Power, focus and ethereal orchestration have been three key features that Dream Theater have held dear since their first release When Dream and Day Unite in 1989. Thirty years on, the principle has been kept and from there the band have been one of the pinnacles of prog metal. The only difference with their latest release Distance Over Time is that its significantly shorter than its predecessors, but for a band known for their long opus’, does the span of their songs change the overall tone of the record? Let’s put it this way, absolutely fucking not.
From the offset of the album, John Petrucci hooks you in with the calmness of “Untethered Angel”. The song switches pace without a heart beat, with Jordan Rudess keyboards adding to the atmosphere of the songs breaks, and providing a backdrop for James LaBrie to showcase that even after all this time, his vocals are still as powerful as ever.
The album just continues to be the unrelenting force that we’ve come to love Dream Theater for, their passion and remarkable musicianship remains unmatched. “Paralyzed” kicks in with no remorse, the haunting keyboard swirls and LaBrie’s vocals creating the setting of the song.
“Fall Into The Light” kicks off as the first single off the album, and we can see why. The fleeting sound and the intricacies of every musician is showcased, from Petrucci’s riffs to John Myungs bass playing shining through. “Barstool Warrior” is a change of pace, but immediately the band are able to paint the intrinsic picture of small town life, with Petrucci once again stealing the show with his playing, every note picked adding to LaBrie’s storytelling, definitely a highlight that we would recommend to fans old and new alike.
While “Room 137” sets off a slower but equally heavier rhythm, “S2N” would be a song to present to anyone who asks about listening to a band with technique and uncompromising power, with Petrucci and Rudess’ playing melding together harmoniously, becoming one with each other while simultaneously showing the musical talents Dream Theater have been playing for the past three decades.
The longest track on the album “At Wits End” is a nine minute opus. But every minute and every second is tense, unparalleled to its ruthless song nature of an abusive relationship, with LaBrie’s lyrics taking the character of the abuser trying to keep his woman. It’s haunting, and no holds barred to the message of spousal abuse and the repercussions it has on anyone who has suffered the unfortunate fate. It’s a harrowing listen, but the band pull through to show how well they blend and bounce off one another to create such a hellish picture. By any stretch of the imagination, “At Wits End” is a masterpiece.
After going through such a journey with one song and the preceding tracks on the album, you can’t help but feel burnt out by the intensity and the craftsmanship that helped forge every track on the album, but “Out of Reach” slows it all down. A lovely ballad that slows it down just enough to ease the heavy handed topic of the previous song, but also something to relax the mind a bit more. The whole band slows down for this track, with Rudess keyboard prowess shining through with orchestral flourishes and heart to match Petrucci’s soulful playing, whether it be on the quiet melodies or the power that rings through in the chorus.
Finally we come to the end of the journey with “Pale Blue Dot”. As Petrucci said in a previous interview, the song-“highlights Carl Sagan’s meaningful reflection on humankind’s fleeting nature and our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to cherish the ‘Pale Blue Dot’ which is Earth.” As the final song on the album, Dream Theater pull out all the stops you thought were inconceivable. The song sends your mind shooting through the atmosphere and settled in the stars, with the music creating the aura of an adventure in space, while marveling at the curiosities of the universe. Every member of the band flourishes on this track, from the other worldly sounds of the keys, a rhythm section that holds its own while LaBrie’s lyrics frame the ideals of looking down at the planet Earth from afar, to the interconnectedness that we share as individuals.
Distance Over Time has been released with a message. Dream Theater aren’t any other band that have existed for thirty years, but they’ve been the forefront of their genre and this albums cements itself into their proud legacy. The pace of the album is unrelenting and fierce while showing some really beautiful moment shared, but there’s more than that to the album. The record brings the pride and joy that has gone into, to put it, quite possibly the best sounding Dream Theater album to date. You can sense the creativity, the raw and natural energy the musicians have creatively put into the record. One the last seconds tick away, you can tell that the band walked away with a smile on their faces with the accomplishment made, the passion each member has infused into the record.
Distance Over Time is out now be sure to pick up a copy wherever music is sold.
Review by RockRevolt journalist Connor Flello
