Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (studio album) by Dream Theater

From AAL2014 02/15/2023 03:04

Dream Theater capitalized on the sonic and commercial achievements of their previous record, Scenes From A Memory and picks up where that album left off. Literally, at the beginning of The Glass Prison, we are greeted with the same static that ended Finally Free, the closing track on SFAM.

They get a little heavier here overall than the previous effort, but when they expand their reach in other directions, the band also gets even more cinematic and straight up proggy. The 40+ minute title track runs the prog gambit and I’ve always associated certain moments to be clear nods to specific prog heroes. The focus on different mental health issues in the lyrics makes the piece stand out in the band’s catalog more than in just structural fashion.

Six Degrees isn’t my favorite Dream Theater album from beginning to end. However, I do think when the band is at their best on Six Degrees, they are at the best they ever were.

Aside of Metropolis Pt.2, which is like my favorite album, Six Degrees was special in that it centered a whole huge 40 minutes around one topic to flesh it out enough to work. Main problem is the disappointing middle part, which isn´t bad, just unmemorable in comparison. Opening track is kickass.

Dream Theater at their best.
The first disc is a faultless attempt going from the heavy start - The Glass Prison - to the prog success - Blind Faith, The Great Debate.
The second CD is a little weaker to me. But a 42 minutes-lasting song cannot be perfect from start to end, of course. The Test that Stumpted Them All is its best moment, I think.
In the End, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is an ambitious work, and the band didn't release such a developped album since this one.

It's mostly average Dream Theater fare (which I consider to be a cut above the norm so that's fine with me).

The lead track is balls-to-the-wall, and the second disk is a 40-minute epic. Can't go wrong there. The album has typical Dream Theater dynamics - plenty of ballads mixed in with the heaviness.

Each song has its moments: The Glass Prison has that killer riff, Blind Faith has a beautiful instrumental breakdown, and Misunderstood has some nice melodies. However, the songs do tend to meander a bit. The Great Debate doesn't need to be 14 minutes long; it would be fine at 6. Disappear, likewise, should be a simple 3-minute song.

Ironically, the 40-minute centerpiece is the least bloated of the bunch! It's 8 movements long, and the only piece that might overstay its welcome is the overture.