THE INTRO
We’ve got the very latest on the new Dream Theater album, plus news from Thomas Giles, Soen, Claypool Lennon Delirium, Ramblin’ Man Fair, Jacco Gardner, Kikagaku Moyo, Emperor Norton and more…
US-based proggers celebrate new label deal with InsideOut and announce the first dates of their anniversary tour for Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes From A Memory.
Dream Theater have revisited the old ways of working on Distance Over Time, out on February 22 through
InsideOut. It’s the first time since 1992’s Images And Words that the full band have written and recorded together.
“It was so cool for the whole band to be together and that really lent itself to the spirit of the album,” says singer James
LaBrie. “This is the culmination of what I think represents Dream Theater musically.”
The album was crafted between June and September, with the band splitting their time between an old barn-turned-recording studio in Monticello, upstate New York, and a nearby residence. Being on site without interruptions fuelled their creativity and they completed the songwriting in record-breaking time.
“[After 17 days] we said, ‘Holy smokes, I think we just finished our last song!’” says LaBrie. “We were isolated so there were no distractions. When you’re in Manhattan, you walk out the door and you can pretty much go to incredible culinary destinations, they’re right at your fingertips. [This time] we were able to really focus on why we were there. That’s why it was so productive. We had such a great experience we were like, ‘It’s kind of a no-brainer. When we do the next album, this is definitely where we should be coming.’”
But anyone expecting a sequel to 2016’s grandiose The Astonishing is in for a shock. On Facebook, keyboard virtuoso Jordan Rudess has described one of the songs as having “an awesome Yes meets Rush” chord concept, but the rest of the album is quite different.
“As proud as we are of The Astonishing, it definitely did polarise our fans,” says LaBrie. “I think the progressive heads and the theatre music heads loved the album but the metal heads were a little perplexed! I think what’s cool about Distance Over Time is that there are definitely the classic progressive moments throughout the album with the instrumentation and virtuosity that happens with Dream
Theater. At the same time, I think the more predominant element is the heaviness. It’s really gonna hit people upside the head but there’s also a beautiful balance between the progressive end and more subtle, ethereal side.”
The album is produced by guitarist John Petrucci and has been mixed by Ben Grosse (Depeche Mode, The Flaming Lips). LaBrie describes the results as “very organic-sounding”.
“What Ben has done is incredible. He’s really bringing out the sonic representation of the songs which is so important because there’s a lot of
“This album is really gonna hit people upside
the head.”
stuff going on. I think once the fans hear this, they’re gonna be flippin’ out!”
The band also regrouped with long-time collaborator Hugh Syme (Rush, Iron Maiden) for the striking cover artwork.
Teaser tracks are now online, and Dream Theater will be playing material from Distance Over Time on their forthcoming tour, which begins in San Diego on March 20, 2019. Inspired by last year’s successful Images And Words shows, the evening will be in two parts as the band are also celebrating the 20th anniversary of Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes From A Memory.
“It’ll be an evening with Dream Theater and we’re going to be playing that album in its entirety,” says LaBrie of their fifth studio recording. “We have to nod our hat to Awake as well because that will be 25 years [old]. Everything’s coming up on anniversaries!”
Further dates are still to be announced and the band plan to return to the European festival circuit next year. For the full list of shows as they’re announced, visit the official website www.dreamtheater.net. NRS