Dream Theater | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 23, 2013 | |||
Recorded | January–May 2013 | |||
Studio | Cove City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, New York | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 68:01 | |||
Label | Roadrunner | |||
Producer | John Petrucci | |||
Dream Theater chronology | ||||
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Singles from Dream Theater | ||||
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Dream Theater is the twelfth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released worldwide in September 2013, through Roadrunner Records. The album was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered between January and May 2013 at Cove City Sound Studios in Long Island, New York, the same studio as the band's previous album, A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). It is the first Dream Theater album to include drummer Mike Mangini in the songwriting process.
The band made the album Dream Theater to emphasize that they were moving forward in their career and to make it a reference point for fans. The album's songs are shorter on average than most Dream Theater songs, with the exception of the 22-minute closer, "Illumination Theory". Some songs utilize organic strings, which were arranged by Eren Başbuğ, a Berklee College of Music student. The album features two instrumentals, "False Awakening Suite" and "Enigma Machine", which were the first instrumentals that the band had written for a studio album since Train of Thought (2003). Many of the album's lyrics were motivated by real-life events, such as the Boston Marathon bombings.
Dream Theater moved 34,000 units in the United States during its debut week, charting at number seven and becoming the band's second highest charting album behind 2009's Black Clouds & Silver Linings . For its lead single, "The Enemy Inside", the band received their second consecutive Grammy nomination in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance category. In early 2014, Dream Theater toured Europe and America in support of the album, and recorded their performance at the Boston Opera House for a live release.
Preliminary writing for Dream Theater's twelfth album commenced on the A Dramatic Turn of Events Tour in April 2012. [1] During soundchecks, the band would jam and record their ideas, and guitarist John Petrucci would try out independently composed material. [2] They did not enter the recording studio until January 2013, [3] returning to Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, where they recorded their previous album, A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). [4] The first song that the band wrote was "Surrender to Reason", [5] which bassist John Myung credited with setting the pace for the remainder of writing. [6]
From the start of the creative process, drummer Mike Mangini contributed as a writer, [4] unlike for A Dramatic Turn of Events, where Petrucci programmed the main drum parts during writing and Mangini recorded his own interpretations of them later. [7] Commenting on Mangini's work, Petrucci said, "When people hear the drumming on this album, they’re gonna be pretty freaked out ... I feel like now he’s just Mike Mangini unleashed. It's all him. It's all his creativity, all his decisions and ideas - and man, the guy's an animal." [8]
During the studio sessions, every band member's instrument was miked and captured as they were writing so that they could simulate ahead of time exactly how the music would sound when it was formally recorded. [9] Reflecting on his guitar tone, Petrucci joked, "I describe it as a piece of chocolate cake and that was my goal in the studio. It's like I had a nice picture of a layered chocolate cake. Why chocolate cake? Well, chocolate cake is rich, creamy and it has layers." [9] Recording concluded in May, [10] and mixing was performed by Richard Chycki, who was hired based on Dream Theater's past experiences with him and his history with Rush. [11]
In calling the album Dream Theater, the band tried to define who they were and emphasize that they were moving forward. [9] Reflecting on the decision for Guitar World , Petrucci said, "We wanted to make this album a reference point for [fans] as far as what Dream Theater is all about. That was the goal and the mission, and it set the tone for the entire project." [12] In an article for Grantland, Steven Hyden noted the album's stylistic similarities to Rush, writing, "There are songs on Dream Theater that are just straight-up Rush imitations, most notably 'The Looking Glass,' which crossbreeds 'Limelight' with 'Freewill' while leaving out Neil Peart's misanthropic individualism." [13]
The songs on Dream Theater are shorter and more compact on average than on other Dream Theater albums, a conscious decision made by the band during writing that Petrucci later admitted was a challenge for them. [15] Two songs on the album made use of a string ensemble conducted by Berklee College of Music student Eren Başbuğ, [16] including the 20-minute closer "Illumination Theory", which keyboardist Jordan Rudess called the band's opportunity to go "crazy" after writing so many concise songs. [17] Split into five sections, the track goes through many style and time signature changes, with Loudwire observing, "Jam-packed with a head-spinning mix of quiet interludes, face melting jams and, courtesy of bassist Myung and Mangini, forests full of rhythmic majesty, this suite plays like a mini album in itself." [18]
Dream Theater features two instrumentals, "False Awakening Suite" and "Enigma Machine", the former of which was written specifically to open the band's live shows. [19] They were the first instrumentals that the band had written for a studio album since "Stream of Consciousness" on 2003's Train of Thought . [12] Many of the album's lyrics are based on real events; for example, "The Enemy Inside", which deals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was written in response to the Boston Marathon bombings, [20] and "Behind the Veil" references the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping. [21]
