Dream Theater, 20th June 2025, Heviti, Copenhell Festival

Photo: Goran www.facebook.com/UrbanMescaleroPhotography

About half a year ago, Dream Theater played at Poolen, a venue located on the Copenhell grounds. The venue, however, was far from fitting for the expected glorious return of the band, which had recently reunited with founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy. As such, the band’s live return to Denmark didn’t quite live up to (perhaps unrealistic) expectations, despite a brilliant setlist.

Parasomnia, the band’s first album in 18 years to feature Portnoy turned out to be their strongest in some time, but it still didn’t fully meet the hype. It’s undoubtedly a solid record—their finest since their first post-Portnoy album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events – but artistically, it’s not likely to hold a prominent place in the band’s history.

Ahead of their Copenhell show, it was hard to imagine how they could improve on their last visit—not because that show was spectacular, but because Dream Theater isn’t exactly a typical festival band. Limited set time meant they couldn’t match that previous, magnificent setlist.

But Dream Theater is a clever band, with a discography as strong as it is diverse, making it easier for them to adjust the setlist to fit the festival’s tone, timeslot, and time constraints.

The band took the stage to the opening notes of “Night Terror”, the lead single from the new album—and it turned out to be the perfect opener. For several reasons: the intro worked brilliantly to kick things off, the track’s heaviness and massive riffs landed with impact, and at ten minutes long, it offered a great introduction to what Dream Theater is all about—especially for those unfamiliar with the band.

From the start, the crowd was met with a massive, crystal-clear sound and musicianship that operates on another level. No disrespect to the many amazing musicians who have graced the Copenhell stage this year, but the sheer skill of these five performers is almost overwhelming. And it’s not just their technical ability—it’s the sound, the interplay, and their down-to-earth confidence.

The opener was quickly followed by “Panic Attack” from the band’s masterpiece Octavarium, which came out almost exactly 20 years ago. Another heavy hitter, “The Enemy Inside,” followed and proved to be an excellent choice. The more direct approach of these songs, combined with the band’s energetic performance and impeccable sound, made everything click.

They also made sure to include a more progressive rock element with “Act I: Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy,” giving newcomers a deeper glimpse into the band’s core identity.

As mentioned, the performance was simply staggering. The sound was powerful and well-balanced, with only Portnoy’s kick drum occasionally drawing too much attention. John Petrucci’s guitar tone was the stuff of dreams, and James LaBrie sounded excellent—certainly better than he did at their last Copenhagen show. His vocals were more even, with greater dynamic range and expression.

“Peruvian Skies” offered a breather—at least in its first half—during which they touched upon Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.” In the song’s second half, they referenced Metallica—not with the usual “Enter Sandman,” but this time with “Wherever I May Roam.”

The closing duo of the über-heavy “As I Am” and classic “Pull Me Under” was spot on. The latter proved to be a great festival tune, one even non-fans seemed to recognize.

Seeing Dream Theater perform outdoors in broad daylight at a festival—after witnessing them live countless times since the ’90s—is a peculiar experience. But the band silenced any skepticism about their suitability for a festival setting. And then some. Despite having only 60 minutes—a short set by Dream Theater standards—they managed to deliver a strong and diverse performance. In Dream Theater world, that’s like a regular band playing a 30-minute set.

SETLIST:

1. Night Terror
2. Panic Attack
3. The Enemy Inside
4. Act I: Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy
5. Peruvian Skies
6. (With snippets of Wish you were here and Wherever I may roam)
7. As I Am
8. Pull Me Under