In the meanwhile 5th studio album, Dream Theater venture for the first time on a concept album. A shekel with a lot of complex Musikverschachtelung, instrumental perfection and great production - so far as the things that anyway everyone expects from Dream Theater. Of course, he will also find time. Thematically we are experiencing the session a certain Nicholos with a psychiatrist, by whose assistance he hoped to better understand its confusing dreams. Dreams in which he is constantly haunted by a girl named Victoria, who died long ago. Now the total 77:14 minutes a musical journey through Nicholas subconscious takes place. That Dream Theater right now tending to a concept album, seems to be a logical consequence. The last album "Falling Into Infinity" came, unusually for Dream Theater, for the first time on negative reviews. The music is "narcissistic" and "pretentious" headlined eg. the Musical Express. Of course - Mike Portnoy proves once again that he was probably the best drummer in the world (and the largest show-one at that) and Petrucci and Myung delivered an instrumental masterpiece - but beyond that Dream Theater have forgotten to write the songs. "Music of self-expression's sake," accused the "The Metal Observer" to the Americans in front. "Musical onanism" even. Whether this criticism was now entitled to or not - Dream Theater seemed to have taken it as an opportunity to musically translate more abstract themes. The journey of a man through his psyche. Spiritual death experience, reincarnation, psychological abysses - including they do not make it. And so we see, once again, Mike Portnoy Drum brilliant game, Petrucci perfect Gitarrenskits, Myungs fantastic bass control and Rudess' wizardry at the keyboard. Nothing extent. And again there is still someone who sings: James LaBrie - good, but not outstanding and thus the weakest link of the chain Dream Theater. Able to maintain the quality of the instrumental, but not able to cope with exceptional game of Portnoy, Petrucci, Myung and Rudess add something. Had they at "Falling Into Infinity" partially actually still under the impression that the songs were just a musical presentation stage for instrumental extreme sports, so we here experience a completely connected work. If James LaBrie blares between keyboard and drum solo in an initially reminiscent of Pink Floyd ballad "Fatal Tragedy" "Without faith, without hope, There Can Be No Peace of Mind" in the ears of the listener, then everything fits together. The harmonies, the modulations that counterpoints - everything seems perfect and set fits into the overall picture. Dream Theater lead us through Nicholas' psychological depths and at the latest when the oriental melodies have faded away from the musical centerpiece "Home" and the song with built-in samples increases to orgiastic instrumental passages, one can hardly escape the magic of music. The following 6-minute "Dance Of Eternety" revels in the same noise further increases this even more to new heights and Dream Theater reach their climax complex. Already a little later heard the final number "Finally Free", are taken up in the again carrying musical motifs of the album and a trip to the end will be carried out. A journey of four exceptional musicians with a singer, the criticism will admit only its own sake. According helpless were Dream Theater Loudspeaker time and took refuge in meaningless Argumenationen. So some Kritker not entblödeten pointing it again, Dream Theater wants too much and have sheer musical brilliance forget what matters. None of these voices, but could more eloquent way to truly identify where the weak point of this Albumbs should be exactly. As keyboardist Rudess in interviews was surrendered "Scenes From A Memory" later without any action of the record company, which had been degenerating in the unloved predecessor the case. Whether this now be the reason or not. Was there ever a creative crisis in Dream Theater, so it has been overcome. "Metropolis Part II - Scenes From A Memory" achieved exactly what makes a good progressive album. At first hearing is barely hanging on something to have, so just heard except overwhelmed and the certainty something big. However, the more often you press his CD player's Play button, the more enjoyment you will find on this album. And so you can hear it over and over again, decrypts it more and more and discovered more and more of its beauty. A beauty that is simply overwhelming. So overwhelming that in the marks no room remains.
