Any possible criticism you could throw at Dream Theater would likely be entirely accurate, and yet before they bought into their own hype they produced one of the finest, most emotionally resonant albums in all of progressive metal – nay, all of prog rock. While it’s hard to deny the bombastic joys of pieces like “Metropolis Pt. 1,” the simple piano refrain in the 2 ½ minute “Wait for Sleep” will haunt you for years.

– Jeff Treppel