Tag: liquid tension experiment

This is the second instalment of LTE, released back in ’99. Looking back at the cover many years later, you notice Portnoy has short hair, Rudess actually has HAIR, and Petrucci’s beard and forehead hadn’t taken over his whole appearance at this point. Musically it’s on the money if you like overblown and over the top instrumentals – and I most certainly do.

Acid Rain feels like a Dream Theater tune until the middle section where everyone does their individual thing. A ripping opener!!! Biaxident starts in quite a grandiose classical manner before the killer odd time grooves take over. This track does have a seventies fusion vibe to it. 914 starts with big drums and Tony Levin pounding on the bass, but this track is all about Rudess on the keys. Killer playing!!! When The Water Breaks was inspired by the arrival of John Petrucci’s child and his departure to be there at the birth. I get that the keyboard intro is inspired by that, but the rest of the track? I don’t hear it. It’s just killer fusion to me. Chewbaca has a seemingly familiar vibe, as it starts quite simple with a great groove and just takes off. Hourglass is the most laid back track on the album and dare I say, an instrumental ballad. Another Dimension gets my vote as favourite tune on the album, as the Petrucci’s playing is just insane. The album closes out with Liquid Dreams and I would say this is the most experimental piece on the album. At times Jazz, Prog, and everything else in between. Long may they make long instrumentals that defy grands.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Well, I guess after 22 years it would be about time to record the follow up to the second album. The groundwork for this album was made when Portnoy joined Petrucci on the recording of his last solo album, Terminal Velocity. That would be the first recording the ex-Dream Theater band mates would make together after Portnoy leaving the band to pursue challenges new – with his 17,000 projects he has been a part of since leaving. Also appearing here is the other member of DT, Jordan Rudess, keyboardist extraordinaire, and stick bass legend, Tony Levin.

If Portnoy was proving a point in regards to whether he still had the chops to play complex and strength sapping pieces anymore, I think with the first track Hyoersonic, those fears are simply put to rest as his playing here is other worldly. A jazz/Prog/metal masterpiece describes it perfectly. Second track, Beating The Odds, is more of a straight ahead track – well for these guys it is – and it does feel like a DT track. Keyboards are featured more on this piece and its full on widdly overload.

Side 2 starts with Liquid Evolution, and I’m guessing it’s describing musically how they have evolved over the last 22 years. A very fusion vibe for this relatively short piece. Back to the heaviness with the opening exchanges for The Passage Of Time, and this feels like an older Liquid Tension piece – my favourite so far. Petrucci, as well as being a shredder par excellence, can also play the most beautiful emotive runs. The weirdly named Chris & Kevin’s Amazing Odyssey is next, and starts with a very strange opening bass section and evolves as it continues for the whole track. Then it’s cover time for an over the top rendition of Rhapsody in Blue. Awesome! The very ballad-esque guitar piece Shades Of Hope is next, and then it’s onto the showstopper, Key To The Imagination, which is an incredible piece of music.

So the 22 years hasn’t changed them one bit, and they are still pushing boundaries.

9/10 from The Grooveman.