Dream Theater - Pull Me Under (Pianist continues his exploration of heavy metal) 

After listening to this song for so long, it starts to lose its luster. But being able to see Judson experience it, you regain appreciation for it. It really is one of their best.

I really can't wait until Judson hears some of Jordan's chops!!

I think you guys would really dig "The Count of Tuscany"

Space Dye Vest with a Judson cover to follow.

Dream Theater - Misunderstood, Home or In the Name of God. Those are some good ones. The guitar solo in Misunderstood is fantastic!

Liquid Tension Experiment - "When the Water Breaks"

"As I Am" off of Train Of Thought is my go-to. 🔥🤘✌

i love Judsons piano intros

I'm so stoked to go the opening concert of their 40th anniversary tour, I hope it will be epic! They are so innovative, and come up with very interesting lyrics as well!

Ok, now You're ready for real DT journey... Change of Seasons!!

Well Ice-T has a metal band called Body Count

Mike's band is called Transatlantic. It's super progressive music. DT will embark on their 40th Anniversary Tour. I can't wait to see them live again with Mike Portnoy. You guys should listen to The Count of Tuscany. It's a real masterpiece.

Ice-T had Body Count, probably the closet I can think of as "Gangsta rap metal". Maybe Biohazard ...

This Dying Soul should be covered on here. It's from their heaviest album. TRAIN OF THOUGHT. Personally, I think it's their best song.

My first dream theater song. I bet he likes it.

Just to name a few groups Portnoy has played with since DT: Avenged Sevenfold, Transatlantic, Adrenaline Mob, Neal Morse, Flying Colors, The Winery Dogs, Bigelf, Metal Allegiance, Twisted Sister, The Neal Morse Band, Sons of Apollo, Liquid Tension Experiment.

One word: OCTAVARIUM. 24 minutes of magic. Well worth the laptop overload or extra time breaking down its myriad easter eggs and awesomeness. The song has its own Wikipedia page... which is worth checking out before you dive into it!

Next I'd recommend "Count of Tuscany" by DT! Incredibly talented band. At first when I started with the DT journey, I struggled to get passed his voice, but once you get used to it and certain lines get completely deep stuck in your head, you get acclimated pretty fast and now it sounds pretty good haha

JUDSON! The Wieght! Amazing feel! Love it. Had to comment right away. Super excited to hear your take on this one. This was my first DT song. 🤘

Dream Teather - A change of seasons. Masterpiece.

Going to divert from the rest of the comments a bit and just suggest you guys run through all of Images and Words, start to back. It's my favorite album by theirs and features seminal songs like Metropolis Part 1 and Learning to Live. Love you guys!

Probably the closest thing to a metal version of NWA would be Ice-T's band, Body Count.

Cheers Richard, awesome song! Enjoyed the deconstruction too guys. Keep up the great work 👍

The Count Of Tuscany is dream theaters best song imo. Nothing compares.

Ice T has Body Count which is pretty much gangsta rap metal.

Richard! Body Count (Ice T). That is rap metal.

Octavarium should be the next one!

Wow this song got lost in my rotation awhile ago. Havent heard it in years - thanks Richard, for the reminder. As soon as i watched this video I dug this album out of my vinyl collection and jammed!!

Thank you for bringing DT back! Pull Me Under is an amazing song and a great reaction! Their truly jaw dropping tracks will definitely be longer, but i have faith in you and Judson (and your laptop)! Octavarium As I Am The Glass Prison Lines in the Sand Endless Sacrifice Home Scarred Theres so much good stuff to choose from :)

Looking forward to more Dream Theater. The Glass Prison is always a great song to introduce Dream's more Prog Metal side ☮

Fuckin love Dream Theater! I feel like they are the basis on which I judge music by. Doesn't have to be as intricate for me to like. It can be quite simple. But the creativity and dynamicism is what I crave.

Six degrees of inner turbulence is a great song/cycle (from the overture to the last song of the album)

For the umpteenth time: "SPACE DYE VEST", from "Awake" album. The ultimate masterpiece and last song from their 1st keyboard player Kevin Moore . Can't wait to see Judson reacting to this one 🙏🏻

Fun Stuff! Loved This Soooo Much, I bought this album after hearing this song on the radio in Northeast Texas. Images & Words next Please 😁 Yall are just Greatness, Please keep it up!

I feel like "This Dying Soul" is such an underrated Dream Theater song. It's got everything, and travels so many different modes for them but is firmly in their dark and heavy mode. I would love to see the reaction to that one. I also feel like you guys would get a real kick out of Haken, basically this generation's Dream Theater. Tracks like "1985", "Puzzle Box" or "Atlas Stone" would be fantastic starting points.

Lost not forgotten has a really great piano intro...

Back from the good old days with Kevin Moore on keyboards.

