九O年代最佳前卫金属团继’99年概念式史诗大碟“Metropolis Pt2：Scenes From A Memory”后最新创作 专业音乐网站All Music Guide四颗半星高评 　　经过1999年的专辑“一个记忆的场景”(Metropolis Pt.2 : Scenes From A Memory)、2000年将专辑概念搬上纽约演唱会舞台以及该演唱会DVD (Metropolis 2000：Scenes From New York)和CD(Live Scenes From New York)在2001年的发行，成立于纽约长岛的五人团体梦剧场(Dream Theater)以无比的野心经营著长久以来摇滚艺人、乐团较少碰触的概念式钜作，展现出他们恢弘的气度。梦剧场曲风深受皇后(Queen)、创世纪(Genesis)、Pink Floyd等团前卫、古典的影响，因此虽仍以九○年代后重击金属(Thrash Metal)为主干，但是却较同类型团体音乐上更富旋律、内容更具叙事性。 　　2002年梦剧场推出双CD专辑“Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence”，制作人仍由团中的鼓手Mike Portnoy与吉他手John Petrucci共同担任，录音混音工程师Kevin Shirley曾和史密斯飞船、黑乌鸦等团体合作过。新专辑分为两部份，第一张CD五首歌"The Glass Prison"、"Blind Faith"、"Misunderstood"、"The Great Debate"、"Disappear"一开始即以密集鼓点带听者进入重击金属的世界，内容上也维持一贯言之有物的方向，例如"The Great Debate"以二十一世纪生物科技重要课题“複制人”的研究展开争论，歌曲进行类似Rush风格；慢板的"Disappear"空间感不禁令人想起平克佛洛伊德。第二张由标题曲"Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence"长达四十二分钟的八段组曲所构成。序曲以庞大管絃与键盘交替再加入吉他、鼓，到"About To Crash"先是缓缓的钢琴接著就是熟悉的D.T.风格，不过键盘、吉他双向行进对美国前卫摇滚的爱好者而言并不陌生，Styx可算其中佼佼者。从"War Inside My Head"到"The Test That Stumped Them All"，梦剧场再以一连串狂乱的吉他、鼓、James LaBrie高音主唱表现精神与内心的衝突使主题达到高潮；"Goodnight Kiss"、"Solitary Shell"的转折明显舒缓了紧绷的精神状态。超过九十分钟的双CD“Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence”透过管絃、键盘编曲的旋律化与探讨内心、环境、社会的内涵让金属乐脱离它原本只为愤怒喧洩的范畴。 On this, Dream Theater's seventh studio effort, the heavier elements of the band's music come to the forefront. Although the masterful balance of rhythmic interplay, jazzy arrangement, and catchy melodies is ever-present on this two-disc offering, ... Full Descriptionthe strong, crunchy guitar sound and powerhouse percussion are pushed more into prominence, helped along by the crystal clear production of drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci. The first disc is comprised of five tracks, averaging about 10 minutes each and the second disc is a 42-minute opus complete with overture and finale. The length of the songs, rather than being a hindrance, allows for both a sense of completeness and an improvisational element to the tracks, making them fun to listen to. 　　The virtuoso skills of each instrumentalist are shown in running keyboard lines, pounding bass lines, and finger-twisting guitar solos. This mastery is expressed even more through the control heard in the slow, moving moments, especially the disc one closer "Disappear." Vocalist James Labrie solidifies his status as one of progressive metal's finest voices, hammering home strong, mid-range vocal lines with comfort and feeling. Definitely a worthy listening experience.