This is the second of Magna Carta's one-time-only groupings and the second to feature bassist
Tony Levin. Fortunately for all concerned, it's light years beyond
Black Light Syndrome, which paired
Levin with guitarist
Steve Stevens and drummer
Terry Bozzio in an ill-conceived and poorly executed set of improvisations. There is one such impromptu excursion here, the concluding 28-minute "Three Minute Warning," but even it holds up favorably by comparison. But it's the rest of the tunes here that showcase the versatility of
Dream Theater members
John Petrucci and
Mike Portnoy and
Dregs keyboardist
Jordan Rudess. They fit the fusion/prog rock tag, with plenty of chopsmanship on display, but also with some allegiance to melody and restraint. Not likely to get any radio play, but then that wasn't the point of the session.