Inspired by brainy ‘70s prog rock bands like Yes and Rush, the members of Dream Theater met in music school during the early-‘80s. Combining the complexity of prog with the velocity and heaviness of thrash metal, they helped invent the newly burgeoning sound of progressive metal. It was their second album, 1992s Images and Words, that brought that style to the rock mainstream along with bands like Queensryche. Dream Theater would then release many ambitious albums in the ‘90s and ‘00s showcasing the speed and agility of guitarist John Petrucci and drummer Mike Portnoy.