Dream Theater - 'Parasomnia'

Here it is, the album where Mike Portnoy returns to the band’s drum seat; and the big question is... does it tick all the boxes? The answer is a resounding YES!

Here it is, the album where Mike Portnoy returns to the band’s drum seat; and the big question is... does it tick all the boxes? The answer is a resounding YES! It’s difficult to say why, but the reintegration of the drummer has certainly made a difference, and I believe that Dream Theater fandom will love what they hear. Not a concept album, but one where every track explores aspects of sleep and dreaming.

To my ears, the album feels like a cross between the classic ‘Metropolis Part 2 -Scenes From A Memory’ (not least due to the use of spoken soundbites in places) and the more aggressive ‘Train Of Thought’, and there’s greater cohesiveness on display; Portnoy’s influence?

‘In The Arms Of Morpheus’ is a short instrumental to open proceedings, and it lays down a marker with its quintessential DT riff, Portnoy’s incredible drumming (a deliberate calling card?) and Jordan Rudess’ synths. ‘Night Terror’ was the first track released to the public; it has a monster riff and ominous keyboards, and sounds like a band firing on all cylinders; there are ‘Metropolis...’ aspects in play here. John Petrucci fires off an insanely fast guitar solo, one of several on the track, and there’s the obligatory guitar/synth mirroring section.

‘A Broken Man’ starts like a barrage, but eases back when the vocals arrive; they have James LaBrie singing in a lower register than usual, and Petrucci plays a splendid bluesy solo. ‘Dead Asleep’ begins quietly with some delightful orchestration, before another big riff takes over; again, the pace slackens slightly for the vocals. ‘Midnight Messiah’ features lyrics by Portnoy and alternates between mid-paced verses and markedly heavier choruses; once again, Petrucci is to the fore with a chunky riff.

‘Are You Dreaming’ is a short instrumental segue into the marvellous ‘Bend The Clock’, with an acoustic guitar and piano opening that is stunning in its beauty; this is DT at their most relaxed, and again delivering that ‘Metropolis....’ vibe. Once more Petrucci solos like a demon. It’s a shame, and a mistake, that the last one is faded out, as it’s terrific. The album closes with the nineteen-minute ‘The Shadow Man’, and in true DT fashion, it wends its way through multiple stages whilst remaining focussed and relevant; it’s the masters of the genre at work.

Everything you’d want from a Dream Theater album? You bet.

Reviewer: Gary Marshall

Label: InsideOut

Genre: Progressive

Issue Reviewed In: 110

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