When one thinks of "Progressive Metal", if one knows that that actually is a thing, the first band one probably thinks of is the enormously influential New York band Dream Theater. The last of the proverbial "Big Three" (along with prog metal godfathers Queensrÿche and Fates Warning), Dream Theater blew open the commercial doors typically closed to progressive metal in 1992, with their surprise hit "Pull Me Under" off of their second album, Images and Words. Between their initial release, When Dream and Day Unite, and this follow up, they had jettisoned their first singer, Charlie Dominici, and settled on an approach with relatively wide appeal, embracing occasional rock ballads, occasional AOR anthems and, less occasionally, mind-boggling feats of musical acrobatics alike.
I've always held some ambivalence about Dream Theater. There's no denying their incredible musicianship and technical prowess. They've done as much as anyone in popularizing challenging rock music. Aesthetically, though, I have a tough time with some of their music. Some of it is just too croon-y and light for my taste. I think my biggest problem is with long-time vocalist James LaBrie. He's a gifted singer, no doubt, but his at-times breathy delivery is tough for me to take. On the other hand, there are moments of true metal heaviness... in fact, pretty much all of the album Train of Thought rocks extremely hard, and is still rhythmically and formally imaginative. And almost all of their albums at least have moments like that. When they're good, they're among the best in the business. Even when they're not, they're in the conversation. For me, their highlights include the afore-mentioned Train of Thought, most of their third release Awake, and especially their EP A Change of Seasons, which follows. As ever, all five members of the band are in rare form on this song. In particular, you'll get a taste of band leader Mike Portnoy's soloistic drumming style (although he left the band in 2010). It also features a lot of twisty instrumental ensemble sections and solos by smoking guitarist John Petrucci and personal favorite keyboardist and fellow Burbank resident Derek Sherinian. It's my favorite DT moment (if you can call a 23 minute epic a "moment"), but every one of their thirteen albums is recommended, and for the best live video recording of a rock band I've ever seen, check out Live at Budokan. Without further ado, here's the progressive metal masterpiece "A Change of Seasons".
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