newest trends instead of setting them. Actually this album is probably the band's best attempt at creating their own sound. The focus is not on speedy exchanges between guitars and keyboards as on the more recent albums, but on creating songs with a live feel and powerful emotional delivery. James LaBrie changes his voice to a more raspy one, perhaps trying to imitate Kurt Cobain?. But this is probably the best his voice has ever sounded, he's incredible here! Petrucci's solos are his best and most memorable ones and his tone is also the best he has captured in the studio. "Awake" is very moody and not immediately comprehensible which is the opposite of most other DT albums that are superficially complicated.