January 2000. DREAM Theater now admit they made too many concessions with last year's 'Falling Into Infinity" album. Working with Bon Jovi cohort Desmond Child didn't suit them, nor did the shorter tunes. So with this concept album, they've gone in completely the opposite direction. A breathtaking combination of jaw-dropping musicianship, uncompromisingly complex song structures and macabre story-telling, it compares favourably with QueensrØche's seminal 'Operation: Mindcrime' LP.

David Ling