JOHN PETRUCCI
Terminal Velocity SOUND MIND MUSIC/THE ORCHARD
Dream Theater man shows his range on belated second solo album.
John Petrucci doesn’t release solo albums on a regular basis. In fact, it’s been 15 years since his debut album, Suspended Animation. So, one would hope that Terminal Velocity would be an event full of virtuosity and creative momentum. Guess what? Thankfully, it is.
Petrucci has reunited with bassist Dave LaRue, who appeared on Suspended Animation. But what really captures the listener’s imagination is that the drummer here is none other than his former bandmate Mike Portnoy. It’s the first time the pair have played together since 2010, when the drummer quit Dream Theater. The collaboration has prompted inevitable speculation about where this mini reunion might eventually lead. However, that really shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow what Petrucci has achieved on this instrumental journey.