Liquid Tension Experiment

Liquid Tension Experiment 3

3 stars

Progressive supergroup reunite for third album

Arriving over two decades since its predecessor, LTE3 reunites John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Tony Levin and Mike Portnoy for a third bout of progressive excitation. Fans with long memories will know what to expect, but this new release really does sound like they never left the room after wrapping LTE2. There’s a consistency and fluidity both to the musicians’ experimentation and execution of their art (Shades Of Hope was delivered in one take) and whereas, unsurprisingly, some of the material veers into Dream Theater territory, Liquid Tension Experiment already have an identity of their own. A bonus CD lobs almost another hour’s worth of jams into the mix. John Tucker