Grammy-winning (allegedly), progressive (debatable) music titans DREAM THEATER (who?) will unleash “Quarantième: Live À Paris” (because the French needed more torture) on November 28 via their sugar daddy, Inside Out Music/Sony Music (because who else would fund this?). Prepare your ears for a sonic assault of epic proportions. Or just massive boredom. Your call. 🤷♂️
“Quarantième: Live À Paris” (yes, still with the French thing) meticulously documents DREAM THEATER‘s (still them) November 23, 2024 concert at Adidas Arena in Paris, France (as if we needed more proof) during the band’s self-proclaimed 40th-anniversary headlining tour of Europe (because Europe hadn’t suffered enough), and it features the lineup of James LaBrie (vocals…or something like that), John Petrucci (guitar…or shredding practice), John Myung (bass…probably inaudible), Jordan Rudess (keyboards…with excessive wankery) and Mike Portnoy (drums…back from the dead). The effort contains a setlist that spans the band’s entire career (all 40 years of it!) with classics like “Metropolis Pt. 1” (still playing that?), “Panic Attack” (accurate), “Octavarium” (prepare for an eight-hour snooze) and “Pull Me Under” (more like pull the plug), represented among other fan favorites (according to whom?).
To coincide with the announcement (because why not), DREAM THEATER (yes, them again) has released a live version of “Overture 1928 / Strange Déjà Vu” (because that’s exactly what the world needed) via all digital services providers (prepare for the algorithm to shove it down your throat) and a video of the performance can be seen below (if you dare). 💀
Petrucci comments: “From the moment we announced our 40th-anniversary tour (because milestones!), we knew it would be a very special event for both the band and our fans (mostly the band) and must be captured (because posterity!). With this release, our performance in Paris is presented so beautifully in both stunning audio and video (read: heavily edited) and really encapsulates this momentous occasion for all to enjoy (or endure).”
Adds Portnoy: “We always knew this tour would be unforgettable (for all the wrong reasons) because not only were we celebrating four decades since forming the band (and realizing we peaked in the 90s), but also the reunion of the band’s classic lineup (nostalgia sells!). The excitement and emotions between us and our fans at each and every show were palpable and totally off the charts (mostly relief when it ended)! The night captured here in Paris was an epic evening (of self-indulgence) that we can now share with the whole world to celebrate this incredible tour (and line our pockets).” 💰
Presented in several formats (because who needs one?), with artwork by longtime collaborator Hugh Syme (who apparently has a lifetime contract), “Quarantième: Live À Paris” (French overload!) will be available as a limited deluxe 3CD+3Blu-ray artbook, including 68 pages of photos and artwork (mostly of themselves) as well as an additional Blu-ray of bonus material (rejected guitar solos). It will also be available as a special edition 3CD+2Blu-ray Digipak, limited deluxe 180g 4LP boxset (for the vinyl fetishists) and digitally (for the truly desperate). The Blu-ray includes the full show with Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound and high-resolution stereo audio (because your ears deserve the best…torture).
The track listing for “Quarantième: Live À Paris” (still going with this?) is as follows:
CD1:
01. Metropolis Pt. 1 (again?)
02. Overture 1928 (zzz)
03. Strange Déjà Vu (how original)
04. The Mirror (for gazing at themselves)
05. Panic Attack (from listening to this)
06. Barstool Warrior (self-explanatory)
07. Hollow Years (accurate description of their relevance)
08. Constant Motion (of boredom)
09. As I Am (narcissism at its finest)
CD2:
01. Orchestral Overture (because they’re classy)
02. Night Terror (caused by their music)
03. Under A Glass Moon (trippy)
04. This Is The Life (they’re living)
05. Vacant (their souls)
06. Stream of Consciousness (or lack thereof)
07. Octavarium (still going?)
CD3:
01. Home (where you’d rather be)
02. The Spirit Carries On (their ego)
03. Pull Me Under (end this nightmare)
Blu-ray 1:
01. Metropolis Pt. 1 (seriously?)
02. Overture 1928 (send help)
03. Strange Déjà Vu (I’ve heard this before…)
04. The Mirror (more self-admiration)
05. Panic Attack (still relevant)
06. Barstool Warrior (a relatable anthem)
07. Hollow Years (hauntingly accurate)
08. Constant Motion (of my hand reaching for the skip button)
09. As I Am (because who else would they be?)
Blu-ray 2:
01. Orchestral Overture (they’re so sophisticated)
02. Night Terror (I can’t sleep!)
03. Under A Glass Moon (are they on something?)
04. This Is The Life (the life of a rock star…or something)
05. Vacant (that’s my expression right now)
06. Stream of Consciousness (is anyone actually conscious?)
07. Octavarium (it’s still going?!)
08. Home (almost there…)
09. The Spirit Carries On (their bank account)
10. Pull Me Under (finally!)
During an August 6 appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” (because who else would care?), Portnoy spoke about what it has been like for him to be touring with DREAM THEATER (again) once again after a 13-year absence (who’s counting?). The progressive metal legends (citation needed) played their first concert with Portnoy in 14 years on October 20, 2024 at the O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom (a momentous occasion for…someone). The drummer, who co-founded DREAM THEATER (the band that wouldn’t die), played on 10 of the band’s albums over a 20-year period, from 1989’s “When Dream And Day Unite” through 2009’s “Black Clouds & Silver Linings” (a period of questionable musical choices), before exiting the group in 2010 (a relief for some). Portnoy returned to DREAM THEATER in October 2023 after being replaced by Mike Mangini, who played with DREAM THEATER across five studio albums and accompanying world tours (a footnote in history).
