MTV's Headbangers Ball came around the bend quick this time, and man did it pack a punch. Among the heavy metal bands shown this time around was the progressive metal group Dream Theater, premiering their new music video for their song Forsaken. What makes this music video so different from most of the other videos aired was that it was in full animation, never once using a live shot of the band performing or anything of the sort. Although many of the fans were worried about how this would turn out, and there was one drawback to the video, it turned out much better than was originally expected.

The video follows Leo, the main character, and a journey he takes with a seductive and alluring vampire named Alice. The journey takes them from one end of the earth to the next, traveling through a moonlit ancient Rome to the Icy regions of the Arctic. The animation for this video is very unique in the sense that the character's facial details, movements, and actions are very realistic. However, it never seems so realistic that it takes away from the Japanese anime-like style to which it can be slightly likened too. The actual video itself is very moving, with the settings drawn with breathtaking artistry. One noteworthy setting is the Romanesque city which comes to life with giant golden statues, floating architectures and buildings, and colorful flower petals raining from the skies. This moment alone in the video makes it well worth watching.

The song goes along very well with the video, especially since the video is based on the story and concept of the song. Certain parts of the song run right in sync with certain scenes from the video. For example, when James LaBrie, lead singer of Dream Theater, sings about a "stinging kiss", we see Alice take a bite out of our main character, Leo and his horrifying reaction. The song itself is very mellow and melodic during the beginning of the video, but eventually builds itself up into an emotional powerhouse flowing with lyrics of love and loss.

Although the animation and the song itself are amazing, the music video as a whole could have been improved if it showed a few clips of the band playing the song. Because this type of animation won't appeal to every audience, many people at least want to see the band performing their music. However, this is nowhere to be found in the video, which will be a disappointment to many hardcore Dream Theater fans who are more interested in watching the band play than watching some anime video.

Besides this minor drawback, the new music video to Dream Theater's Forsaken will not disappoint longtime fans and newcomers alike. With its captivating story, creative animation, and beautiful lyrics, this music video will be sure to please most of its viewers.