"Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory" is set up like a movie or a play, in acts and scenes. Act 1 is the tracks 1-7 and Act 2 is track 8-12 and the scenes are the tracks themselves (note that scene 2, 3 and 7 contains two songs instead of one). I do not really know why they did divide the album in acts and scenes but I could not care less. It is the songs that matters. So let us get cracking shall we?
The album opens with a spoken word part that is probably trying to hypnotize you. Did not work on me but I still got tired from the first track "Regression". After the slow opener the tempo is raised in the second scene which contains the songs "Overture 1928" and "Strange Deja Vu". The first part is acting like some long intro to the second part which got me to think "Why did they not bake them together to one song". I mean, together they measures up to around 9 minutes which is nothing for a band like Dream Theater. Anyhow, scene two is groovy and melodic and when James LaBrie steps in the scene takes a more serious turn. A good start for the album if you ask me. The next scene is also divided into two songs which leads to a darker and sadder part of the album. At first I did not care for this particular scene but after a couple of listening sessions I have found myself enjoying this scene, especially the second half of "Fatal Tragedy" which is fast and challenging.
Next song is the first out of three that is over 10 minutes. "Beyond This Life" is great since it does not loose you during the long drive with its exciting riffs and astounding musicality. It has everything a good mastodon song should have. Some tempo shifting here and there, a edgy main riff and, of course, an irregular and unpredictable pattern. But "Beyond This Life" is not the best among the mastodon's. That throne goes to the oriental sounding song called "Home". It feels more epic and is one of the most intriguing songs Dream Theater has ever made. How about the third mastodon then? The last mastodon on this album is also the last song which is "Finally Free", a song that feels grand straight through the 12 minutes of playing time. A great epic and a perfect song to end this album and its concept. But the last 2 minutes felt a little weird for some reason (maybe cause the music stopped I don't know).
We also find two instrumentals on "Metropolis Pt. 2". I have already mentioned the first one ("Overture 1928") but it is the second one that is just fantastic. "The Dance of Eternity" is for me one of the best instrumentals ever made with its challenging rhythms and blistering usage of the instruments. There is not a dull moment on the entire song. And also ad that it is pretty unpredictable as well (for instance, in the middle there is some sort of western piano bar style music). A great recipe to make a world class instrumental. Also have to mention the emotional and spiritual "The Spirit Carries On". One of the best ballads the band have ever made.
There is so much to take in when you listen to this album but it is easy to see that this is a conceptual masterpiece. The story is interesting and the band does a great job telling it. And do not forget about the musicianship, which is some of the bands finest throughout their career. This is almost a perfect album but the problem is not that it lack something, it is that it almost contains to much of the good stuff. This album could have easily cut off some useless parts in some songs where they are taking their music a little too far. But who cares, this is a sweet album that every progressive metal fan should have on its shelf.
Songs worthy of recognition: Home, The Dance of Eternity, Strange Deja Vu, Finally Free
Rating: 9,5/10 Fatal Tragedies
dreamtheater.net/
twitter.com/dreamtheaternet
More reviews of Dream Theater
When Dream And Day Unite
Images And Words
Awake
Falling Into Infinity
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Train of Thought
Octavarium
Systematic Chaos
Black Clouds & Silver Linings
A Dramatic Turn of Events
S/T
The Astonishing
Distance Over Time
No comments:
Post a Comment