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Rating: The Liquid Tension Experiment is the main side project of the great progressive metal band Dream Theater. Recorded in less than a week by Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess and Tony Levin, it is the first of a pair of albums that, in my opinion, are "masterpieces" of the genre. This is because they found the right combination to make Dream Theater's sound more gritty, explosive, and above all complete (also thanks to bringing Rudess to the main band). This second band's project created that typical sound within Dream Theater that the entire metalprog world knows from the album "Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes from a Memory."
A perfect blend of virtuosity dictated by talented musicians such as: John Petrucci, who plays the guitar in endless solos and powerful riffs; Mike Portnoy, who hits his drums with accuracy, without any mistakes, and at an impressive speed; Jordan Rudess, who plays the keyboard filling the melodies with complex sound tricks; and the great Tony Levin with his monstrous experience on the bass.
On this album, the composition levels are very high and extremely heavy. The transitions between the various sessions are incredibly whirlwind and complicated. I can't find flaws in this album apart from the fact that the entire content revolves around a probable "extreme technical boastfulness," which might make it slightly heavy. The fact that it's heavy might also be due to the absence of a voice, but this doesn't matter much since it's an experimental project. All the tracks are appreciable, but the ones to consider as true hits are: "Paradigm Shift" and "Universal Mind". More experimental, on the other hand, is "Three Minute Warning" with its 28 minutes of improvised sound odyssey.
If you love the most authentic and wild Metalprog, this is the album for you, as it is dictated by an extremely accurate virtuosity. Otherwise, I recommend steering clear and looking at other works. Nevertheless, it is undeniably a prominent and solid piece of work.
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Other reviews
By cliffburton86
Every instrument reaches its peak, offering the ear, sublime and unique melodies.
Ladies and gentlemen, here's where imagination resides.
By Joe Cavalli
The atmospheres are often cold and inhospitable, yet the notes flow like mathematics at exponential speeds.
Liquid Tension play freely, as on a Saturday afternoon, and release their desires on the instrument without constraints. But their compositional limits also appear.
By gilmour
"Every time I listen to them, I get goosebumps. It's TRUE."
"It is a beautiful album that deserves a place in every archive of someone who understands true music."
