DREAM THEATER — Images and Words (review)

DREAM THEATER — Images and Words album cover

Album · 1992 · Progressive Metal

5/5 · 2017-12-21
Navajasso

I think this album deserves its title of 'milestone' in metal music. Obviously, not for being the first ever progressive metal album, because there were so many before, and not for being the best progressive metal album of all time, because that is debatable. This album is a milestone because it defined, with authority and exquisite music, a new metal sub-genre. And because of this album, many metal artists turned around and took a look at progressive rock bands of the 70's to influence their own sound and following and shaping a new path in metal music.

Today Dream Theater has many lovers and many haters, and for some people there are a bunch of bands that are better, but is undeniable that they are the symbol of a movement called progressive metal.

'Images and Words' has the right balance between calm, virtuosity and power, in which Dream Theater stablished some of the musical footprints that can be found in their following albums. It has also a 'beginning' and an 'end' - something that only the masterpieces have and that involves you until the very last song. It has, of course, very fast rythmical figures, but not in excess, and really beautiful and smart slow melodies played by the voice and the instruments.

The music speaks for itself, so its unnecesary to give more details about the album and the songs. I think 'Images and Words' must be in every personal music collection.

more than 2 years ago
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Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

A classic album, and I love the funky Take the Time, I wish they wrote more songs like that one. Awake is my favorite, though this is easily a close second.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Unfortunately I feel a bit the same. I really enjoy the early Dream Theater albums, but after Kevin Moore left, some of the magic disappeared. They´ve made high quality releases since, but I never really listen to them.

Navajasso wrote:

more than 2 years ago

@siLLy puPPy That's right. The production has this magic; I feel that also in Awake. Time will pass but the magic is there.
@Vim Fuego It happened to me too! I tried Scenes from a Memory, and it was like "yep, it's really good, but.....", and that was my second favourite DT album! Now the second price is for Awake. Maybe in the following years Scenes from a Memory could recover the second place.
The personal criteria and musical taste change through the years, that's the magic of being a music lover.

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

@siLLy puPPy I also listened to it for the first time in years recently too, and really enjoyed it. Then I tried another Dream Theater album and it bored me shitless.:D

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It also helped revive progressive rock in general and gave the green light for a gazillion metal bands to go prog as well. Not to mention it's one of those magical albums. Litened to it recently after years and it still sounds special

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Genre defining, yes.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I agree. It´s a seminal album in metal history.