PARASOMNIA

One would think after forty years of constant motion (pun intended), Dream Theater would be ready to settle down and make a predictable album. After all, with the return of founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy (everybody drink!), they could have churned out anything and it would sell. But not Dream Theater.

With the "classic" 1999-2009 lineup reuniting, the five members decided to go for broke with a loose concept album (a "thematic" album, as it is being promoted as) about sleeping disorders, featuring their heaviest music since Train of Thought. The album opens with "In the Arms of Morpheus", effectively the "Parasomnia overture"; various themes from throughout the album are introduced and guitarist John Petrucci brings out, for the first and only time on Parasomnia, an eight-string guitar (all other guitars are six or seven-stringed). This segues into the first single from the album, "Night Terror", a straight-ahead rocker of sorts with great riffs, a catchy chorus, and great dual-lead lines from Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess.

Side two (or "Dream Two", as it is billed) opens with "A Broken Man", perhaps the proggiest of the first seven tracks. The breakdown section features amazing organ and synth solos from Rudess and a fantastic, Steve Morse-esque guitar solo from Petrucci. Just as you think this album can't get any heavier, "Dead Asleep" shows up, with its menacing riff, and a killer synth solo; overall, one of the best songs on the album.

"Midnight Messiah", a track reminiscent of "As I Am" and "The Root of All Evil", is the only track with lyrics by Portnoy (everybody drink!), who throws in plenty of references to prior Dream Theater songs. This is the most "traditional metal" of any track on the album. "Bend the Clock", the only ballad on the album, features an amazing guitar tone from Petrucci, who delivers one of his best solos during the last two minutes of the track. The album closes with "The Shadow Man Incident", clocking in at 19 minutes and 32 seconds. From the musical box at the beginning to the alarm clock sound effect at the end, this song is an absolute masterclass of an epic. The highlight of the album is the solo section in the middle of the piece, with Rudess and Petrucci delivering great Return to Forever-style solos. The album culminates in a bombastic ending, fading out with a final drum fill before a voice is heard?"wake up!"?and an alarm clock rings the album to its end.

This album is becoming my favorite Dream Theater album, and it lived up to its hype. A must-own album.

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