Dream Theater
Score

THE REVIEW

DVD 1: the concert

It has been 20 years since Dream Theater started to amaze with their masterpieces, and after 20 years we can say that they certainly know a thing or two about concerts! A year after the controversial and often critically panned Octavarium, the five Americans take to the stage to present their career. As usual, Dream Theater thinks big when it comes to organizing concerts, and they certainly have not disappointed this time! The chosen stage is the mythical and I dare say legendary Radio City Music Hall; what better setting to celebrate a long career of successes? The curtain rises and on the screen begin to flow images that chronologically compose the mosaic that the five Americans have painstakingly built year after year. These are images of the five Americans during their prestigious career, and we are ready to relive it through this spectacular live performance. Are you ready? Let's go!

The sound effects and Portnoy's drum beats leave no doubt, it begins (as entirely predictable) with the powerful and aggressive "The Root of All Evil," and the audience ignites. Right from the start, we have the impression that this time LaBrie does not want to disappoint the fans, and he succeeds brilliantly by delivering a high-level performance. But the other four musicians are no less, but this we already knew since they have long accustomed us to surprising technical levels. Following "I Walk Beside You," a song that has been overwhelmed by criticism and even deep disdain from traditionalist fans, but the magic that permeates all Dream Theater lives comes to life, and even "I Walk Beside You" manages to elicit great emotions, thanks especially to the Canadian singer. But wasn't it more logical to propose a setlist that chronologically covered the career of our heroes? Said and done. The time machine takes us back to 1985, the year when Dream Theater, or rather it is more accurate to say Majesty, were little more than boys, but despite their young age, even then they were capable of producing incredible pieces. And "Another Won" is there to prove it. Very interesting are the evident variations that the song has undergone, and once again, in the hearts of fans, that desire is born that sees Dream Theater return to the studio and re-propose the underrated "When Dream & Day Unite" with LaBrie at the microphone.

We jump to 1989, and the five let us savor one of the most beautiful pieces from their first album: Afterlife. The technical level is very high for all the members of the band, and a Petrucci leaves us speechless with his solo three-quarters of the song. And the audience explodes for him! Now comes the moment everyone has been waiting for. The time machine jumps three years ahead and takes us into the magical world of Images & Words, the most beautiful and appreciated album of Dream Theater. Here, we are really at a loss for choice because all the songs are extraordinary. The five musicians choose a classic from their repertoire and propose to us the wonderful "Under a Glass Moon," and once again, an absolutely perfect performance with an exceptional Portnoy and a Petrucci once again unbelievably precise and incisive. But guys, also LaBrie is in a state of grace tonight, and the high notes of this song demonstrate it.

The year 1994, it's time for Awake. But that definitely looks like "Innocence Faded"! And it is indeed her, a piece we haven't heard in a live performance for many years, and tonight we have the chance to listen and appreciate it with a LaBrie once again the undisputed protagonist. We then move on to the not-so-exhilarating "Raise the Knife," a piece we remember excluded from Falling into Infinity. But now it's time for sweet and intense emotions, and a brief but evocative intro by Petrucci leads us to the timeless and classic "The Spirit Carries On," and it's a great show! Thus ends the first part of the concert, and we prepare for a great second half. This time it's not just Dream Theater on the stage of Radio City Music Hall. Accompanying them to the end is an entire orchestra composed of 30 elements. We are ready to enjoy the second part of the show. The symphonies of the orchestra leave no doubt, and we prepare to listen to the entire suite "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence." The individual pieces of the very long song flow quickly, really leaving a mark, and once again, the band manages to give its all. Are you not yet satiated with sweet and dreamy emotions? Then let's move on and see what an extraordinary live version of "Vacant" is capable of conveying, enriched by the 30-member orchestra and the intense and sweet voice of the Canadian singer. But now it's time to return to the latest album, and Dream Theater does so with a slow and quiet "The Answer Lies Within," which slowly leads us into the notes of the touching "Sacrificed Sons." The images of the Twin Towers serve as an intro to Rudess's piano, and without noticing, the song progressively flows into a powerful and compelling melody. At this point, fans ask themselves: where is the beautiful title track? Satisfied! Rudess begins to play with the Continuum (an instrument capable of producing a sound similar to a lap steel guitar), and "Octavarium" is ready to amaze! The entire suite is performed, and it is once again done impeccably. Everyone does their job properly, and you can feel it! "Octavarium" flows majestically, and we feel the sensation of having reached the terminus. But is it really the end? Have the five Americans given us everything they have? No! There is still the absolute masterpiece missing, the pearl of their career: "Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and The Sleeper," and there's immediate frenzy. But surprise! This is a particular version accompanied by the symphonic orchestra. "Metropolis" accompanied by an orchestra? Is it even possible? Yes, and the result is very appreciated. This time we have really reached the end, and all that's left is to stand up and applause this group that knew how to pay tribute to an extraordinary career that, we hope, will last much longer amidst applause and bitter critiques.

DVD 2: special contents

All fans now know the history of Dream Theater. Everyone has read it on some website or in some magazine, but have you ever heard it from the mouths of the main figures? Score offers you a 56-minute documentary in which the band members recount step by step the difficult moments and the exhilarating ones of a long and extraordinary career in the music world. Together with them, we will visit the places where they played as youths, we will capture their emotions in seeing those places so distant in time. Not a few are the problems that have hindered the release of each album, especially in the first phase of the career (as was to be expected), where record companies pressed for songs with great commercial impact, indirectly stifling the creative vein of the five guys. But Portnoy & Co. are not having it and rebel. The rest is history. Throughout the documentary, there are also brief interviews with the old protagonists of the Dream Theater scene such as Charlie Dominici, almost unrecognizable with short hair, and Derek Sherinian with his timeless look. In the end, Portnoy decides to send a message that is as predictable as it is truthful: to succeed you have to give 100%. This, of course, we all know, but after hearing their story, let's just say we believe it more, and that is Mike's intention. But let's move on.

Do you think the surprises are over? No, they're not! You'll find a kind of "Octavarium" video where the five members are animated characters! As a choice, it's quite amusing but rather insignificant. Let's just say it's worth watching just to have a laugh, especially when observing the animated character of Portnoy. Finally, and this is where the highlight of disc 2 is, there are three songs taken from three great concerts. It starts with the beautiful and emotional "Another Day" offered at the legendary Live in Tokyo back in 1993 when the beloved Kevin Moore was still on keyboards. As usual, a very touching song both live and in the original album, even though LaBrie is not quite in perfect shape. We jump to 2002 at Live in Bucharest and the five musicians propose one of the most beautiful and impactful songs from the album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: "The Great Debate." Every member gives their all except the usual LaBrie, who has often disappointed us a bit in live performances. It starts with the tireless Myung and then moves on to the fast solos of Rudess and Petrucci, both always impeccable as well as Portnoy on drums. Finally, the aggressive and ultra-powerful "Honor Thy Father" from Train of Thought is offered. We are in 2005 at Live in Chicago, and this time even LaBrie wants to be a protagonist, but for such a compelling song, as usual, it is the instrumental section that leaves a mark. “Don’t cross the crooked step” shouts Portnoy, and the storm of notes begins in which Petrucci and Rudess seem perfectly in tune with those solos that few can execute.

We have reached the end of this second disc, and once again, we can consider ourselves satisfied with the bonus material, especially for the live pieces that once again testify to the great technique of Dream Theater.