In June 2013, Dream Theater announced that their upcoming studio album would be self-titled and released in September. [22] The album's first single, "The Enemy Inside", was made available for streaming by USA Today on August 5, [23] and its second single, "Along for the Ride", was made available for streaming the following month. [24] The album was premiered by Rolling Stone on September 16 via a free online stream, [25] and was officially released one week later, on September 23. [4] In its debut week, Dream Theater sold over 34,000 copies in the United States to land at number seven on the Billboard 200 chart, [26] making it the band's third-consecutive top ten debut and second-highest charting album ever behind 2009's Black Clouds & Silver Linings , which debuted at number six. [27] During the album's release week, the band released a music video for "The Enemy Inside", which drove awareness for Save a Warrior, a foundation dedicated to helping veterans heal from the effects of combat. [28] Dream Theater remained on the charts until November 9, [29] and as of January 2016, it has sold 87,000 copies total in the United States. [30] In February 2014, the album's second and final music video was released, this time for "The Looking Glass". [31]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [32] |
Grantland | Positive [13] |
Loudwire | [18] |
PopMatters | 3/10 [33] |
Revolver | 3.5/5 [34] |
RTÉ.ie | [35] |
Sputnikmusic | 3.5/5 [36] |
Dream Theater received generally positive reviews from music publications. AllMusic felt that it was one of the band's best albums, concluding, "it holds inside it everything a fan could want, yet also expands the reach of American prog metal." [32] Many critics were particularly complimentary of "Illumination Theory", which Revolver described as "stunningly ambitious". [34] Grantland's Steven Hyden, whose introduction to the band was through the self-titled album, wrote, "I drank this cocktail, and I’m glad. Dream Theater is a blast." [13] For "The Enemy Inside", Dream Theater received their second consecutive Grammy nomination in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance category. [37]
Critics reacted favorably to Dream Theater's attempt at writing more concise songs. In their review, Loudwire commented, "The band also seems to be expanding their appeal beyond the faithful with some punchy, stylish and tuneful songs that seduce immediately. Good thing, too. Because the more people that can hear an album like this, the more faithful there will be." [18] RTÉ.ie had a similar reaction, writing, "Sure, the did-they-really-just-play-that? double takes arrive by the half-minute on their latest magnum opus (self-titled for extra definitiveness), but chances are you will come away from Dream Theater singing a chorus rather than throwing air guitar/bass/drums/keyboards/violin/conductor's baton shapes." [35]
Some critics noted that the album was too similar to previous Dream Theater albums. PopMatters felt that the band was no longer offering anything new, observing, "For quite awhile, the sky was the limit for Dream Theater; now that they’ve ascended, however, the creative air is running thin." [33] Sputnikmusic also wrote that the album sounded familiar, but ultimately gave it an overall positive review, saying that it did "a bit better than recent efforts in the band's formulaic approach to anti-formulaic music." [36]
In promotion of the album, Dream Theater toured Europe and North America in early 2014. [38] The tour's setlist featured both old and new material, including nine songs off of Awake (1994) and Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999), which were celebrating anniversaries. [39] On March 25, the band performed at the Boston Opera House with the Berklee Concert Choir and Berklee World Strings in an event that was dubbed their "homecoming". [14] The concert was recorded and eventually released on September 30 as part of the Breaking the Fourth Wall live collection. [40] It debuted at number one on various music video charts, and the band donated part of the proceeds to the Dream Theater Scholarship Fund at Berklee. [41]
All titles and song lengths taken from the Dream Theater liner notes. [42]
All lyrics are written by John Petrucci, except where noted; all music is composed by Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung, James LaBrie, Mike Mangini, except where noted.
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "False Awakening Suite" (instrumental)
| Petrucci, Rudess | 2:42 |
2. | "The Enemy Inside" | 6:17 | |
3. | "The Looking Glass" | 4:53 | |
4. | "Enigma Machine" (instrumental) | Petrucci, Rudess, Myung, Mangini | 6:01 |
5. | "The Bigger Picture" | 7:40 | |
6. | "Behind the Veil" | 6:52 | |
7. | "Surrender to Reason" (lyrics: Myung) | 6:34 | |
8. | "Along for the Ride" | Petrucci, Rudess | 4:45 |
9. | "Illumination Theory"
| 22:17 | |
Total length: | 68:01 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
10. | "The Enemy Inside" (instrumental) | 6:17 |
All credits taken from the Dream Theater liner notes. [42]
Dream Theater
String Ensemble
Production
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentinian Albums Chart (CAPIF) [43] | 3 |
Australian Albums Chart (ARIA) [44] | 15 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [45] | 7 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [46] | 16 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [47] | 19 |
Canadian Albums Chart ( Billboard ) [48] | 5 |
Czech Albums Chart (ČNS IFPI) [49] | 4 |
Danish Albums Chart (Hitlisten) [50] | 6 |
Dutch Albums Chart (MegaCharts) [51] | 4 |
Finnish Albums Chart (Suomen virallinen lista) [52] | 2 |
French Albums (SNEP) [53] | 18 |
German Albums Chart (Offizielle Top 100) [54] | 4 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [55] | 2 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [56] | 38 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [57] | 2 |
Japanese Albums Chart (Oricon) [58] | 10 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [59] | 27 |
Norwegian Albums Chart (VG-lista) [60] | 7 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [61] | 10 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [62] | 12 |
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI) [63] | 56 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [64] | 11 |
Swedish Albums Chart (Sverigetopplistan) [65] | 5 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [66] | 5 |
UK Albums Chart (OCC) [67] | 15 |
UK Rock Chart [68] | 1 |
US Billboard 200 [27] | 7 |
US Billboard Tastemaker Albums [69] | 3 |
US Billboard Top Digital Albums [70] | 10 |
US Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums [71] | 1 |
US Billboard Top Rock Albums [72] | 3 |
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 in Boston, Massachusetts. The band comprises John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), Mike Portnoy (drums), James LaBrie (vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards).
