MUSIC REVIEW: Dream Theater - When Day and Dream Unite

"The sensational (and underrated) debut."

The fact that Dream Theater's nucleus (guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, drummer Mike Portnoy, and keyboardist Kevin Moore) were able to produce an album like this in their very early 20s is astonishing. Implementing various influences, such as Rush, Iron Maiden, and Queensryche, Dream Theater became one of the torchbearers for the progressive metal movement. The instrumental faculty they display at this early stage in their careers in amazing, and their creativity is incredible. From the progressive metal trappings of "A Fortune in Lies" to the dazzling feat of virtuosity that is "Ytse Jam" to the grandiose, gorgeous epic "The Killing Hand," Dream Theater shows that they are a band with talent, brains, and ingenuity.

There's a slight element of 80s' cheese, especially with Charlie Dominici's vocal style and the amusing pop-metal banality of "Status Seeker," but it doesn't undermine the album's inherent quality. It's not like Warrant's "Cherry Pie" or some shit like that. Dominici's voice, however, lacks the skill, power, and emotion that Dream Theater's music necessitates. (He's not HORRIBLE, he just doesn't fit the music very well at all.) It's also unfortunate that the record's production can't complement the band's fervor. Terry Date is generally a fine producer, so I attribute the rotten production to the low budget with which this album was made.

If you're a Dream Theater fan, you owe it to yourself to own this one. It has some of their best songs (especially the phenomenal "The Killing Hand"), and you can gloss over the shortcomings with your love for this band. If you new to Dream Theater and looking for a place to start, then dear god DON'T BUY THIS ALBUM! The crappy production and iffy vocals may turn you off of the finest progressive metal band on the planet. Get Images and Words or Scenes from a Memory to start with instead. Those are good places to begin.