Images and Words retro review

Classic Album

Images And Words (Atco)

Rating: 5 out of 5 (Buy it)

This was the second album by the band but with new singer James LaBrie in the fold it confirmed that Dream Theater were something special. Released in 1992, when the word ‘progressive’ was somewhat undesirable, the band were perfectly happy to complicate their music and prove that there was still a viable market out there for the genre. Sporting the new description ‘progressive metal’, the opening track ‘Pull Me Under’ also became a hit single, confirming that the band were right on target. John Petrucci’s use of acoustic and electric guitars is quite superb, but this is very much a group effort where everyone is given a chance to excel. The production also played its part in making this bang up to date at the time with the drums mixed well forward. Sadly this line-up did not survive for long and the band seem to have peaked a little too early for their own good, but Images And Words still sounds fabulous!