Like several of the artists on the Magna Carta label at the time, Dali’s Dilemma came out of nowhere, released one album, then disappeared. Led by keyboardist Matt Guillory, the band produced an album squarely in the mode of the progressive metal of the time. Similar to Dream Theater and Fates Warning, the songs on this album feature lots of rhythmic changes, instrumental solos and strong vocal melodies. Plus, this album taught me how to spell “delimma”. Dammit. “Dilemma”. Dumb word.

The opener “Within a Stare” and “Despite the Waves” have the band twisting through mixed-metered verses and choruses, bringing an energy and intensity to the songs, while still retaining both melodic and harmonic presence. Two brief instrumentals, “Whispers” and “Andromeda Sunrise”, showcase Guillory on keyboards and Patrick Reyes on guitar, respectively. “This Time Around” and “Can’t You See” feature the most rhythmic riffs on the album, nicely sandwiching the ballad of the disc, “Hills of Memory”. The album closes with the longest track, “Living in Fear”, but like the rest of the tracks, never runs out of steam midway.

During my senior year of high school, I was quickly going through the Magna Carta catalog. As my music purchases prior to that were primarily from the ’70s and ’80s, I was surprised so much *good* music was being released in present day. It really opened my ears and eyes to a new world of artists, and I became hooked. Dali’s Dilemma was one of those bands that strongly captured my interest, especially as I was just starting to get into the Dream Theater discography at the time. The musicianship and creativity on this album has always impressed me, and it’s a shame this disc was the band’s only output. (Guillory has since gone on to work on Dream Theater’s James LaBrie’s solo projects, and the core of the band played on Trent Gardner’s Leonardo: The Absolute Man concept album.) We need more albums like this one.

We all grow cold, the memory fades away
Some lives worth some betrayed
Look into your heart to live externally

I will decide the sun will shine
I can’t go on my now hope is unsung

Suddenly I am blinded
Now I walk along
I walk along these memories

Date Released: 1999-05-18
Date Purchased: 2001-06-11
Length: 51:07

Replayability: Good
Similar In-Genre Titles: Dream Theater – Images and Words (1992); Fates Warning – A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1997); Ice Age – The Great Divide (1999)

Review Round-Up: DPRP – 10 out of 10; ProgArchives – 3.18 out of 5; AllMusic – 3 out of 5

Featured Track: “Within a Stare” (5:51)