DISTANCE OVER TIME

After the rampant backlash of fans against the double album 'The Astonishing', Dream Theater returned with a concise yet focused album that could only be seen as a "back to basics" effort - 2019's 'Distance over Time' is the fourteenth studio album by American progressive metal headliners and is a creative offering that eventually sees the band at their most appealing and accessible in years. This album seems to be all about the songs, the feel and the sound that comes out of a band playing together in a cabin, which is exactly the location at which the album was recorded. Taking less than three weeks to record 'Distance over Time', we have a Dream Theater focused on their hard-rocking influences as well as occasional glimpses of a glam flamboyancy. Of course, this comes at the premise that none of the complexity or intricacy of the usual DT sound gets compromised; instead, there is a flaring, well-executed amalgamation between accessible and progressive.

Full of memorable riffs and vibrant guitar and keyboard solos, this album is crafty and focused, there is a generally uplifting feel to it and a recognizable swagger that definitely makes it a more universally appealing work. No big suites, no mind-blowing twists, no excessive point, just a more straightforward and organic playing, which also allows James LaBrie to shine on with one of his better performances in recent years. Each song kind of lives a life of its own and what might amaze you about this release is the fact that there are no weak entries on here - from the melodramatic opener 'Untethered Angel' and the elegiac 7-minute 'Fall Into the Light', to the sharp-edged and mechanical 'S2N' or the more complex arrangements of 'Pale Blue Dot', one might as well be drawn towards catchier numbers like 'Barstool Warrior' and the Van Halen-esque bonus track 'Viper King', this entire album is all about the songs, which are of pretty damn good quality all throughout. 'Distance over Time' is a welcome return to a more familiar but brilliantly-executed rocking sound for Dream Theater, with each band member showcasing why this is one of the most celebrated technical bands worldwide.

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