What this album creates of musical genius, strong feelings and pure magic cannot easily be said in words, but I will try anyway.

The album is a concept about a person who becomes hypnotised and goes back in time, seeing and experiencing a story of two brothers who are in love with same girl. It ends in tragedy where the bad brother kills the girl and the good brother. Does it sound simple? It's not.

The person who is hypnotised learns many things on this spiritual journey, most important that the spirit lives on and that you have to live life each moment.

I can only say that the story is extremely well written and that the themes are very interesting, important and intense. I have a very personal relationship with the concept of this record.

On to the music, the overall impression is of an extremely well played, melodic, technical, balanced and atmospheric record. Dream Theater has always been fantastic in making music that is detailed and still catchy and melodic.

It's difficult to describe all the songs on their own because of the connection many of them have. They are all brilliant.

Regression opens with a great melodic acoustic guitar from one of the world's greatest guitarists John Petrucci, and a sensitive vocal from James LaBrie.

The album is divided into two acts and nine scenes. The songs changes from up-tempo songs with great riffs like Overture 1928, and slow and atmospheric ones like the brilliant Through Her Eyes with a stunning lead guitar rhythm and a brilliant atmosphere.

Beyond This Life is a technical masterpiece, a song with tons of energy and a lot of change in rhythm.

Home opens with some oriental guitar melodies and then burst into a monster raw and heavy riff, almost 13 minutes of power and dark atmosphere.

Another great track is the sensitive The Spirit Carries On, a huge chorus is the central focus point, but also a great guitar solo.

The Dance Of Eternity shows the brilliance of this band musically abilities. A song full of experimenting parts, the bass play is through the hole album fantastic, and in this song it just works magically, John Myung is a pure talent and his detailed parts lifts the album even higher.

Mike Portnoy's drumming must also have a mention. The amount of power and technical skill that this man produces is out of this world. It has a perfect balance that fits the songs' pace and style. Listening to the drums on this record is pure enjoyment; I am amazed by this highly technical style.

The keyboard elements are brilliantly performed by Jordan Rudess. It is a very important instrument in the songs, creating just the right atmosphere and mood, played with high skill and sense for feel and balance.

One Last Time is extremely slow and full of emotion, a big plus on this album is that all the slow songs in their own way, seem to fit perfect into the balance with the harder elements.

The album is very long, but you are caught from the beginning, and the pretty complex story just makes you want to hear it again. Any critique then? It is surely hard to find any, but the ending song Finally Free seems a bit stretched out, and the ending is a bit strange, but these are only details. The song has an overall high quality with a great chorus and atmosphere. In short, this album is genius. Just listen to the vocal part in Through My Words, I just have to sing along when I hear it. The emotion and feeling in the atmosphere is magical.

The production is extremely good also, perfect power and room for the details in the sound picture.

Write a brilliant concept story, play music that glows with power, energy, emotion, drama, detail and melody and put it together in a perfectly balanced whole, this is what Dream Theater has done and no less than a 10 can be given here.

Written by Tommy
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Show all reviews by Tommy

Ratings

Tommy: 10/10

Members: 9.25/10 - Average of 4 ratings.



Member ratings

---

Steen (Staff) Rating: 9/10 Brilliant, one of a kind album. Exciting concept and amazing execution. So many memorable ... · Read more ·

Sandra Rating: 10/10 The best way of experiencing this album is in the evening with the lights out and a candle... · Read more ·

bosambo Rating: 10/10 No review was posted

notrap Rating: 8/10 Dream Theatre's second best record (In my opinion Images and Words is their best output). ... · Read more ·

---

This article has been shown 16611 times. Go to the complete list.

Login to RevelationZ member section to comment

Comment by Law (Anonymous) - Wednesday, March 19, 2003

This is extremely close to the best album ever written. The story is loosely based on the film "Dead Again". Unfaultable. Rating: 10/10 for sure!

Comment by Yoni - Staff (Anonymous) - Friday, May 2, 2003

nice review, i like yourself, appreciate this album very much. It's one of the great DT albums and the first of which were not bound by any restrictions. That's another story altogether though :) Your comment on the ending of the song 'finally free' is intriguing. I am still trying to work out what all the short newscast, "and as you can see there are grey skies over washington..." and the whole american anthem type thing. Never really got that. In my eyes, the album could have done without some of the gospel stuff, it's nice - but it borderlined on chessy. 9/10

Comment by Tommy (Member) - Saturday, May 3, 2003

View Profile Comments: 74 Ratings: 31 Thanks Yoni. When comparing it to the other Dream Theater albums I end up with this being my favourite one, but in great competition with Images And Words and Awake. Metropolis Pt. 2 is just a fantastic concept that musically spans every possible genius element from the other albums, and yet its sounds so different and highly original. The mix of catchy tunes wrapped up in complex passages in so many of the songs, is a really stunning feature. They're in the studio right now, and I just can't wait until the next one. Tommy RevelationZ Magazine Posted by Tommy Saturday, May 3, 2003

