ream Theater, the definitive progressive metal band, returns with this two CD set of all studio material. As time has past since the bands onset, some personnel changes, and many albums, both live and studio have been released, and each album gets press from both sides of the critic's pages. I personally have enjoyed most everything the band has done to date, feeling that even the bands most 'commercial' efforts were still so well done that they are better than many progressive metal bands best material. That being said, brings me to this most recent release for the year 2002.
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, shows a natural progression for the bands maturation process, many of the long time metal heads that followed them through the early efforts may again be dissapointed, as the continuation of adding more symphonic, fusion, as well as progressive rock influences drives the bands new direction. They are a band that refuses to stagnate, or create music for any certain genre, as they are superlative musicians, that are perpetually growing and nurturing their well-spring of talent. The addition of keyboardist Jordan Rudess has taken the composition level to new heights, he, being a Juilliard trained musician, is a prodigious, and prolific wealth of musical knowledge, his presence has seemingly inspired the rest of the band to achieve new frontiers outside of the very genre they are defining. It is obvious to those who have heard the Liquid Tension Experiment CDs, that his influence has given DT an entirely new identity.
Of course DT was never lacking for talent, as each musician is considered and respected as amoungst the very best on their respective instruments. Now, with Rudess, the band has gravitated away from a strictly progressive metal band, to a band that encompasses many styles, that can, and should appeal to many listeners of diverse, progressive musics. Listening to cd two, I hear a magnificent symphonic opus, it is eight songs long, but takes the listener through many songs that simply fixate their hooks and mesmerizing melodies to your memory, as I was finding myself hearing these songs in my mind long after I was done listening to them. Along with these melodies are the intricate instrumental breaks the band is so well known for, no wasted space in any songs, very deliberate. CD one, is the heavier of the two, though both have their moments, I should add, that singer James LaBrie really has come a long way as a vocalist, he sounds much more in control, and restrained on the lst couple cds. Song one, Glass Prison, shows the LTE influence, along with some new vocal ideas, very industrial sounding, with some very cool keyboards filling the backdrop. This CD is showing the various lyrical ideas of Petrucci, Portnoy, and LaBrie, which if I am not mistaken is a somewhat new thing for the band.
The Great Debate, is a song that touches on the political consequences of the controversial Stem Cell research debate, very insightful stuff. Without breaking down each song, I can highly recommend this cd for long-time fans, and for the inquisitive progrockers who have balked at the band in the past, one cannot deny that DT has now embraced such an array musical idioms, and are so creative, and talented, you are bound to get something from this CD set.
ream Theater, the definitive progressive metal band, returns with this two CD set of all studio material. As time has past since the bands onset, some personnel changes, and many albums, both live and studio have been released, and each album gets press from both sides of the critic's pages. I personally have enjoyed most everything the band has done to date, feeling that even the bands most 'commercial' efforts were still so well done that they are better than many progressive metal bands best material. That being said, brings me to this most recent release for the year 2002.