Dream Theater
A Change Of Seasons

After a year since "Awake" and from tours and live performances, Dream Theater reconvene in the studio to bring a definitive conclusion to their ultimate suite, "A Change Of Seasons": the five musicians had already previously composed the track, but chose to leave it out of their albums, and so, in 1995, they decided it was time to complete it. The entire suite, which also marks the consecration of Derek Sherinian as the new keyboardist of the group (Kevin Moore had left them after "Awake"), retraces the Progressive atmospheres previously used by memorable bands from the 70s, such as Pink Floyd, ELP, Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Rush, but with the usual Heavy modernization, making the album one of the most beautiful in their career.

The album is considered their first Concept Album, as the lyrics, entirely written by Mike Portnoy, speak of the transition that each of us undergoes, occurring between adolescence and maturity, discovering a new world filled with joys, pleasures, pains, problems, depicted through the metaphor of the changing seasons: even the cover, intended to portray a child playing in a snowy field (front), and an old man with a coat and boots on a beach (back), helps us understand the immense value of the lyrics, an important theme that nowadays is somewhat overlooked (in my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful covers I know precisely for the meaning it conveys).

The album consists of the long suite of about 23 minutes and some covers of famous bands like Elton John, Queen, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Journey, recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. The first part of the suite is "The Crimson Sunrise", clearly inspired by King Crimson, serving as the intro of the track, very Prog with numerous tempo changes, where Sherinian’s organ and Petrucci’s guitar dominate. Then it's the turn of "Innocence", where you can hear the refrain of the act, very powerful and similar to the first (in terms of sound). The third act, "Carpe Diem", is based on acoustic atmospheres very similar to those of Genesis, where Petrucci's melancholic arpeggio and Labrie's emphatic singing truly move us. "The Darkness Of Winters" is the fourth act, an instrumental piece of rare intensity, powerful and assertive, showcasing their approach to Prog and Metal artistry.

Now it’s the turn of the beautiful "Another World", a magnificent and moving act, which allows us to catch our breath, transporting us to another world, made of sounds, sensations, and peace: Sherinian's organ and Labrie's voice duet until the climax, maintaining the same melodic line, where our sensibility still participates in the music. "The Inevitable Summer", the sixth part, consists of the usual virtuosities of the five New Yorkers, alternating without respite. The narrative time is almost finished, but there’s still "The Crimson Sunset", which echoes the atmosphere of the first part, where the vocal theme is truly spine-chilling, leaving space for the arpeggio with which the suite began. The rest of the CD consists of some covers, performed with their usual mastery, closely resembling the original versions.

In conclusion, I would say that Dream Theater have managed to inherit the legacy of highly talented bands that had previously experimented with this genre, and have reached a level that only a few bands attain, both musically and emotionally. But they will surely have secured their place in the history of rock, and have provided many sensations to numerous people, which I think is the most important thing.