Tag Archives: Dream Theater

Album review : TURBULENCE – Binary Dream

TURBULENCE Binary image 150

Frontiers [Release date: 08.03.24] Third album from cutting edge Lebanese Progressive Metal band, Turbulence. Turbulence by name… this truly is a Prog Metal album for genre afficionados. We said that the band’s 2023 Frontiers debut, Frontal was “a defiantly bold … Continue reading

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Album review: JAMES LABRIE – Beautiful Shade Of Grey

JAMES LABRIE - Beautiful Shade Of Grey

InsideOut Music [Release date 20.05.22] The latest solo offering from James LaBrie stems from his involvement on the Eden’s Curse track “No Holy Man’ (a real highlight on their 2011 album ‘Trinity’) and a subsequent support slot for the band … Continue reading

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Album review: TERRA ODIUM – Ne Plus Ultra

terra odium

Frontiers Records [Release date 11.06.21] In its more expansive moments, Norwegian band Terra Odium’s album resonates with the sci-fi dissonance of tech metal. The kind that Brad Fiedel and Wendy Carlos wielded on “The Terminator” and “The Shining” film scores. … Continue reading

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Album review: TRANSATLANTIC – The Absolute Universe

TRANSATLANTIC - The Absolute Universe

Inside Out  [Release date: 05.02.21] Supergroups – don’t you just love them? Remember, back in the day, when England used to play various sporting matches against “The Rest Of The World”? England always won because they all knew each other’s … Continue reading

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Album review: TURBULENCE – Frontal

Turbulence Frontal

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] Lebanese Progressive Rock/Metal band, Turbulence, are crossing a few boundaries with their provocatively titled Frontiers debut, Frontal. It is a defiantly bold attempt to incorporate the music of the wider world into their work. Something … Continue reading

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Feature: Albums that time forgot…JAMES LABRIE – Elements Of Persuasion

JAMES LABRIE - Elements Of Persuasion

InsideOut (2005) For many band members, the band becomes all consuming.  It means, as a result of the constant cycle of touring, writing and recording, they can’t deliver their own solo album.  There are 15 years between John Petrucci’s first … Continue reading

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Book review: On track…DREAM THEATER (Every album, every song) – Jordan Blum

On track...DREAM THEATER (Every album, every song) - Jordan Blum

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.07.20] This volume reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the series’ premise. Jordan Blum’s careful expose of all the albums reveals how indebted he is to other writers, websites and magazines.  And, let’s be honest, Wikipedia.  … Continue reading

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Album review: MORSE, PORTNOY, GEORGE – Cov3r To Cov3r

MORSE, PORTNOY, GEORGE – Cov3r To Cov3r

Inside Out [Release date 24.07.20] Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy and Randy George. Three titans of modern prog locked together to fight the elements and stride forth on their third covers album, each one bringing their ‘A Game’ as they join … Continue reading

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Album review: HAKEN – Virus

HAKEN - Virus

Inside Out [Release date 24.07.20] Following the release of their fifth studio album “Vektor” back in October 2018, the members of the British Progressive Metal sextet Haken have rightfully been in the receiving end of various rewards and accolades. For … Continue reading

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Feature: Albums that time forgot – DOMINICI – O3 A Trilogy (Part 3)

DOMINICI - O3 A Trilogy (Part 3)

Inside Out [2008] Charlie Dominici may merit a mere footnote in the history of Dream Theater, the band’s original singer who was in the formative Majesty before making the band’s first album. Then in 2005 he produced the first of … Continue reading

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Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX

SONS OF APOLLO - MMXX

Inside Out [Release date 17.01.20] Second studio outing from the prog metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo who consist of vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Billy Sheenan, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, drummer Mike Portnoy and on keyboards Derek Sherinian. Sons Of … Continue reading

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Gig review: G3 2018 – JOE SATRIANI, JOHN PETRUCCI, ULI JON ROTH – Manchester Apollo, 27 April 2018

G3 2018 - JOE SATRIANI, JOHN PETRUCCI, ULI JON ROTH - Manchester Apollo, 27 April 2018

There was a moment in this latest iteration of the global guitar circus that it all fell into place. Two-and-a-half hours in, during a stellar version of ‘Super Funky Badass’ Joe Satriani underlined why we worship our guitar heroes. The … Continue reading

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Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – Psychotic Symphony

