AWAKE

This album marks a bit of a change in direction for Dream Theater as this was their first real metal album with John Petrucci sometimes ditching the 6 string to make way for a darker heavyer 7 string hence the dark tone of the album. Thats not the only thing however, this also marks the last album for keyboard player Kevin Moore and features his last lyric and musical contribution and is the start of a really clean production for the band, where you can really hear each instrument well, but are the songs any good? well yes of course. Thats not to say there arint any iffy songs on here as im not really a fan of maybe 2-3 songs opener 6.00 just doesnt do anything for me as does THE MIRROR, but the rest are amazing including the fantastic A MIND BESIDE ITSELF suite, INNOCENCE FADED, the epic SCARRED and the beauty of LIFTING SHADOWS OF A DREAM;

6:00 - 6/10 Caught in a Web - 8/10 Innocence Faded - 9/10 A Mind Beside Itself: I. Erotomania - 10/10 A Mind Beside Itself: II. Voices - 10/10 A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man - 9/10 The Mirror - 6/10 Lie - 8/10 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream - 9/10 Scarred - 10/10 Space-Dye Vest - 8/10

My Conclusion? yet another fantastic album for DT and a worth add to your collection, a classic.