Dream Theater

When Dream and Day Unite (Mechanic/MCA)

This Long Island-based quintet might be a bit much for the average metal-head to digest in one sitting. With everyone “borrowing” their musical cues from bands like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses or Def Leppard, Dream Theater (formerly known as Majesty) have gone the progressive metal route instead – more in the vein of Queensrÿche meets Rush. It is, by far, the road less traveled; no jackhammer guitars or banshee howls, just seamless, well-constructed and ambitious material. And as such, it might go right past the fans who are used to lowest common denominator rock built around second-hand power chords.

Tracks like ‘The Ytse Jam’ and ‘Afterlife’ veer dangerously close to an almost jazz-metal fusion. And while that may be commendable from a critical standpoint, it might not bode well from an economical one. This could be one band that’s going to learn that it doesn’t always pay to be highly accomplished musicians.