SONS OF APOLLO - Psychotic Symphony

Inside Out [Release date 20.10.17] Sons Of Apollo only formed earlier this year and come labelled with the ‘supergroup’ tag, which can be a blessing or a curse – luckily a blessing in Sons Of Apollo case. The Sons Of … Continue reading

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Album review: RIK EMMETT & RESolution 9 – RES9

Rik Emmett - RES9

Provogue [Release date 11.11.16] Rik Emmett’s RESolution 9 is a beacon of quality on a sometimes bewilderingly fragmented rock landscape. Emmett’s 26 year solo career reflects the fact that he’s a gifted songwriter with something meaningful to say. When he … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE WINERY DOGS/ Inglorious – Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

THE WINERY DOGS - Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

Mike Portnoy announces to the crowd that The Winery Dogs don’t often play outside of the main cities of London/Manchester, so the Bristol fans wasted no opportunity to sign up for something special and – although not a sell out … Continue reading

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Album review: DREAM THEATER – The Astonishing

DREAM THEATER - The Astonishing

Roadrunner Records [Release date 29.01.16] Epic. Sprawling. Career defining? Perhaps. Dream Theater have unleashed upon its adoring fans an album of such substantial girth that it makes the job of reviewing it reasonably tough. DT are known for super long … Continue reading

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EP review: OZAI – Ozai

https://www.facebook.com/OzaiBand/ I don’t customarily review albums older than a couple of months. By that point it’s been out long enough that people have likely already gotten it and made their own decision on what they’re hearing. In fact, it’s really … Continue reading

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Album review: NEAL MORSE – Morsefest!

NEAL MORSE - Morsefest!

www.nealmorse.com [Release date 21.08.15] This is a massive box set, which you can get either as 2 disc Blu-Ray or a 4 CD/2 DVD set. Obviously aimed at the fans, as Neal Morse performs two of his keynote solo albums, … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FESTIVAL Day 1 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 25 July 2015

Scorpions - Ramblin

Photo: Paul Rodgers Another summer and yet another new festival joins the ranks of the many. This one however had the classic rock fraternity foaming at the mouth with a line up which comprised some of the biggest names in … Continue reading

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Album review: NEXT TO NONE – A Light In The Dark

NEXT TO NONE - A Light In The Dark

Inside Out [Release date 29.06.15] When I was about 14 years old, I got beaten up by the meanest, toughest, most fearless kid in school – and he was only 10…not my finest hour. Now, at the ripe old age … Continue reading

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News: ALIEN ANT FARM, MAGMA, BLUE OYSTER CULT – Saturday 31 January 2015

Blue Oyster Cult - HARD ROCK HELL, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Ramblin’ Fair Festival have announced the support bands for headliners Scorpions on Saturday. They include Dream Theater, Blue Oyster Cult, Saxon and FM. Burning Rain replace Circus Maximus at the Frontiers festival in Italy. MAGMA May 07 Manchester RNCM May … Continue reading

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News: DREAM THEATER, MATT SCHOFIELD, MILAN POLAK – Sunday 11 January 2015

News - Album News

Milan Polak has signed with a new record label, distributed by Universal and his new album is due in the spring. Kansas will premiere their documentary of the band’s history, ‘Miracles Out Of Nowhere’, at the 30th Annual Santa Barbara … Continue reading

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News: ULI JON ROTH, QUEENSRYCHE, DREAM THEATER – Friday 9 January 2015

News - Album News

Edsel Records will release two box sets spanning the career of The Sound on 16th February. On February 10th ‘Journey: The Frontiers Tour’ is released in the US on CD. The show was recorded on July 21st 1983 at the … Continue reading

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DVD review: TRANSATLANTIC – KaLiveoscope

TRANSATLANTIC - KaLiveoscope

Inside Out [Release date: 28.10.14] I’m maybe the wrong person to review this DVD.  Or perhaps the best.  Because while I’m familiar with the name and the fact the band’s a side project ‘supergroup’ I couldn’t previously have told you … Continue reading

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Gig review: FLYING COLORS – Islington Assembly Hall, London,13 October 2014

Flying Colors - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 13 October 2014

Due to the queuing system for the gig (they really need to have more than one person manning the ticket desk) I missed most of the support set from guitarist John Wesley (he’s worked with Porcupine Tree, Fish and more … Continue reading

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