DREAM THEATER — Images and Words (review)

DREAM THEATER — Images and Words album cover Album · 1992 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
topofsm
Not much can be said about Images & Words that hasn't already been said. Not only is it great music by a talented band in its prime, but at the time it was a refreshing breath of air for music, containing a new sound that would be used in the years to come: prog metal. Of course there were bands like Queensryche and Fates Warning producing progressive metal before this, but Images & Words is something different. It focuses far less on the metal attributes and far more on the prog attributes of the genre, creating a wonderful new sound.

Of course, there are metal elements. "Pull Me Under" and "Metropolis" both contain standard palm mute chugging by metal bands and have a few heavier elements, while "Under a Glass Moon" and "Take the Time" give off a power metal vibe. But there are also plenty of songs on the album that aren't heavy in the slightest. "Surrounded", for example, would fit well on a neo- prog album, opening with soft keyboards and James LaBrie's beautiful vocals.

Every song on this album contributes to the whole very nicely, but each also has a unique personality unlike the other songs. Therefore, every track is a highlight of the album. From the metal opener "Pull Me Under" to the energetic and complex "Take the Time" to the unique ballad "Wait for Sleep", every song is wonderful. However, there are some standouts among standouts. "Metropolis Pt. 1" is a near perfect blend of emotion and complexity. It has one of Dream Theater's most complex instrumental sections, and once they build at the end of it, they create one of the most emotional endings as Labrie belts out "Love is the dance of eternity". Also notable is the beautiful closer "Learning To Live", which, along with plenty of complexities has soaring melodies and wonderful keyboards, closing the album with an epic outro.

As I said, nothing much more can be said about this album. Any fan of prog, metal, and progressive metal together should enjoy it wholeheartedly, as there truly are wonders to be found on Images & Words.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Oud Zeer Atmospheric Sludge Metal
ONTAARD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Oud Zeer Sludge Metal
THROWING BRICKS
Buy this album from MMA partners
War. Metal Related
WHORES.
Buy this album from MMA partners
The First Breath Is The Beginning Of Death Sludge Metal
IDIOT CHILD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Morbid Curiosities Sludge Metal
LUURCH
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Agremorta - Adrocitas (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Agremorta - Ploratus Umbra (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Agremorta - Vertex Membrana (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 1 day ago
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - The Temple Of Curved Space (Official Track Stream)
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR
adg211288· 2 days ago
In Sulfur - The Gate (OFFICIAL VIDEO) 2022
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 2 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed