AWAKE

This is perhaps my favourite piece of music from Dream Theater. I remember when I heard about Dream Theater for the first time, it was couple of years ago. I heard that everybody is listening to it in my school. I was like I have to listen it too, then. I know, teenager's brains are not the brightest ones. Well anyway, I went to a recordstore and bought a random Dream Theater album. That album was 'Awake'. I listened to it with caution. Then, I liked it. Now, I love it. The third album from DT. Second where LaBrie sings. Great album.

The album begins with '6:00'. Good drumming by Portnoy. Short tribal drum fill. Keyboards join, and guitarring begins. Good metal riffing. Great bass playing by Muyng. I love the way LaBrie sings in this one. Good prog-metal song. Next is 'Caught in a Web'. Good metal riffing in here too. Nice, melodic keyboards in the song. Portnoy continues his great drumming. There are heavy stuff, and there are soft stuff. Great song after good beginning. So far, the album is only good, but wait, it will get better. 'Innocence Faded' begins with very happy keyboard or guitar melody. Calm verse. Very nice pop chorus. This song is very refreshing point in the album. The next one is great piece. It belongs to 'A Mind Beside Itself', which include the next three songs. 'Erotomania' shines with its melody, metal, complexity and virtuoso-like instrument handling. The guitar solo in the middle is from 'The Silen Man'. It's the vocal melody from chorus. There is very classical influenced guitar playing by Petrucci in the song. After that, stunning guitar solo with immense speed. Then, good metal riff with disturbing (in a good way) keyboard line. The song finishes calmly. 'Voices' is very mellow piece of music. Nice guitar solo in the end of the song. Good, calm way to recover from the amazing 'Erotomania'. The next songs will calm your senses even more. 'The Silent Man' is a non-prog ballad with great acoustic guitars and singing. Good way to finish the trilogy, 'A Mind Beside Itself'.

The next two songs are linked together. I see them as one song, because they share the same feeling. For me, the feeling of the song makes the song. 'The Mirror' begins with pretty heavy Dream Theater sound. Little riffing and tempo changes. Very good, scary vocals. Very good, beautiful keyboards. Good prog-metal track. Probably the heaviest track in this album. 'Lie' continues with the heavy sound. Good vocals. This is actually very good single material. I've seen the video from this track. It's not very good, but the track is. Good guitar solo in the end. The combination of these two songs is great. The next one is antoher non-prog ballad, 'Lifting Shadows off a Dream'. Great, beautiful keyboards and vocals. Very emotional song. 'Scarred' begins with jazzy bass and drum playing. Good, short guitar solo, and calm vocals. Good, mellow metal with agressive vocals after that. Petrucci continues to impress with his amazing talent. Great song. The finisher of the album is great. 'Space-Dye Vest' is very emotional and beautiful track. Very soft vocals, very good work. Great finisher.

All in all, this is great album. The talent, the prog-metal, the calm, beautiful melody impresses. This album has everything. But I can't give this album a five star rating. There is something that doesn't unite these songs as one. Or there is lack of something. Whichever it is, I'm left missing that something. This album has eleven great tracks, but I don't see this album as a masterpiece. I see it as an excellent addition to any prog music collection. 'Awake' is definitely on of the best albums from Dream Theater. The kings of progressive metal are building their castle. One great mark in the history of prog-metal and the history of Dream Theater. I recommend this album to everyone.