Only 1,000 copies were produced on cassette tape and distributed to fans and rock and metal magazines.

Portnoy gave one copy to Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, a move that was instrumental in the band's entry into the progressive rock scene.

The line-up on the initial recording was keyboardist Kevin Moore, bassist John Myung, guitarist John Petrucci, and drummer Mike Portnoy.

Chris Collins, the band's singer at the time, had been introduced to the band after a friend heard a demo of him singing a note-for-note version of Queensrÿche's "Queen of the Reich".

Seventeen tracks were released by YtseJam Records under the title The Berklee Demos and were recorded earlier by Portnoy, Petrucci, and Myung at Berklee.