You ought to play him something from Train of Thought... Say, As I Am?

One of my favorite DT songs. Saying it's iconic is an understatement. The album as a whole is a masterpiece. 🤟

Change of Seasons, Octavarium, and Space Dye Vest. Change of seasons is probably the best song to start because they do almost all good stuff there and then you find what you like, and there's an album dedicated to it.

Panic attack and as I am are other dt tracks that come to mind

I'd really like to see Judson react to the epic "A Change of Seasons"

If you just want to just jump in with both feet, you could listen to Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. Its 8 parts long (for a total of 42 minutes) but I think you'd enjoy it tremendously.

I saw it on Judson's face. Gave me goosebumps. Great job.

Wow, you really did it! Thanks

I'd recommend listening to "Angra - The Shadow Hunter" for a diverse and meaningful power metal song.

So the ending of this is in reference to how The Beatle’s She’s So Heavey ended. Slowly adding more static until it just abruptly stops. Metropolis Part 1 would be a good one to cover. The instrumental section would Judson a lot of musical nuggets to chew on. Oh and The Lion King is just Hamlet Disneyfied.

It's a shame he didn't get to hear the following song being a piano player and all. "Another Day", that's why the ending was so abrupt because the two songs go together.

He's gonna love Lines in the sand, for sure!! (And maybe all falling into infinity) Anna lee is amazing. Octavarium whole concept I think he would like as well. Of course Learning to Live. And Liquid Tension Experiment! When the Water Breaks, live 2008.

when you spoke of a song around 20 something mins. long, I know you were talking about "A Change of Seasons" and it's 23:08, and I know that by heart because I've heard that song... I don't know how many times, until I memorized it, even memorized the drum part, but it doesn't mean in any way that I'm able to play it exactly, no way, I really think you should give it a try, I mean nobody else has done this song before that I know of, only this one and so many times when they have a very big catalog, how about 6 o'clock, The enemy inside, THIS DYING SOUL (this one is a must) please do, greetings guys from Guatemala, big fan!!

"the test that stumped them all"

I was listening to "Metal Shop" on Cfox 99.3 radio in Vancouver back in the day.. this song ruled the air waves!.. ❤

Liquid Tension Experiment- kindred spirits

Also you need to get back to Devin Townsend or SLY. Great video again. Love this stuff.

I got "The Weight" in 3 notes. That was fucking gorgeous Jud!

Opening song already worth it.

I've always struggled to get past his voice but they blow me away musically. Kinda like Rush.

The opening guitar arpeggio and when it develops into what I call irregular heartbeat guitar riffing reminds me of Mahler Ninth 's first movement.

4 of the greatest musicians, and a James.

Candiria 🎉

Do "As I Am" next

Been programming since I was 12 almost 35 years and I can confirm a lot of us love music like Dream Theater. A band I REALLY like to just put on a play list of is out of Japan called Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Not sure for everyone but for me the mastered complexity acts kind of like mental lubrication to get the gears going. I keep things like magnetic balls, Rubik's cubes, or fold up modular origami, etc. on my desk just to fidget with while I'm thinking through an algorithm or planning a system design.

Beyond this life, especially the extended live version, would be awesome. Pull me under feels underwhelming when you know their other songs :D

Very cool Pic!!

The count of Tuscany is one of my DT favourite songs. A real musical journey

The band you may be remembering was Sons Of Apollo. Billy Sheehan, Bumblefoot, Soto and Sherinian (also from DT) Caught em in Dublin, Ireland s few years back, it was such a fun,memorable gig!!! Jeff Scott Soho is an incredible front man.

I had forgotten the storyline about Hamlet. Great reaction again. 🤘🏻🔥💥🙏🏻💯

Hey guys good job on this one. I wanted to bring your attention to this Greek band called "Rotting Christ" most reactors stay away from them for obvious reasons, but they just released their 14th album celebrating 35 years of existence. It would be awesome to see you react to them, my personal favorite is "Athanatoi Este" but feel free to choose anything from their catalog

The Winery Dogs with Billy Sheehan and Ritchie Kotzen.

I'm a die hard, hardcore DT fan since this song broke on the radio in 1992. Followed their every move. Also Portnoy as i play drums. Love every aspect of DT's creativity. Check out Liquid Tension Experiment also! Dt fanatics have a veracious appetite. Loyal to the last. Next September is the official 40th anniversary of the band's inception. Originally known as Majesty

