Images and Words is the second studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on July 7, 1992, through Atco Records. It is the first Dream Theater release to feature James LaBrie on vocals. Since its release, the album has maintained its position as the band’s most commercially successful studio album, and the song “Pull Me Under” has the distinction of being the only Top 10 hit (radio or otherwise) the band has had to date. This particular song has also had more recent success as it has appeared in the 2008 video game Guitar Hero World Tour.
Images and Words was a moderate commercial hit, reaching number 61 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It is also Dream Theater’s only album to be certified gold by the RIAA, and remains their best-selling album to date, selling more than six hundred thousand copies.
The album was recorded at Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York, and produced by Keith Olsen. The album’s cover art was designed by Hugh Syme, who has also designed the covers for many other Dream Theater albums.
The album’s music is a mix of progressive metal, power metal, and classical music. The songs are long and complex, with intricate guitar work, keyboard solos, and soaring vocals. The lyrics are often introspective and philosophical, exploring themes of love, loss, and spirituality.
Images and Words is considered to be one of the most important albums in the history of progressive metal. It helped to popularize the genre and paved the way for other bands like Symphony X, Opeth, and Tool. The album is also considered to be one of the best albums of the 1990s.
