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Dream Theater – Distant Memories (Live in London) – The Perfect Quarantine Album

Well it’s another year and another live album from Dream Theater has been released. It’s the bands seventh live album overall. Except this time around their new live venture has been released in the middle of a worsening pandemic. Quarantining and social isolation are key weapons in fighting this disease until a vaccine is available. And there’s nothing better than new live Dream Theater material to help ride out the crazy. And this release has proven to be a strong live outing. Combining tracks from their most recent release ‘Distance Over Time’ with a few classics and ‘Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory’ in its entirety. Celebrating 20 years of the landmark album.

I was honestly a little skeptical of this record. First off, we already have a live Dream Theater album with ‘Scenes From A Memory’ in its complete form. It was released in fall of 2001 entitled ‘Live Scenes From New York.’ So what’s the sell on getting another live album with a large chunk of it the same set list? Secondly, the audience seemed to be lacking in energy based off of the promo videos that the band released prior to the album. The last two Dream Theater live albums have shown the band is best heard live with a giant, raging audience. And that didn’t seem to be the case this time around. Luckily, I was proven wrong on all accounts.

The ‘Distance Over Time’ tracks work really well with the classics and mix excellently with ‘Scenes.’ The production of the show is unreal. It might be the bands best mixed live album. Mike Mangini’s drums sound larger than life. A massive, ten ton heavy snare and a bass drum that shakes foundations. Petrucci’s guitar sounds thick and layered. John Myung’s bass really stands out. And Rudess’ keys are mixed perfectly in. Not too dominant in the mix. The only caveat is that James LaBrie’s voice is just not quite up to par. Particularly when compared to the last few live albums. But you gotta give him a break. He’s been singing at an insanely high level for almost thirty years with DT now. And he doesn’t sound bad. Just a little off.

Some of the tracks play the best they’ve ever been. ‘A Nightmare To Remember’ is a huge beneficiary of the live setting. Plus, we don’t get Mike Portnoy’s annoying semi-growl towards the end of the song. ‘In The Presence of Enemies Pt. 1’ is also a stand out. The thicker sound bolsters the nine minute bad ass prog metal piece. The ‘Distance Over Time’ highlights are excellent of course. The two tracks that really stick out live are ‘Barstool Warrior’ and ‘At Wits End.’ The latter closing out the set. The only critique I have is that the set could have used ‘S2N’ in it. That would really complete the non – ‘Scenes’ songs. Speaking of those, the ‘Scenes From A Memory’ part of the set exceeds expectations. It sounds terrific. The ballads ring out with passion. And the heaviness has never sounded more full. ‘Fatal Tragedy,’ ‘Beyond This Life’ and ‘Home’ are just amazing. Possibly the best version of each. Which is saying a lot since there’s nearly countless versions.

Overall ‘Distant Memories’ is a great live record. One of Dream Theater’s strongest. And it’s a perfect quarantine album seeing as how it clocks in at nearly three hours. Like most DT live albums, it’s a lot of DT. And fans will eat this one up. Sometimes a live Dream Theater outing can only be consumed in bits. But this live record plays really well all they way through. It’s a jam out, kick ass live album. Ideal for getting lost in a journey on those lonely quarantine nights.

AC/DC PowerUp the World. Just When We Need Them Most

AC/DC are without question one of the most consistent bands of all time. They’ve essentially made the same album for 40 plus years. With minor production differences along the way. As a result they’re one of the most enduring and popular acts in not just rock, but all of popular music. And as a result of being around for 45 years, there is a pattern of massive moments in the band’s career. Every four or five albums, one drops that’s just massive. The band is inspired, the music is particularly good and it hits at the right time. ‘PowerUp,’ the bands new release, I believe, is one of those moments.

Fates Warning ‘Long Day Good Night’ Album Review

The originators of true progressive metal, Fates Warning, are back once again. With yet another extension of the sound they’ve cultivated for themselves since 2004’s ‘FWX.’ Their new album, ‘Long Day Good Night’ is the next step in the evolution of modern Fates Warning. Which means that the album is amazing, melodic and full of heavy ass kick asserey.

