Drumeo has released a new playthrough spotlighting Mike Portnoy, the longtime drum icon of Dream Theater, offering fans a closer look at one of the band’s most challenging works.
The feature focuses on Octavarium, described as “a 24-minute epic that stands as one of Dream Theater’s most ambitious and unforgettable performances.” Drumeo notes that viewers will see the complete performance before the breakdown of its core elements, including snare-sound changes, metric modulations, unusual time signatures, and what Mike Portnoy considers his favorite Octavarium drum moments.
They add that “if you’ve ever wondered why Octavarium feels untouchable — or how it was even played in the first place — this video gives you a backstage pass.”
The new playthrough aims to give drummers and fans a clearer understanding of the techniques and nuances that make the piece such a standout in Dream Theater’s catalog, while keeping the spotlight firmly on Portnoy’s distinctive style.
