Dream Theater: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

Well, the first major release of 2002 is upon us, in the form of a two-disc set from the progressive metal legends Dream Theater. I must admit to being slightly skeptical as to whether this powerhouse band could raise the bar once again after the almost flawless Metropolis 2: Scenes from a Memory. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence may not be a masterpiece, but it's damn sure close, and once again finds the band successfully treading new waters. More than any singular characteristic, this is what keeps Dream Theater's recorded output fresh and innovative. The band continually alters their sound slightly to keep up with the times, yet retains the core of the Dream Theater idea, which is complex and aggressive progressive rock laced with a metal attitude.

It becomes quickly obvious that the band intended to add an extra dose of metal to the songs that make up Disc One. "The Glass Prison" is the heaviest thing they have recorded since Awake, and mixes ultra-complex lead breaks and rhythms with the sledgehammer riff intensity of Slayer or Pantera. At almost fourteen minutes in length, this track takes you through the life of an individual with alcoholism who is struggling to break free. There is even some neat Faith No More inspired vocals from James LaBrie and Mike Portnoy that pop up on a few occasions during the songs middle section. The band changes gears a bit for the opening segment of "Blind Faith" to more of a moody, atmospheric tone (somewhat in the vein of "Peruvian Skies") before kicking it up into the stratosphere with symphonic keyboards from Jordan Rudess and heavy yet groovy guitars from the maestro John Petrucci. There are moments here that make you think that if some of the newer metal fans would give this song a listen, they might be intrigued by the crunchy riffs and really dig everything else going on, especially the lyrics. However, for the everyday listener, all during this song the talents of Rudess are unmistakable, notably evident on his extended solo spot where he jumps from majestic, Wakeman-ish piano flourishes, to raging Hammond licks, and ultimately finishing up with blazing synthesizer runs. Petrucci's song of childhood confusion and alienation, "Misunderstood", begins with gentle acoustic guitars, bubbling keyboards (including some ominous Mellotron sounds) and a wonderful, passionate vocal from LaBrie, before turning into a churning, doomy rocker. In addition to an addicting chorus, there are some "not of this world" guitar solos from Petrucci, powerful keyboards, and the manic drum work of Mike Portnoy, who shows that he is one of the greatest drummers alive today. Lest you think John Myung is being ignored in this review, fear not, as his rock solid, virtuoso six string bass style is all over "The Great Debate", a fast paced heavy prog number dealing with revolutionary scientific discoveries, that effect life and death, in the post 9/11 world. Another mini-epic, this song goes through many time and tempo changes and features hot playing from all, including powerful vocals from LaBrie. The first side ends with a departure for the band, the somber "Disappear." While some of the more acoustic based songs Dream Theater have done in the past have had some commercial appeal, this is a very dark piece featuring yearning, tortured vocals from LaBrie and layers of varied keyboard sounds from Rudess. At just under seven minutes, it is the shortest song on the CD, and ends the first disc on a melancholy note, which is really the calm before the storm.

The forty two minute title track is basically a progressive rock lovers wet-dream. From the opening blast of the "Overture" to the "Grand Finale", this is Dream Theater at their creative best. Which really makes this set as a whole so worthwhile, as on the first disc you get the "songs" and on disc two you get the "mania." Not that "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" is constant jamming or masturbatory overindulgence. It is in this context that the band gets to strut their stuff and wow the listener, but still in a way that is structured and melodic. More so than on the first set, here Jordan Rudess really shines, and demonstrates just as he did on Scenes From a Memory, that he is without a doubt the best keyboard player for this band. Broken down into eight parts, this is the bands magnum-opus, their "Close to the Edge", "2112", or "Supper's Ready." The extended lyrics of Portnoy and Petrucci are well executed by LaBrie, while the band puts forth a complex, melodic, and symphonic performance. Stylistically, Disc 2 is almost the half-brother to Scenes From a Memory, which will be good news to those who still can't get enough of that wonderful album.

In summary, this is another landmark release from perhaps the most talented and well respected band in the genre today, who arguably might have started the progressive metal revival ten years ago. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence will hit you immediately from a musical standpoint, although lyrically it may take a few listens. It does seem that Elektra Records is letting the band do their thing, which can only be a positive sign. In music today, what group can release a 2 CD set on a major label, especially a set with no singles potential? Here's hoping that Dream Theater finds a broader audience, one that is just learning to discover that music is not all just about flashy videos, dance beats, or three chords.

Added: April 29th 2007
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Dream Theater Website
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Language: english

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