tiistai 7. heinäkuuta 2015

Dream Theater Discography: #1 When Dream and Day Unite (1989)


"Likely or not, it's a dream that we keep
and at odds with our senses we'll climb
But if faith is the answer, we're already reached it
And if spirit's a sign then it's only a matter of time"

Progressive metal icons Dream Theater are currently celebrating their 30th anniversary on a European summer festival tour. While waiting for the August 2 show in Helsinki, I'll review all their studio releases this summer. Since the Majesty Demos (1986) are just... well, demos and weren't even released under the DT name, I'll skip them - to be honest I find them unlistenable thanks to Chris Collins' vocals.

When Dream and Day Unite is a release a lot of fans may not have heard, as it was originally released on a small label called Mechanic Records, and there were no official singles or videos released from the album, although "Status Seeker" and "Afterlife" were remixed for radio airplay, which they never received. The album also features Charlie Dominici on vocals instead of James LaBrie, although the rest of the line-up is the same as on the classic Images and Words (1992): John Petrucci (guitars), John Myung (bass), Mike Portnoy (drums) and Kevin Moore (keyboards).

The strength of When Dream and Day Unite lies in the band's great musicianship and musical ideas. The founding members' Berklee background is clear and the playing is tight, for example in the power metalish "Afterlife" and the five-part epic "The Killing Hand". There's a certain dreamy, atmospheric quality in both songs, as well as "The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun" that I associate with the classic Dream Theater sound. The youthful enthusiasm and energy of the heavy "A Fortune in Lies" and the instrumental "Ytse Jam" also can't be found on some of DT's later, more mature yet mechanical albums, and "Status Seeker" is a catchy and memorable tune, despite the slightly cheesy and out-of-place synth intro. The album's 50-minute running time also makes it an easy listen, as it never really gets boring.

The album isn't without its flaws; the biggest of them is the production. WDADU was recorded in about three weeks with a budget of $30,000 and the band couldn't afford fancy equipment, so it's not a surprise that the album sounds rather dated and muddy. On the other hand, the bass is upfront in the mix compared to the later DT albums, which is nice, as John Myung plays a lot of great, sad (as the band members called them in a DVD commentary) basslines on the album. There are also some quirky transitions and clumsy vocal lines in a couple of songs, most clearly in the Kevin Moore-penned "Light Fuse and Get Away" and "Only a Matter of Time". Lastly, Charlie Dominici is a talented singer in his own right and his performance on the album is good, but he was clearly not the most suitable vocalist for a metal band. His voice lacks the power that colleagues like Geoff Tate had at the time, but also reminds me a little of Geddy Lee, which isn't a bad thing.

When Dream and Day Unite is a very promising debut by a talented young band, and even with all its shortcomings I consider it one of Dream Theater's greatest albums. Despite the prevalent influence of bands like Rush and Iron Maiden, it was a unique release back in the day, as the music of the very first progressive metal bands like Fates Warning and Queensrÿche wasn't as technical or complex as DT's. WDADU was a blueprint for the Dream Theater sound, but just the beginning and there were even better things to come in the following five years...

Rating: 4/5


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