Dream Theater

Quarantième: Live À Paris (Inside Out)

Progressive metal luminaries turn the ‘epic’ dial up to 11

Most metalheads will know whether or not they’ll want to bother with almost three hours of Dream Theater. As much as detractors don’t have time for their labyrinthine and ludicrous technicality, you don’t stick around for four decades by being shit, and this live album celebrates DT’s ruby anniversary in typically maximalist fashion. It was recorded on their first tour with drummer Mike Portnoy for 13 years, but there’s no sign of rust as the band tear through ‘Panic Attack’ and ‘Stream Of Consciousness’. ‘Pull Me Under, ‘Home’ and ‘As I Am’ are still triumphantly melodic anthems. This is Dream Theater in excelsis.

Rating: 7 out of 10

For fans of: Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, Haken

—Matt Mills