Awake by Dream Theater

Dream Theater's 1994 album, Awake, is here on the recent Rhino Records reissue.

It's the last album with keyboardist Kevin Moore, who left the band shortly after recording was completed. It's a great album with a dark and heavy sound, complex and sophisticated compositions, and a great vocal performance by James LaBrie.

Compared to the band's previous works, Awake has a more aggressive and dark atmosphere, blending heavy riffs with atmospheric melodies, with spectacular performances and fluid transitions between the multiple changes in tempo and mood.

Some notes on the tracks

- 6:00 opens the album with great power, with a splendid drum solo by the great Mike Portnoy and James LaBrie's dark and furious vocals. A great start.
- Caught in a Web continues the heavy sound with a catchy and captivating chorus, simple yet beautiful.
- Innocence Faded, beautiful and accessible with a wonderful atmosphere.
- The first part of the suite "A Mind Beside Itself: i. Erotomania" is a technically impressive instrumental piece.
- Voices: The second part of "A Mind Beside Itself" is a very emotional piece with complex tempos.
- The Silent Man: The third part of "A Mind Beside Itself" is a great acoustic piece with splendid harmonies.
- "The Mirror" has a beautiful, aggressive riff, the most aggressive on the album.
- "Lie" has angry lyrics and a powerful groove.
- "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream" is a beautiful poetic ballad, written by bassist John Myung.
- "Space-Dye Vest" closes the album with a sad, anguished, and hauntingly beautiful mood, featuring a splendid piano and beautiful vocals. This is Kevin Moore's last work with this band and the album's best track.

Dark atmospheres and a sound verging on heavy metal, but there's no shortage of atmospheric songs. The shorter songs have a verse-chorus structure, making them more accessible to those unfamiliar with progressive metal. An overall heavier and darker album than its predecessor, one of my favorites for its overwhelming riffs and unleashed energy. A must-have in Dream Theatre's discography and in progressive metal.

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