WHEN DREAM AND DAY UNITE

Dream Theater debut album might not be their best one, but I have to admit that it is a good one. Of course, it is on the heavy side of prog; but everyone is aware of this. When you listen to "The Ytse Jam" you'll get the picture. This is wiiiiiiiild, powerful, technically brilliant. This band has really a place apart in the rock industry.

Before this brilliant track, one has already gone through "A Fortune In Lies". A superb hard-rock anthem which could please any fan of that genre (to whom I belong).

The longest song of the album is also one of my fave. It is a fantastic condensed version of what Dream Theater music is. Quiet moments with very pleasant vocals and the most violent instrumental passages. Great guitar and extremely powerful rhythmics. Portnoy is just amazing in his role here.

The same great beat is available on "Light Fuse And Get Away". High pitched vocals a la Byron at times, fantastic rhythm changes and great keys. Wild stuff again. Same tone with "Afterlife" which shows some weakness in terms of compositions at this time of the album. A bit of variety would have been welcome. Although I like this song very much. Dominici sounds just great, and again the beat is fabulous (but you should be ready for something strong to be able to digest it). Keyboards solo at the end reminds me of "Highway Star".

"The Ones" and "Only A Matter Of Time" confirm the "unity" of the sound throughout the album. Still, the closing section of "Only ..." is unique and puts a nice end to "When Dream And Day Unite".

Dream Theater sounds definitely different than classic hard-rock legends. Let's put it that way : they almost create a new genre of their own. This album doesn't hold extraordinary tracks but it is a collection of pleasant numbers and it is a rather promising debut.

Three stars for this good effort.