Review Summary: The centerpiece track of the same title as the album, is one of the best musical compositions of our time, and a testament to the greatness Dream Theater has displayed throughout their career.
The pioneers of progressive metal, Dream Theater has released yet another overwhelming success with the release of the EP A Change of Seasons. (One, it should be noted, that is actually longer than most full albums released by most bands.)
The obvious highlight, the song that shares its title with that of the album, is simply one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, and would be worth purchasing all by itself. At nearly 25 minutes long, this is a hefty track, even by Dream Theater standards, yet it never once grows overbearing or boring in any way, shape, or form.
Broken into 7 different movements, this epic is full of time signature changes so expertly crafted within the music that most are difficult to even register at first, long instrumental passages that have been one of Dream Theater's trademarks since their formation, and James LaBrie's soaring falsetto.
This is a concept behind the track, which involves a man going through his difficult life, from the Crimson Sunrise to the Crimson Sunset, the opening and closing movements of the song. There's more to it than that, but the finer details don't have to be understood for the song to be enjoyed. A Change of Seasons speaks for itself, and is a piece of music that everyone should hear at some point in their lifetimes.
The rest of the album is compromised of live DT performances, covering songs by other artists, and, while enjoyable, is mostly just filler to round out the album time. These songs are all very well done, and some even improve upon the original versions of the songs, but none come even remotely close to that 23 minute behemoth.
A Change of Seasons is, in short, one of the single greatest EPs released by any band, ever, and an extremely great purchase for anyone even remotely interested in Dream Theater's extensive catalog.
