Despite being one of the cornerstones in the Progressive Metal genre, Dream Theater relentlessly strive for innovation. Having moved on without drummer Portnoy the band have indeed understood their identity. Handing the reins over to guitarist and beard grower extraordinaire John Petrucci, the band’s creativity has seldom dulled in their thirty year plus career. Quite no one would anticipate their sheer level of attention to detail on their brand new release, The Astonishing. Not only one of the biggest undertakings in the band’s career but potentially in the genre all together. Putting together a live performance the likes most bands will never see, tonight we are at the mercy of The Astonishing : Live at London’s Palladium.
[date]19th February 2016[/date]
[venue]The Palladium[/venue]
[city]London[/city]
[support_bands]None[/support_bands]
Making our way into the venue the air crackles with anticipation, immediately the sense of lofty regality that surrounds a theatre’s history is brought to the fore. A genius coupling of the bands narrative without dismissing their grandiose stature ensures that the compromise of a live musical performance in a surrounding as austere as the theatre retains the energy of a live show. As programmes are looked over and final rushes to get beers in end, at last the lights dim. Able to hear the most slight of pins drop, suddenly warning signs of urgent red lights emerge as the deafening sounds of our soon to be familiar NOMACS greet the audience. Immediately immersing everyone in the room into our thirty four track world of The Great Northern America’s. Shortly afterward the band appear on stage to give our musical summary of tonight’s proceedings with “Dystopian Overture“. Nevertheless it’s the arrival of our hero/narrator/villain and all those in between James Labrie that sees The Palladium ignite tonight.
“The Gift Of Music” sees our backdrop come to life acting as an audience companion to the musical story. Whilst the focus might be on Mangini and co the LED lit backdrop explains characters, give clues to the story and make for a fantastic light show. Gradually moving forward in our story each musical set piece is navigated with a military attention to detail. The introduction to our malevolent force “Lord Nefaryus” is as musically imposing as his part in our story. Stepping off stage momentarily, presumably to keep his vocals in check with water, Labrie retains a sense of understanding of not only the plot but his characters, never getting confused or rushing lyrical parts. Stand out set pieces of “Ravenskill” bring out catalyst moment to The Palladium, seeing the theatrical possibility of the band truly come to light.
Whilst not only performing with the kind of infallible accuracy that only our Berklee boys could, the sound here at London’s Palladium works perfectly. Owing to the classic acoustics the often overpowering sound of NOMACS intimidate and perplex whereas instrumental finale of “A New Beginning” sees all members of the band come through with clarity particularly Petrucci’s stunning solo. After a brief interval the audience is once again put through their paces with the arrival of Act II. Now familiar with the characters we are brought more to the twists and turns of The Astonishing both musical and thematical. The anthem of “Moment Of Betrayal“, an instant fan favourite sees the audience ready to get back into the thick of it. Bar the relentless sounds of a drunken joker yelling “Pull me under!!” a heckle that was originally amusing quickly becomes a pain. Causing the atmosphere brought together by the band to be dispelled temporarily particularly when an incredibly focused Jordan Ruddess is rudely interrupted before his piano section in “Heaven’s Cove“.
Annoying drunks aside, Act II works as seamlessly as the first coming to a head with the truly moving deus ex machina of The Astonishing. Featuring the demise of our mascots the NOMACS it’s the climactic rendition of title track “The Astonishing” that sees the entire Palladium come together as Labrie encourages his London choir to join in. Making for an incredibly moving piece combined with the climax in story, the mind boggling understanding that the band have just performed an entire two hour long album and the combined choral efforts of the punters makes The Astonishing more than just another live performance by the band.
The stage might be adorned by sets and trinkets but tonight Dream Theater have performed an oxymoron of simplistic technicality and have enraptured each and everyone of their fans in the Palladium tonight. To truly give a record the magnitude of The Astonishing it’s justified presence the performance has to be seen to be believed. Few if not any could have pulled off the mastery that was put before us this evening. Fan of the band or complete newcomer The Astonishing has to be seen to be believed.