Top Ten Most Overlooked AC/DC Tracks

AC/DC are without question the most consistent act in all of modern music. They’ve been making grade-A, prime hard rock since their ‘Jailbreak’ ep in 1974. Sure, some albums have different production takes on the band. But AC/DC have been true masters of the three to five chord rock song without deviation. ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ would be the best way to describe the band. Keep it simple, keep it strong. And while that mentality has brought us several massive classics over the decades: Highway to Hell, Back In Black, You Shook Me All Night Long, For Those About To Rock (We Salute You), T.N.T, Thunderstruck, Hells Bells, Whole Lotta Rosie and many many more. There are even more songs that don’t get the credit they deserve. This list is dedicated to the top ten songs that get lost in the shuffle. The tracks that deserve to be played more live. The deep cuts that made AC/DC such a strong band.

AC/DC Ready To ‘PwrUp’ The World

It goes without saying that 2020 has been a rough year for all. But there has been a few beacons of light this year. Mostly in the form of new material being released from our favorite bands. But none is as exciting as the new AC/DC drop. A new single, ‘Shot In The Dark.’ And an announcement of a new album. It’s just what the world need.

R.I.P. Eddie Van Halen – 1/26/55 – 10/6/2020

When we think of the guitar greats, what truly separates the real legends from the technical masters is innovation. How they influenced the instrument on a massive scale. And there’s really only a small handful of them: Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, Hendrix, Steve Vai and John Petrucci. But perhaps the most influential of these innovators is the great Eddie Van Halen, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 65. As if 2020 wasn’t bad enough, now it claims one of our true heros. A man who completely flipped the script on guitar playing. Sending the instrument into the netherworld. The standard he set with what was possible with the guitar would never be undone.

Metal Anniversary – 9-29-86 – Iron Maiden’s ‘Somewhere In Time’

It’s Maiden’s most overlooked album. Not by the fans, but by the band. Hardly ever playing tracks off of it. But it’s often regarded as Iron Maiden’s finest hour by many many fans. Produced by hard rock and Maiden veteran Martin Birch, ‘Somewhere In Time’ saw Iron Maiden take a slightly different approach to their sound. Resulting in their highest charting album of the 80’s. It would be twenty-four years before Maiden would top the charting.

Dream Theater Announce New Live Album ‘Distant Memories, Live in London,’ Drop New Single ‘Pale Blue Dot (Live)’

2020 being the roughest year that most of us have experienced, it’s always welcome when one of our favorite bands announces a new release. And Dream Theater have stepped up to the plate with the upcoming release of their new live album ‘Distant Memories, Live in London.’ As well as dropping a track from the show. A blistering rendition of ‘Pale Blue Dot.’ Since it’s been about six years since the last DT live album. It’s about high time that there’s a new one.

Hard Rock Anniversary – 9/21/93 – Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’

To say that Nirvana were a massive enterprise of a band by 1993 is to say something as obvious as human breathe. The band were coming off the massive ‘Nevermind’ tour, which lasted over eighteen months. They had taken over the world and the record company was starving for a follow up. And instead of appeasing their contractual overlords, they released ‘In Utero.’ An unapologetic fist to the face of everything commercial at the time.

Hard Rock Anniversary – 9/18/78 – The KISS Solo Albums

By the fall of 1978, KISS were on top the world. Coming off of a massive tour supporting ‘Love Gun,’ some members were feeling burnt out and sick of each other. The band was teetering on the verge of break-up. Threatening to put them in the category of ‘Very successful 70’s band’ and nothing more. So manager Bill Aucoin proposed an idea. Each member do their own, unique solo album. And then reconvene for a new album and tour. At the time it seemed like a good idea. And for as many great tracks as there are (Ace’s solo album is practically the best KISS album), it was also the beginning of the end for the original line-up. Here’s a look back on each individual album.