The Incident Has Landed

The other day I'm home minding my own business--OK I was listening to Dream Theater--and the mailman arrived with a large, heavy package. Opening it, I discovered my Special Edition copy of the new Porcupine Tree opus, The Incident.

First of all, it's frickin' huge. The box is the size of an old-fashioned classical LP box, with the CDs in the covers of a heavy cardboard book which has full glossy pages of artwork and photographs. The whole is in a gray slipcase with the words "Porcupine Tree: The Incident" blown up to enormous size.

Second, the music. I haven't had time to digest the whole record yet, but this is another fine PT concept piece in the same vein as Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet. Steven Wilson's concept was to examine news incidents that he saw on TV, from the perspective of the people experiencing those events, delving beneath the surface reporting into the real emotional depths.

If that sounds off-putting, consider this fine record as a solid collection of songs, with memorable choruses, hummable hooks, and many tributes to prog-rock godfathers Rush, Genesis and Marillion.

Full review as soon as I'm done listening to it but…damn.


Is that Tony Perkins on the cover?

Album Re-Assessment: Dream Theater--Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

Dream Theater's sixth album, released in the uncertain winter of 2002, is nothing less than a progressive metal masterpiece. A two disc set with six songs (including the eight-part title track on the second disc), 6DoIT (as it is informally known) shows the band working on its largest canvas to date.
The first disc kicks off with "The Glass Prison", a heavy two-part track that opens drummer Mike Portnoy's "Twelve Steps Suite". The story of the percussionist's struggle with alcoholism, this complex, fast track weaves a power metal groove with the band's usual instrumental wizardry. The influence of Pantera and Nine Inch Nails can be heard here, especially in the fast sections. (The "Twelve Step Suite" would continue on the next four DT records, ending with "The Shattered Fortress" on this year's Black Clouds and Siver Linings.)

Another highlight is the gentle, slow-burning "Misunderstood", with a tremendous vocal performance by James LaBrie. "The Great Debate" features John Myung's bass wizardry, and "Disappear" is the kind of moody, multi-layered track that is made possible by the presence of Jordan Rudess on keyboards.

The first disc would be impressive as a stand-alone album. But this is just the appetizer for the eight-part title track that encompasses six different mental disorders, explored from the point of view of seven different characters. From the brain-numbing thrash of "The Test That Stumped Them All" to the soaring, acoustic "Solitary Shell", this is the ideal blend of progressive and metal that has come to define Dream Theater.

On a personal note, I saw the World Tourbulence tour twice (four times if you count the summer jaunt in '03) but never really sat down and LISTENED to the whole record in all the years that it's sat on my shelf. Maybe it was depression, maybe it was too soon for me after 9/11, but lately I have found this album to be a personal comfort as well as a majestic piece of music.
If you don't have it, go forth and git' it!

My 9/11 playlist

Songs listened to on the morning of 9/11/01:

1. "Painkiller" by Judas Priest
   
2. "Don't Tread on Me" by Metallica
   
3. "Holy Wars (The Punishment Due)" by Megadeth
   
4. "Peace Sells" by Megadeth
   
5. "War Ensemble" by Slayer
   

And all of the DVD of Metropolis 2000: Live Scenes from New York. Yes, I have the version with the flaming apple graphic--which was released on 9/11. A strange coincidence, as the band decided to combine the NY skyline with their trademark "burning sacred heart" image that they have used ever since "Images and Words."

Although the album cover was changed, the DVD still has the graphic on its menus.

More Acoustic Goodness

Dutch progressive symphonic metal band Within Temptation have a new all-acoustic live record An Acoustic Night At The Theatre coming out at the end of October. The record will include one new track, "Utopia", which is about to be released as a single.

The album will be released Oct. 30 in Europe, and Nov. 2 for the rest of the world. The band will embark on a tour of Holland and Belgium early next year, before they record a new studio album.