Started out in 1986, under the name Majesty. Their debut album came out in 1989, but it wasn't until they changed singer, and released 'Images And Words' that things really fell into place. Regarded by many as the best prog-metal band ever. Influences span from Rush, Yes and Queensrÿche, to various jazz artists. The members of Dream Theater can also be found in, or helping out bands like TransAtlantic, Spock's Beard, Fates Warning, Liquid Tension Experiment, Marillion and countless others, including many solo-projects.

WHEN DREAM AND DAY UNITE (1989) MCA

This is a band I should have started collecting a long time ago. My brother have almost every Dream Theater CD ever released, and I've helped him buy some of them. But I've never bought any of them for myself. So I've now decided to start from the beginning. This is an absolute fabulous album. A progressive metal masterpiece! There is no denying these guys incredible talents, both in playing, and in writing songs. They surpass most of the bands that were ahead of them, and therefore started a new wave of technical metal bands. I also like the fact that this is perhaps the only Dream Theater release that isn't overly produced. They had nothing to prove (or live up to), and just released a bunch of great songs. Charlie Dominici may not be just as good a singer as James LaBrie, but he sure isn't that bad either! I think this is the perfect place to start a Dream Theater collection!

Killer tracks: A Fortune In Lies, Afterlife

IMAGES AND WORDS (1992) ATCO

'Images And Words' is hailed by many as the best progressive metal album of all times. And while I'm not exactly in disagreement, I'm not sure I would stretch it that far either. It's certainly way up there though. From the first note to the last, 'Images And Words' contains outstanding musicianship. And the opener "Pull Me Under" is a huge favorite of mine, and I guess Dream Theater's most known song. But, sitting down and listening to the whole album, I'm not always blown away by all the songs. The fact is, not every song is as memorable as the opener. If you would play "Wait For Sleep" to me for example, I'm not sure I would have instantly remembered that it came from this album. But this is just picky complaining, because I like every second of this CD, and it's a frequent player! A MUST!

Killer tracks: Pull Me Under, Another Day, Take The Time, Under A Glass Moon

LIVE AT THE MARQUEE (1993) ATCO

After having only 2 albums under their belt, Dream Theater go out and releases a live album. With only 6 song on it, it does get labeled an EP. But the fact is that the disc contains well over 40 minutes of music, and that is much longer than many a full-length release. 'Live At The Marquee' was recorded on the last night on the bands European tour for 'Images And Words'. That means it was recorded when the band was, regarded by most of their fans, at their peak. And this is a stellar live effort indeed! The members are playing like there is no tomorrow, and I really like the fact that you can actually hear one or two mistakes here or there. That doesn't take away anything from the members playing ability, but it does give a live album believability and a genuine feel. I'm actually lost for words as I sit here listening to the band roar through "A Fortune In Lies". What a guitar-solo that song has! And "Bombay Vindaloo" almost takes my breath away. Yup, 'Live At The Marquee' delivers a memorable impression, from an impressive band, live from a classic venue.

AWAKE (1994) EASTWEST

'Images & Words' impressed me so much when I first heard it, I was really eager to hear the bands next effort. But I did get a long face when I first heard it. I've actually waited years before I finally decided to write about 'awake' on this page. You see, I could not get into this album at all at first. In fact it made the impression to be just what I despise with many prog metal bands; an album filled with technical noodleing, and musicianship wankery coming in the way of good songs. The darker and heavier sound fits the band well, but when I finished listening to the CD, I sat there without any lasting memory of what I had heard. But now I have owned 'Awake' for several years. And I've gone back to it from time to time, to se if my first impression would stick with it. As of writing this I must say that I enjoy it a whole heck of a lot more today. Yes, this is technical music, played by some of the most competent musicians in the world. But at least now I can get something out of the tunes, and even separate them from each other. The album really is outstanding, delivering some of the most memorable moments in the bands career. I'm not so fond of the almost 11 minute long "Scarred" though, as it almost leaves me bored out of my mind. Still, 'Awake' is another fine addition to the Dream Theater discography. And it is also probably the last really classic Dream Theater release.

Killer tracks: 6:00, Caught In A Web, Innocence Faded, The Silent Man, Lie, Lifting Shadows Off A Dream

A CHANGE OF SEASONS (1995) EASTWEST

Only 5 songs are on this CD, and normally that would be called an EP. But as the thing clocks in on over 50 minutes, that is hardly the correct term to use. What we get is the new, yet old, title track. It was originally written for the 'Images And Words' album, but never finished. Here you get it 6 years later. But what really makes this disc unique is the 4 other tracks. All are picked from a live show the band did in London, calling it the "Uncovered" gig. They played nothing but cover-songs, paying homage to some of their musical heroes. While the band played a whole lot more than those featured on the final album, here are the artists featured on the disc: 2. Elton John, 3. Deep Purple, 4. Led Zeppelin, 5.I. Pink Floyd, 5.II. Kansas, 5.III. Queen, 5.IV. Journey, 5.V. Dixie Dregs, 5.VII. Genesis. A great testimony to those bands, as well as to Dream Theater themselves.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT (2003) ELEKTRA

Dream Theater have had a nasty habit of making albums that are no longer as accessible as the material they used to record in their earlier days. I mean, most of the music on their latter albums have sounded more like a progressive metal jam, then actual songs. And one look at this CD almost had me convinced that this was the case this time around also. Most of the songs clock in at over 10 minutes, and they've even added an 11 minute + instrumental track! But I was only half right this time. 'Train Of Thought' is at times an instrumental fest, only truly enjoyable to the players themselves, or other ultra-technical freaks out there. But this time the songs are very much more alive than has been the case lately. The opener, and first single-release, entitled "As I Am" is a return to form. And even the longer tracks, such as "The Dying Soul" and "In The Name Of God" are instantly remembered, and liked. I actually can sit down and enjoy this entire album, even the more progressive parts. It is well established that these guys can play, so some of the more elaborate guitar-wizardry and keyboard-wankery could have been shortened down, but it doesn't really bother me at all even as is. It all concludes with the fact that Dream Theater have once more delivered a solid piece of progressive metal craftsmanship. Oh, and I also like the lyrics quite a bit on this album.

Killer tracks: As I Am, This Dying Soul, Honor Thy Father, In The Name Of God

James LaBrie guest appearances:

Fates Warning - 'Parallels'

Kevin Moore guest appearances:

Fates Warning - 'A Pleasant Shade Of Grey', 'Disconnected'

Related artists:

Alice Cooper, Yngwie Malmsteen