Originally published in Record Collector magazine 567 · February 2025
gig review
By London Greenwich O2
Review1 min read
Dream Theater
20/11/24
A victory lap with returning drummer Mike Portnoy and a celebration of 40 years’ evolution saw the prog-metal giants open by pairing ‘Metropolis’ Scenes 1 and 2, marshalled by Portnoy’s prodigious percussion and John Myung’s fluid bass. The fierce, complementary counterpoint between Jordan Rudess’ lithe keys and John Petrucci’s molten guitar propelled the career-spanning set with melodic intensity, the exchange of solos on ‘Under A Glass Moon’ earth-shattering. Soaring virtuosity on the fast-flowing instrumental, ‘Stream Of Consciousness’, preceded James LaBrie’s evocative vocals on the plaintive ‘Hollow Years’ and assertive ‘As I Am’. The upcoming ‘Night Terror’ was followed by a surprise centre-piece to the second half in the ‘Octavarium’ suite, featuring the vocal interplay of Portnoy and LaBrie. Closing with ‘Pull Me Under’, the spirit carries on, indeed.
—Andy Rawll