John Petrucci (Guitar), Mike Portnoy (drums), John Myung (Bass),
James LaBrie (vocals), and Jordan Rudess (keyboards) are not just a supergroup
but a tightly knit unit. Their other projects have also left a significant
mark, but their collective synergy truly shines.
When Dream Theater
announced their latest release, Parasomnia, centered around the concept
of dreams, and with the return of founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy, the
excitement was palpable. Fans and critics alike were buzzing with anticipation.
Parasomnia
will quickly bring
thoughts of the heaviness of Train of Thought, making many fans smile and enjoy this record as
much as I did.
I decided to pre-order the
ultra-clear 2LP set, a special edition that offers a unique visual and auditory
experience, and the box set, which includes exclusive bonus content. However, I
will focus only on the 2LP set for this review.
Reflecting on the illustrious
careers of these incredibly talented men, it's not just their music that
boggles the mind but also their influence on the genre. From their documented
covers of influences such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Pink Floyd, and more,
they've managed to carve a unique progressive metal sound that they alone
command.
Parasomnia
is a progressive metal
classic, and Dream Theater has gone above and beyond to satisfy its fans again.
They always do; however, in this case, they have recorded one of their finest
albums to date. The album's dark subject matter, which delves into the
complexities of the human mind and the experience of parasomnias, is reflected
in the associated artwork and videos, creating a multimedia journey that will
be remembered as some of their best work.
Dream One begins the dream
state with the clock ticking on "In The Arms Of Morpheus," which is
appropriate in many ways. Soft keys play as the guitar starts slowly and then
goes into a full-on explosion of powerful riffs. Then, it all kicks in as you
are listening. It grabs you, and then you never let go. You are part of the
story now.
Things are now moving
along at full speed when the keyboards make their grand entrance. The tempo
changes suddenly (which happens frequently in every track) with sharp lead
guitar licks, the classic Petrucci sound we all love and recognize. You
can hear Portnoy's prolific playing behind the drum kit (welcome back, Mike!).
Then, it all comes to a halt, some quiet, then another change. As you are
listening carefully, all these tracks segue into each other.
The first track is a 5:22
blockbuster before "Night Terror" kicks in, and the instrumental
intro is as impressive as the first track, which is a commonality in nearly
every track. A strong flow of powerful riffing continues through this track as
well. The bass and drums follow with that intensity as the keys lend a bit of
horror atmosphere to accentuate the words and make them realistic as you
continue to live with the characters being
created.
Dream Two starts with
"A Broken Man" melting into "Dead Asleep" as the jarring
instrumental intro gets things going in the right direction, setting it up for
a frenetic pace of tempo changes. The guitar licks sound raw and edgy as the
words are spoken, running for a quick minute. As the changes begin,
James comes in with his vocals, which are as strong as ever. There is
some good rhythmic playing on the drums and bass and a nice touch from the keys
for extra atmosphere. Their pace is incredibly rapid but works well with the
lyrical content. A lovely solo on keys
goes on for a while, then a switch over to the classic Hammond B3 sound and yet
another change in sound. Within minutes, Jordan takes the listener through
three keyboard sounds and styles. Then, a tasteful solo from Petrucci and back
to the more brutal sound as things come
full circle. The ending is excellent, with a whooshing sound, and then on to
the next track.
A quiet start with soft
guitar and violin sounds begins, and then boom! The hammer falls, and the audio
jumps up several notches with a wailing guitar, pounding bass, and drums. An incredible sound from the guitar is happening
(use of a flange, I would think), then a cutting lead, back to the primary
chords, and a rolling keyboard to create more excitement. The vocals begin after the extensive instrumental
blowout, and the drums come through well. The mix has been excellent, and
nobody's instrument gets put on the backburner. The speedy, machine gun-like
drum rolls just blew me away consistently throughout. The keys form a layer
that floats over all the electricity being
generated from the other instruments.
James continues exceptionally as the powerful riffing on guitar and keys takes
shape. The story continues to build and become cemented in your mind with the
outright power and picturesque musical display.
Dream Three includes
"Midnight Messiah," "Are We Dreaming?" and
"Bend the Clock" in succession. You
must pay close attention when one track
moves on to the next; it's seamless and natural.
A soft introduction begins
on this side of the vinyl as the dialogue enters and leaves quickly. Then, of
course, there is a dramatic change in the tempo of the sound, which
consistently provides the shock value and keeps the storyline moving in the
right direction. This is one of the best tracks, with some melodic yet hard
rocking to stay in the prog metal lane. The vocals, again, are superb. It is
hard-driving music, at times moving at the speed of light. Some cool synth
sounds arrive, and the rhythm section is chugging along like a well-oiled
machine.
Prog metal is on fire,
moving from track to track with everything you would come to expect from this
band. Jordan cuts loose, backed by Petrucci's rapid-fire licks. At the same
time, Portnoy and Myung stay with the pace and simultaneously create the drive
to this relentless musical machine—excellent work from all positions. The
recipe for madness is completed as another sequence comes your way.
A whispering is going on
as the track begins with some sweet notes on the guitar as the vocals start.
James is skilled in singing a ballad or bringing his range up several notches
when called upon to drive home the lyrics. There is some melodicism, and
kicking it down a few levels allows listeners to hear the tasteful music they
can provide. Some nice guitar work follows as all the moving parts are synced
up and merging beautifully. The extended guitar solo takes the spotlight
towards the end. It is flawless and precise, then a fade out to end the side.
Dream Four is the entire
side of the vinyl, with the epic "The Shadow Man Incident"
clocking in at 19:32. Dream Theater is firing on all cylinders like a sleek,
aerodynamic racing car crossing the finish line. And what a way to finish.
The music box plays the
lullaby, but don't be fooled. All hell breaks loose, which you anticipate. A dark and demonic guitar sound arrives for this grand
finale as the epic drums and keys begin to play, setting the stage for all the
drama and fear. Directly after a sudden shift into a faster tempo, all
instruments are like loaded guns firing off as the following change comes to a
more defined guitar sound in between some keystrokes. Then, there is another
complete slowdown as the vocals begin.
The music lures the character to a frozen, terrified state. The
shadow man is 7 feet tall, staring at you. You hear the disguised devilish
voice say, "Embrace the shadow." It becomes more than a terrifying dream. The
music goes to the next level of speed as the storyline develops. The pace
continues as James sings, "Endless nights."
The easy-to-understand words are helpful as the music moves and changes,
like the second hand on a watch. With that, everything becomes more lifelike.
The musical transitions to the lyrics are both terrifying and beautiful
simultaneously.
The final session is
extraordinary, as the keys sound like a classical drama unfolding, and the rest
of the band pushes their way through with determination and absolute authority.
Between all of that, you have some tremendous solo guitar work followed by
every instrument in excellent form from start to finish. As it winds down with
a classic keyboard run to end the show, James finishes the story in his way,
making it another Dream Theater classic that will become a live performance
favorite.
There are so many moving parts;
how this band gets better with time is impressive. When you think they have
completed their best work, they take it all to the next level. And that is precisely
what has made them successful and the best at their craft.
Parasomnia
gets an A+ as a highly
inspired and creative recording that the progressive metal community will
appreciate.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-PMR Reviews Founder
March 1, 2025
Tracks
Dream One:
A1. In The Arms Of Morpheus-5:22
A2. Night Terror-9:55
Dream Two:
B1. A Broken Man-8:30
B2. Dead Asleep-11:06
Dream Three:
C1. Midnight Messiah-7:58
C2. Are We Dreaming?-1:28
C3. Bend the Clock-7:24
Dream Four:
D1-The Shadow Man Incident-19:32
