Description:

Dream Theater, the band that continues to reign supreme in progressive metal, is releasing its "Lost Not Forgotten Archives" series of official bootlegs of live performances, demos, studio outtakes, and other treasured recordings. The seventh in the series is a demo of the band's third album "Awake" from 1994. This is an early masterpiece that has gained more recognition over time than when it was first released because of the strong impression of the previous album, "Images and Words," which was a big breakthrough for the band. The band did not follow the path of the previous album, but instead moved up a gear to a more heavy sound, with overwhelming transcendental techniques, a long suite of songs that appeared for the first time, instrumental pieces, and breathtakingly beautiful ballads. It was a piece that presented a dense progressive metal style that foreshadowed the band's subsequent evolution. The album was previously released on their own Ytsejam Records label on a limited production basis, and is now being reissued with the latest mastering and new artwork. (C)RS