Dream Theater

Live At Budokan (Eagle Vision)

Rating: 7 out of 10 (Definitely one for heavy rotation)

Prog metal powerhouse polishes up its act

Recorded on the band’s marathon world trek for 2003’s Train Of Thought album, and shot at Tokyo’s legendary Budokan venue, Live At Budokan was originally released on DVD back in 2004, as well as a triple CD release, exactly the sort of unfettered excess you’d expect from one of prog metal’s premier exponents. Clocking in at almost three hours, it was just the kind of jam-packed prog-influenced metallic freak-out that Dream Theater fans salivated over. Today, with the advent of newer technology, everything (the original DVD’s second disc was given over to a multitude of extras) comes in one handy blu-ray disc, and with the picture quality upgraded to HD and the sound bathed in a sumptuous 5.1 mix. For the Dream Theater fan it remains mesmerising and compelling viewing. However with such clarity of vision also comes the recognition that while certainly at that point Dream Theater might have been a technically über-proficient prog metal powerhouse, there’s little in the way of passion and grit on show here. Still, Live At Budokan is to be savoured by the legions of Dream Theater fans, but even with such crystal clear sound there’s very little on offer here that might convert the doubters.

—Jerry Ewing