Hidden Pearls and Playful Gems with Great Crowd and Decent Production - A Review of Dream Theater's Lost Not Forgotten Archives: ...and Beyond - Live in Japan, 2017

...and Beyond - Live in Japan, 2017 is another entry in Dream Theater's excellent Lost Not Forgotten Archives and a sequel to the series' first release Images and Words - Live in Japan 2017 that was released one year earlier. This effort here captures the first set from Dream Theater's 2017 Images, Words & Beyond performance at the historic Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. It was previously a Japan-exclusive television broadcast and a live streaming event. It is now available for fans around the globe to own for the first time.

The eight songs played on this output are particularly interesting because they have rarely been played in the band's career and some songs are even released live for the very first time on this release. ''The Gift of Music'' for instance works much better without its complicated album context and refreshes as short, positive and melodic progressive metal song with surprising pop elements in the instrumental melodies and vocal lines. The same could be said about the slightly more anthemic, cinematic and epic pearl ''Our New World'' that also shows the band's catchy, concise and focused side.

Two other highlights are instrumental rarities. ''Hell's Kitchen'' is originally from the disappointing Falling into Infinity record but this playful version here isn't only about two minutes longer than the studio version but also much more adventurous, creative and dynamic as all musicians show their genuine emotions and remarkable skills in this performance. ''Portrait of Tracy'' is a rare bass guitar solo by John Myung as he covers legendary jazz fusion and post-bop bassist Jaco Pistorius who died tragically thirty years before this cover was played.

Fans of Dream Theater's more traditional sounds are also rewarded on this output. The chaotic, contemporary and progressive opener ''The Dark Eternal Night'' might be the shining highlight from the band's at times complex and complicated Systematic Chaos record and works splendidly in concert when supported by energetic fans such as these ones from Japan. ''As I Am'' is one of the band's heaviest songs ever recorded and is bridged with an excerpt of Metallica's legendary hit single ''Enter Sandman'' which is welcomed enthusiastically by the excited crowd.

One also has to point out the decent production of this concert. Many live albums released under the Lost Not Forgotten banner suffer from poor recordings but this one here is clear, detailed and rich.

The production is so excellent, the set list so diversified and the band in such a great form that the entire concert should have become an official release. As it is, fans must now purchase two or perhaps later on even three different albums to listen to the entire show at Budokan. The performance of the entire A Change of Seasons song remains unpublished as of now but many fans can't wait to finally listen to it.

As you can read, adamant fans of progressive metal should at least listen to or even own both Images and Words - Live in Japan 2017 as well as ...and Beyond - Live in Japan, 2017 that show the band's new line-up at the height of its abilities. This particular release here convinces with excellent band chemistry, very good production and adventurous set list with quite a few hidden pearls and rarely played material. The energized Japanese crowd makes a very good live album excellent and proves once more that some of the greatest live records in music history have been recorded in the land of the rising sun.

Final Rating: 90%