Album of the Day

Few bands fused prog rock and heavy metal more brilliantly than Dream Theater, and IMAGES AND WORDS may just be their masterpiece. The Boston band's first album for Atco was also their first with James LaBrie at the microphone, and his wide-ranging tenor meshes perfectly with the Berklee-trained instrumentalists playing behind him. From MTV favorite “Pull Me Under” to epics like “Metropolis - Part I: 'The Miracle and the Sleeper'” and “Learning to Live,” these songs are intricate and ambitious but never get bogged down in complexity. Released 30 years ago today, the Gold-certified IMAGES AND WORDS remains Dream Theater's most commercially successful set, and a true progressive metal landmark.