Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
New Music
There's no such thing as short and sweet for prog-metal masters Dream Theatre. There may only be six songs on their 10th release, but with four of those clocking in at 13 minutes or longer, this is no EP.
The sheer length of the tracks allows the veteran quintet to fit more musical ideas and time changes into one song than many bands do on the course of an entire album.
The 16-minute epic A Nightmare to Remember sets the tone for Black Clouds with guitar hero John Petrucci's fretboard gymnastics on full display while Jordan Rudess keeps up with equally speedy keyboard runs.
The talented rhythm section of bassist John Myung and drummer Mike Portnoy -- who provides the low-voiced growls that act as the counterpoint to the almost too-smooth voice of James LaBrie -- keep up with all the changes flawlessly and give the material its heft.
Rite of Passage is a relatively short offering at only eight-minutes and proves to be a highlight with the most memorable melodies, along with more of Petrucci's hypersonic fretwork and gargantuan riffs. It's no wonder the song was edited down and released as the album's first single.
The ballad Wither acts as sort of an intermission before the cinematic and driving the Shattered Fortress, which completes the band's saga about Portnoy's 12 step recovery from alcoholism. The over-the-top opus the Count of Tuscany never wears out its welcome as it changes tempo and time signatures several times throughout its 19-minutes with an obvious ode to Yes, Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd.
Dream Theatre doesn't make the kind of music that will have you humming its zippy melodies later, but with so much going on that it's never predictable or boring. Winnipeggers will get to witness the band live at the Burton Cummings Theatre Aug. 16 with Zappa Plays Zappa. 'Ö'Ö'Ö1/2
-- Rob Williams
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 27, 2009 C4
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Music
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe
- Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?
- No comfort in trade talk: Veteran Thorburn says closely knit club well worth keeping together
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Spain mourns death of Catalan painter, sculptor Antoni Tapies, top contemporary art figure
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Pardon application fee to quadruple later this month despite complaints
- Our 'true champion'
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.