Album of the Day

For their eighth studio set, Dream Theater took inspiration from the musical octave to create OCTAVARIUM. The 2005 collection would be the group’s final long-player for Atlantic Records, as well as the last album cut at New York’s fabled Hit Factory studio, and the quintet went out with a bang. Beyond the 20-plus-minute title suite (among the band’s first recordings with an orchestra), there was a conscious focus on writing tighter, more melodic songs - like the U2-esque “I Walk Beside You” - resulting in one of Dream Theater’s most accessible releases. With thoughtful lyrics and the group’s Berklee-trained instrumental chops, OCTAVARIUM will resonate with both progressive rock and metal fans.