DGM is surely one of Italy's greater Metal exports. This Progressive/Power Metal was formed in 1994, and their moniker stands for "Diego Gianfranco Mauizio," the last names of the founding three members, none of whom are part of the band any longer. To date the band has released eight studio albums to much critical acclaim. "The Passage" is the band's ninth. This Japanese edition contains twelve tracks. Part One of "The Secret" is rich with piano and ultra-tight instrumentation. The guitar and bass riffs careen and crash together in a unifying promenade that would tire even a seasoned performer. A vigorous chorus pushes delightful melodies all the way to the canopy of stars above. Nor should I fail to mention the absolutely stunning lead guitar work. This is a bar-setting song in this genre. Part Two of "The Secret" struts in with a confident bass line and gentle keyboard notes that line the paper under the main riff. Once again the melodies are just phenomenal...impossibly clean and bright. I don't believe you will find better instrumental prowess either.

"Ghosts of Insanity" has a little darker and more ominous opening but soon the flood gates open and the melodies come pouring out like a rainbow bursting through grey skies, illuminating the landscape with a spectrum of colors that is absolutely boundless. Simone buries the strings in a glittering guitar solo in perfect key that would impress anyone who would aspire to pick up the instrument. The title track is a masterpiece. It has the tenacity and ferociousness of SYMPHONY X on their best day, and the coyness and refined beauty of a band like PORCUPINE TREE. But make no mistake, it is a copy of neither, but rather its own work of art that reaches inside you and pulls out your feels inside out. "Portrait" is rugged and ravenous but pauses long enough in the chorus and extended bridge section to open the pearly gates and let the light fill your very soul.

"Dogma" steamrolls in with thunderous drumming and a heavy, staccato riff that beat you into submission. But it doesn't take long for those great harmonies to come over the hill and flow through you. If you're hankering for a really heavy song this will certainly fill that void. With acoustic guitar and voice, "In Sorrow" tugs heavily at your heart, especially when Mark's voice goes high with falsetto for just those fleeting moments. The beauty is truly sublime. The acoustical version of "Animal" is a thoughtful addition to the album as a whole, and I actually prefer it over the non-acoustic version. It's lively with energy and feels and allows the piano to take a more active role which I always love. It's an instrument that it is often overlooked in Metal but for me is crucial to a strong Prog sound.

This level of Prog technicality and genius where giants DREAM THEATER should be today, who have taken favor lately over softer, more introspective compositions. Neither is necessarily "better" than the other, but I think most Prog fans, myself included, prefer to hear those complicated passages to remind us of how special this genre of music can be. That is exactly what DGM have presented with "The Passage." They combine brilliant and sophisticated melodies with complicated instrumentation that just leave them peerless in this genre today. When you look up the word "Prog Masterpiece" in Websters dictionary, this is surely one of the few images that should accompany that word.