Dream Theater is five amazing musicians and composers, but Distance Over Time represents the sum of the parts because of the way the band choose to write and record the album. Tracks like “Untethered Angel” form effortless segues between ballad styled clean guitars with swelling keyboard that explode into a power house metal riffs. Each band member had their input in forming the musical figures surrounding LaBrie’s vocal melodies. The band also spent time with creating full background melodies. Of course, every Dream Theater fan knows the amazing abilities of Mangini, and the time signatures and feel changes are throughout the ten tracks. There are more heavy riffs from Petrucci and Myung, that is a significant part of Distance Over Time’s incredible sound. Of course, Petrucci’s guitar solos are intricate and expertly performed, but the energy of the band seems to push them to new levels of intensity. Some riffs are a nice mixing of classic rock and heavy metal, as in “Fall into the Light.” Dream Theater’s sound is still constant with a solid mix of old and new techniques and sounds that we expect from the band. LaBrie’s vocal range is vast as ever and the lyrics well-crafted. This band is the pinnacle of style, technique and musicality and Distance Over Time is a testament to bands power when creating in the moment as a unique band of brotherhood. Something special happened in the secluded Yonderbarn studios in Monticello, NY over the course of four months and it is called Distance Over Time. That's the short of it!