Comment by alex (Anonymous) - Sunday, May 11, 2003

hey Yoni, the radio broadcast at the end of the record is supposed to be the character Nicholas listening to any old radio programme. It just so happened that when Mike Portnoy recorded clip off the radio for it, one of the JFK clan had just died (don't know which one) and that's what was on the radio. Good review by the way - THE best album in the world

Comment by Law (Anonymous) - Monday, May 12, 2003

Yep, the broadcast at the end is the report of the death of JFK JR and is used to let the listener know that we are back in the present and no longer regressing to the past.

Comment by Mick Øendal der... (Anonymous) - Thursday, May 22, 2003

an ok album but not thier best in my opinion... I like six degrees of inner turbulence...

Comment by E. G. (Anonymous) - Friday, June 13, 2003

At first, I have to say that it's a nice review. Perhaps it's their best effort, although I will have always in my heart IMAGES AND WORDS (like the most of their fans, I think). Of course, the rating couldn't be lower, because this album is surely one of the best in music history - regardless genre.

Comment by Cacko (Anonymous) - Saturday, June 14, 2003

highly overated album. 8/10 compared to images and words and awake ------------- 10/10

Comment by Crofty From Bolton, England (Anonymous) - Tuesday, September 2, 2003

THE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED FOR THIS ULTIMATE MASTERPIECE IS..........HOW CAN IT NOT BE 10 OUT OF 10??

Comment by joaq. (Anonymous) - Saturday, September 20, 2003

MASTERPIECE.....

Comment by kris s (Anonymous) - Friday, September 26, 2003

what un album!!!!!!!10 for sure

Comment by Pedro Henrique, from Brazil (Anonymous) - Friday, February 13, 2004

Metropolis PT1 is the best album ever! My life is better because of these songs. Petrucci is the best. Pedro Henrique, from Brazil

Comment by Roberto (Anonymous) - Thursday, March 25, 2004

Just great!! Dream theater is just the best of all, melodic rithmyns, grat technic and powerful reefs! this concept album is the best of all.... it makes you feel a lot!

Comment by genny (Anonymous) - Thursday, March 25, 2004

I Love DT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by JPN (Anonymous) - Saturday, May 1, 2004

I have been listening to Dream Theater sort of casually for a while. How did I miss this album until now? The hard songs are so thoroughly hard, fast, polyphonic and brilliantly awesome that the listener really needs the softer ones in between to recuperate. Nice review. I don't think I could have said it better.

Comment by Tommy (Member) - Sunday, May 2, 2004

View Profile Comments: 74 Ratings: 31 Thanks for the kind words JPN, and you are right about the hard/soft balance, it gives the album a fantastic and dynamic flow. Tommy RevelationZ Magazine Posted by Tommy Sunday, May 2, 2004

Comment by James Pertruci (Anonymous) - Tuesday, May 18, 2004

proper bo selecta!!!!!!

Comment by kirky (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 23, 2004

the greatest concept album after DREAMING NEON BLACK

Comment by Carnapalm cassdeath (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 22, 2004

My 1st DT album.Wow those guys must listen a lot to Metallica and Iron Maiden.Did anyone notice the ressemblance between part of the intro of call of ktulu and the early guitar part in "finally free"(It starts at 00:53)?Also there's one heavy part in a song(I forgot which one) which makes me think of the heavy part of "one".Anyway excellent album,it some of the best some of the best solos I ever heard

Comment by kelly (Anonymous) - Wednesday, August 18, 2004

nobody but DT would ever do such a brilliant job it's not only the story or the music(and the technic as well) that's great but it's also the feeling that you get when you hear this album over and over again... to those who understand... ;)

Comment by Pat (Anonymous) - Sunday, December 12, 2004

Pure perfection. I've yet to treat myself to a better listening than this. Dream Theater are musicians in the real sense of the word, and the best band of this generation.

Comment by sLapitdOwN (Anonymous) - Wednesday, December 29, 2004

daMn heLL of an albUm 11/10??!!

Comment by D3s0L (Anonymous) - Thursday, January 13, 2005

They are just the best... since beautifull sonatas to listen with your girlfriend, passing great musics to listen while in trips with friends to just some extreme powerfull heavy songs you wanna hear when you feel the world turned his back on you... Metallica are better than dream? lolol only in cd sales...