Mike Portnoy, took over for (child prodigy drummer who trained with Gene Krupa) A.J, Pero of Twisted Sister when he tragically passed away from a massive heart attack in his sleep. I've had the honor of meeting A.J. and hanging out with him back stage a couple of times. He was always joking, smiling, laughing and so kind to his fans. He gave me his drumsticks on stage, signed them afterwards... RIP AJ. Ironically, he and Portnoy were good friends and even played together in "Adrenaline mob". Portnoy toured with TS for years while also playing outside of TS. To A.J's credit, he dumbed down his playing style in order for Twisted Sister to find success. Which, understandably frustrated him. Dee Snider once said to A.J. "How many drummers created a beat instantly recognized all over the world?!" (Referencing "We're Not Gonna Take It"). Additionally (and this is a direct quote from an article:) Dee Snider talking about Mike Portnoy replacing A.J. "A.J. was friends with Mike, and Mike was a fan of A.J.'s, and they were both in Adrenaline Mob. So, Mike was A.J.s's fill-in guy. So it's not a matter of life and death - we're not talking about dying, we were just talking about, 'Hey, if I can't make it... Say, if my child is in the hospital and I need to be home, I will have a replacement.' And six months later, A.J. dies (on March 20, 2015). And it was almost like he had said who he wanted to replace him. So, we went to Mike, and Mike came in. An incredible drummer. And what was really incredible, the classiest thing - people need to know this - he studied A.J.'s live tapes, and he copied them, beat for beat, hit for hit, cymbal crash for cymbal crash. He stepped in, and it was like... He changed nothing. He put no Mike Portnoy in there, he did A.J.'s live parts. And when we asked him if he wanted to do a solo, he said, 'I will not do a solo.' And what we did is that we lowered a video screen, and we had the second-to-last show that A.J. played filmed, and we played that solo. Mike would not do the drum solo, and we let A.J. do a drum solo every night. People in the audience would cry. So, this is a classy person, a talented person, a respectful person who respects other musicians and their art as well - so, he's not just about showing off and being Mike Portnoy. I love that guy." So many amazing Dream Theater songs, but I have to request "Metropolis Part 1". It's a long one at 9:30, but it doesn't feel like it. It dates all the way back to 1989, and ended up on the same album as Pull Me Under.

Thanks for the video and looking forward to new ones. But I tell you, show Judson the video of Liquid Tension Experiment performing "Biaxident" live on their reunion tour California 2008. Since he says that he can't hear keyboards in metal music well, then let him watch it. He will like Jordan Rudess and Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci and Tony Levin

I would suggest "blind faith" with the amazing guitar and keyboards solos in the middle section. "6 deg. of inner turbulence" is like all Dream Theater albums absolute masterpiece.

Just do the 12 Step Suite… IYKYK

Bar Stool Warrior

Heavy metal is making him younger

Dance of Eternity by Dream Theater please!! The keys in that song are insane Im sure he'll love it

You guys should explore some symphonie power métal : "Rhapsody of fire" or "Luca Turilli" Luca Turilli - 'Riders of the Astral Fire' and 'War of the Universe' are one of my favorites

the dance of the eternity for sure

Opeth - Harlequin Forest pretty please

On the topic of rap metal, there is the band Ice T started called Body Count. Although he doesn't rap in all the songs, but there is some rap in there. First album is my favourite of theirs. And it was released the same year as Images and Words. If I were to pick a Dream Theater song to recommend, it would be The Glass Prison. The first in a series of songs about overcoming addiction.

Yeah, finally some Dream Theater!

Wait till he sees what Rudess can do!!!!!

1983 called and wants its t-shirt back

Oh man, I love Dream Theater, and I know Judson. Guess I'm a mad genius. Hell yeah!

Something about the sounds in this song reallllly make me think of the Starcraft OST (tho obviously that came later)

this song is more of a straight metal song for Dream Theater standards, and that is exactly why it is the most famous and successful song by Dream Theater

Do Panic Attack!

Dream Theather is an Experience...

I didn't realize till now that Easy Like Sunday Morning - Lionel Ritchie & Commodores & later the Faith No More cover, seem to have a very similar melody to The Band's song you interpreted here Judson.

Watchtower - The Fall of Reason. This is prog/ tech thrash band from the 80s-90s. Great musicians.

Guyss u really delve into "savatage"

I suggest listening to Iced Earth - Dante's Inferno.

I need a t-shirt with "Proceed Richard"

If you're into classical music then you should definitely check 'Stream of Consciousness' from Dream Theater

Portnoy was with Avenged Sevenfold for a hot minute. Recorded the album "Nightmare" for them and did that tour as well. That assistance of Avenged Sevenfold is what started the chain of events that led to his departure.

Mike Portnoys other bands are all super groups. He’s been in: Transatlantic The Neal Morse Band Flying Colors Metal Allegiance Adrenalin Mob The Winery Dogs Yellow Matter Custard Liquid Tension Experiment OSI Sons Of Apollo

You should show him the live version of Dance of Eternity, and then the video of Mike Portnoy counting through time signature changes

Anything from The Human Equation (Ayreon) featuring James Labrie's vocals, is worth a listen.

The only DT song I can listen to. The rest are like musical bukake.