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Greatest Hit is a compilation album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater released in Australia on March 29, 2008, and by Rhino Records in the United States on April 1. The title alludes to their only top 10 radio hit, "Pull Me Under". It features three songs from their breakthrough album Images and Words remixed by Kevin Shirley: "Pull Me Under", "Take the Time", and "Another Day". It also features the song "To Live Forever", an Awake-era re-recording of the song from the Images and Words sessions, which was previously unreleased on a full-length album. Several single edits of popular Dream Theater songs are also featured on this compilation.
Black Clouds & Silver Linings is the tenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on June 23, 2009 through Roadrunner Records. It is the last album to feature drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy for fifteen years until his return to the band in 2023.
A Dramatic Turn of Events is the eleventh studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released worldwide in September 2011 through Roadrunner Records. It is the band's first recording to feature drummer Mike Mangini, following the departure of founding member Mike Portnoy in September 2010. The album was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered between January and June 2011 at Cove City Sound Studios in Long Island, New York. It was produced by guitarist John Petrucci and mixed by Andy Wallace. Two singles, "On the Backs of Angels" and "Build Me Up, Break Me Down", were released in promotion of the album.
Live at Luna Park is the seventh live album and video by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on November 5, 2013, through Eagle Rock Entertainment. The concert film was produced by Over The Edge Productions and directed by Mike Leonard. The album is available as a two-disc DVD, single-disc Blu-ray, 2DVD/3CD, Blu-ray/3CD, and a deluxe edition box set including all three formats with a 40-page book. Both the album and video are also available as digital downloads.
Breaking the Fourth Wall is the eighth live album and video by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, recorded live at the Boston Opera House on March 25, 2014, and released on September 29 on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray; the DVD and Blu-ray releases include bonus features. The release was announced by the band on August 21, 2014, and a promotional video featuring the live version of "The Looking Glass" was uploaded to YouTube. Another promotional video featuring the live version of "Strange Déjà Vu" was uploaded on September 15, 2014.
The Astonishing is the thirteenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on January 29, 2016 through Roadrunner Records. It is the band's second concept album, with a story conceived by guitarist John Petrucci and music written by Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. Composer David Campbell assisted with orchestrating the album's strings and choirs. The band recorded their parts for the album throughout 2015 at Cove City Sound Studios on Long Island, New York, with the exception of vocals, which were recorded in Canada. Mixing and sound engineering were performed by the band's longtime collaborator, Richard Chycki, with Petrucci producing.
Distance Over Time is the fourteenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on February 22, 2019, and the band's first release on Inside Out Music. Distance over Time was announced alongside a tour of North America during which Dream Theater would support the new album and celebrate the 20th anniversary of its fifth studio album, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999). On December 7, 2018, the lead single "Untethered Angel" and its music video were released. The second single, "Fall into the Light", was released on January 11, 2019. The third single, "Paralyzed", and its accompanying video were released on February 8, 2019. It is the band's most successful album chart-wise to date, taking top 10 positions in 19 countries.
Liquid Tension Experiment 3 is the third studio album by the American instrumental progressive metal super group Liquid Tension Experiment. Released on April 16, 2021, it is their first studio effort since 1999's Liquid Tension Experiment 2.
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Distant Memories – Live in London is the ninth live album and video by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Recorded on February 21 and 22, 2020, at the Hammersmith Apollo during Dream Theater's 2019-2020 Distance Over Time Tour, in support of the album Distance Over Time. The first half of the album consists of songs mostly of songs from Distance Over Time, while the second half features a complete performance of the album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, in commemoration of its 20th anniversary. This is the second Dream Theater live album to feature a complete performance of Scenes from a Memory, after 2001's Live Scenes from New York. Outside of entries in the Lost Not Forgotten Archives series, this is Dream Theater's last live album to feature drummer Mike Mangini.