WHEN DREAM AND DAY UNITE

The American band Dream Theater can be considered the standard-bearer of prog metal for more than thirty years now. Their fabulous playing, full of powerful melodies, dazzling solos, and overwhelming rhythms, accompanied by beautiful, elastic vocals, has consistently delivered strong albums that resonate worldwide. In all this madness, one might almost forget how it all began.

"When Dream And Day Unite," the band's debut album from 1989, has, in hindsight, become something of an oddity. This is mainly because the vocals were handled by Charlie Dominici, who would be replaced a year later by the far superior singer James LaBrie. It's not that Dominici underperforms on the album; he just has to work very hard for it. The others seem to effortlessly deliver those difficult parts.

What made this album so special in my opinion is the relentless sky-storming mentality of each band member. The eagerness is palpable, and thanks to Mike Portnoy's tight and decisive drumming, it never becomes a muddle. I still vividly remember how the album struck me at the time with its well-oiled urge to act.

All the tracks have something to offer. The short ones are good because they're short, and the long ones are good because they're long. Take, for example, the first two tracks, A Fortune In Lies and Status Seeker. Their song structure excellently introduces the band and its qualities (apart from the somewhat thin sound), followed by Ytse Jam. This swirling instrumental display of power has a Rush-like quality with its impressive solo spots. It sets the stage for a strong sequence of highlights, with the epic The Killing Hand being the pinnacle for many. It's hard to put into words why that is. Another standout is Afterlife, with its extraordinarily beautiful melodies. The album closes with Only A Matter Of Time, written by keyboardist Kevin Moore, which sounds as if old Marillion ventured into prog metal. This final track almost gives the listener a sense of celebration. Well done, gentlemen.

John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy were the founding members of this band. A thank you is certainly in order.

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com