Comment by Kasper (Anonymous) - Friday, April 8, 2005

You can't deny that this is just simply the best prog. metal album ever. 10/10

Comment by Scott (Anonymous) - Monday, April 11, 2005

10/10 masterpiece...to anyone that say otherwise...well you obviously dont know music that well...

Comment by Lemuel (Anonymous) - Friday, October 14, 2005

Great music!

Comment by Little Drummer Boy (Anonymous) - Saturday, January 21, 2006

Brilliant...9.5 It hard for me to give it a 10 since the ground breaking I&W is still amoung my fav releases (amoung all bands) of all time.

Comment by Josue Ruiz (Anonymous) - Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Dificil de comparar con otro album, y dificil de mejorar. Increible composicion. Una obra de arte y sin lugar a dudas el mejor disco de Dream Theater. Amazing work guys. 11/10

Comment by mould_jesus (Anonymous) - Saturday, May 13, 2006

one thing you failed to mention is how the tracks rework and reprise themselves through the album. not only is "the dance of eternity" an incredible instrumental piece, but it reprises "overture 1928" and then goes straight into "one last time" which reprises "strange deja vu." this is by far and without question the best rock album ever written, played and recorded.

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Saturday, July 8, 2006

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 Great review , My favorite album of all-time 10/10 Posted by ThraX Saturday, July 8, 2006

Comment by Mael (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 20, 2006

This album is what got me into Dream Theater! It's a brilliantly written concept masterpiece, up there with Quadrophenia and The Wall. For originality, it deservers a 10/10. However, 'Awake' and 'Train of Thought' are my favourite albums.

Comment by efendi (Anonymous) - Friday, May 18, 2007

mike portnoy laga skiil yuk itu sih kalo elo nekad kalo enggak nekad gak apa apa "fortune in lies "

Comment by Neven (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Probably the best metal album ever. Fantastic piece of art.

Comment by VeX (Member) - Thursday, December 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 The greatest album ever created. Tommy your review is spot on, Brilliant review! 10/10 Posted by VeX Thursday, December 18, 2008

Comment by Tommy (Member) - Thursday, December 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 74 Ratings: 31 Thanks. This album really has everything. Posted by Tommy Thursday, December 18, 2008

Review by Sandra (Member) - Friday, June 19, 2009

View Profile Comments: 36 Ratings: 25 The best way of experiencing this album is in the evening with the lights out and a candle or two, while lying in bed. It is the ultimate way of experiencing all the moods captured into this essential album. It just fits my "normal evening mood" and it is often found in my stereo at this time, where "awake" is more likely played on a melancholic Sunday morning and "Images and Words" outside in nature nearby the ocean, at my favorite place in my hometown ... that's how it works for me when talking about getting the most out of these three indescribable albums. It is very hard to pick just one as my favorite DT album, especially between these three, because every single DT album means something special to me. . . How can I choose a piece of my heart and soul as "my favorite?" Home is one of my DT favorites. The beginning is very mysterious and very oriental, like something taken out of a dream ... and then it accelerates until you're suddenly hit by the heaviness of the guitar. "Decadent scenes from my memory "and "... her ecstasy means so much to me...) Are divine lines... it is as if the story goes straight in to the bones. The lyrics are unique, and very passionate throughout the album. The Dance of Eternity is so playful, heavy, emotional and ... funny ;) they really have a great sense of humor... although it is a depressing story. So many layers, so complex. The piano melody in One Last Time, is so breathtaking beautiful and I LOVE the chorus. Finally free is very dramatic and so wonderful. It is flowing with emotionalism and the chorus makes me fell alive in a silent way. And I love the repeating of the "one last time "chorus in the middle. The album ends in a very odd way...I'm left with a strange empty feeling and a bit of pain... it makes me wonder: what just happened? Scenes from a memory - oh, just the title of the album does something to my stomach; it fits perfectly to Dream Theater...yeah, and of course the tragic story. It's a l0/l0 if I don't look at the previous albums, and 9, 9/l0 if I compare it to Awake and Images and Words... I need a larger scale ;) Rating: 10/10 Posted by Sandra Friday, June 19, 2009

Review by Steen (Staff) - Thursday, June 25, 2009

View Profile Comments: 518 Brilliant, one of a kind album. Exciting concept and amazing execution. So many memorable moments on this one. Awake remains my favorite though. Rating: 9/10 Posted by Steen (Staff) Thursday, June 25, 2009

Review by notrap (Member) - Friday, February 12, 2010

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 Dream Theatre's second best record (In my opinion Images and Words is their best output). Home is an excellent song. Rating: 8/10 Posted by notrap Friday, February 12, 2010

Comment by Tercio (Member) - Saturday, February 13, 2010

View Profile Comments: 2 Ratings: 0 In my opinion, this is the DREAM THEATER's best album ! Posted by Tercio Saturday, February 13, 2010