DREAM THEATER - LIVE AT BUDOKAN DVD
Warner Music Vision - Out Now
2004
saw a year of renewed energy and vigour for Dream Theater.
Fresh from the late 2003 release of the excellent Train Of
Thought album the band embarked on another mammoth world tour.
This DVD comes from one of the bands most prestigious dates on
that tour when they played Japan's mammoth Budokan Arena for
the first time in their history.
This DVD tends to focus on material from the aforementioned
Train Of Thought and the prior album Six Degrees Of Inner
Turbulence. With the odd selection from Scenes From A Memory,
Falling Into Infinity and only Pull Me Under representing
Images & Words. Awake has no representation at all which was a
suprise. I guess as the older albums had been featured on
previous dvd releases you may as well give fans something new.
As with most DT releases the quality control is high. The
audio and visual quality is excellent with a superb balance
between all instruments. What is apparent is that the huge
Budokan stage does seem a little empty despite all the video
backdrops on stage and excellent light show. Perhaps the price
to pay when concentration is required on the instrument over
anything else. This is by no means boring to watch, just don't
expect to see anyone running around like Yngwie does. The
camera work is very good with nice close ups for solos and
again shows the high production values the band have on all
aspects of their work. The gig itself is good with a element
of fun being present in the bands delivery - they are clearly
enjoying their debut at the Budokan.
The extras on the DVD are for me better than the main
presentation. The second disc is full of insights into John
Petrucci and Jordan Rudess' rigs, Mike Portnoy's drum solo as
well as a Japanese tour documentary which is an excellent
watch and shows how tiresome touring actually. Also included
is the short video the band used to open their set (shows the
history of the band from the early Majesty days - where
incidentally they are much more stage animated than they are
now) as well as a multi angle option for Instrumedly - which
as the name suggests is a medley of instrumental sections from
all albums - this is excellent.
Hardcore DT fans are bound to have this by now, but for those
that have a passing interest in the band and have been on the
fence then get it - its a very good watch.
Rating - 88%
DREAM THEATER - TRAIN OF THOUGHT
Warner Music - Out Now
One
of metals most dependable bands return with renewed vigour.
Train Of Thought is easily DT's most guitar intensive album
since Awake. Guitarist John Petrucci is playing his ass off
pretty much throughout and its a joy to hear. A slimmed down
James LaBrie's vocals sound all the better for the loss of a
few pounds and he also puts in his best vocal performance
since Images & Words. The rthythm section of Portnoy and Myung
is as flawless as ever, but strangely Jordan Ruddess takes
somewhat of a backseat this time around.
Generally
ToT is more straightforward than 6DOIT or SFAM and to these
ears it sounds fresher for it - think of this as Dream Theater
attempting to write the ultimate metal album. The riffs are
mean, lean and generally superb throughout, to single out any
particular tracks would be an injustice to this fine body of
work.
Simply if
you like Dream Theater then get this album now.
Rating -
92%
