Review by Rexorcist for Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999)
The most popular prog metal band on Earth (that can make up their status) is probably Dream Theater, either that or Tool. Tool is the more proggy band by nature, but Dream Theater is more accessible. The Rush influence became much more obvious once their first metal opera, Metropolis, Pt. II, was released. This album was my entryway into prog metal, and I'm tankful that this album exists. Dream Theater may have gotten worse overtime, but one thing will never change: their classic era is made up of CLASSICS.
Metropolis, Pt. II follows in the same vein as previous rock operas like Pink Floyd's The Wall, relying on psychological storytelling centering around one man's odd, cerebral experiences. But this time, it's more akin to TIME TRAVEL, as the story centers around the concept of "past lives." Not only that, it's a murder mystery. This gives the album a feeling and approach of a noir film, but still manages to be the same accessible prog that Dream Theater is known for. LaBrie carries his soft-spoken voice perfectly through this story, effortlessly bringing out every emotion detailed in the story, and the story never gets in the way of the rhythms or progressive melodies. In fact, they work perfectly together. And this emotion is carried through the album, bringing out the suspense of solving the mystery while still being catchy. Both the music and the story are bound by the common factor of cerebral behavior.
This album, thanks to its incredible story, likely deserves to be the most popular Dream Theater album. The only thing it's missing is that oddball diversity from Images and Words, and the heaviness could be cranked up just a little bit. But taking the mood of rush and combining it with the surrealism of Pink Floyd, and translating both into metal was exactly what metal needed, and it probably came later than it should've. Metropolis Pt. II is essential listening for any metal fan, even if the accessibility turns of prog purists.