METROPOLIS PART 2 - SCENES FROM A MEMORY

Dream Theater

Progressive Metal

4.31 | 3276 ratings

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Zarec

Nick nack patty wack, give a dog a bone, This old man came rolling home.

Dream Theater is a big band and so is Metropolis Part 2. The record consists of two acts each being special in it's own way without loosing touch one with another, however.

Act I: It's all about the guitar-keyboard dialogue! Generally, the music is a great jam with tons of creativity but when it comes to the climax, meaning the solos, the speakers start bouncing on the table, I start bouncing in the chair and my ears cum. Petrucci and Rudess alternate the leads changing the sound of their instruments at each shift. Therefore, you get such a variety of sounds because the musicians swirl, push, alternate, tunes up and down their instruments that it's quite a task being able to keep focus. Their technique is remarkable which is why the seven tracks never bore the listener. Since it is a concept album the songs tend to pursue the same line in order to have continuity. Practically, there are two main moods of the first act, meaning darkness and relaxation (I don't know about you but for me metal can become relaxing even in it's intense moments).

Act II: Not as fast as the first part, the second act is more epic and eclectic. Songs like Home have many traditional oriental music influences (no wonder since the concept focuses on reincarnation), One Last Time is undoubtedly slow but touching. Finally free is, as well, very sentimental.

The production is very good, the sound is clear, the distortions are well done (even korn couldn't have done them better) and someone must have paid a lot of attention that LaBrie's voice would not ruin it all. The guitar riffs are pretty light which is indicated if you have a keyboard layout so creative and ingenious as Rudess's.

Zarec | 5/5 | 2008-5-13

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