..:: audio-music dot info ::..


Main Page      The Desert Island      Copyright Notice
 Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz


Dream Theater: Dream Theater

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Roadrunner Records
Released: 2013.09.20
Time:
 68:01
Category: Progressive Metal
Producer(s): John Petrucci
Rating: ******.... (6/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.dreamtheater.net
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2013
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] False Awakening Suite (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.LaBrie/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 2:42
    I. Sleep Paralysis - 0:58
    II. Night Terrors - 0:45
    III. "Lucid Dream - 1:03
[2] The Enemy Inside (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.LaBrie/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 6:17
[3] The Looking Glass (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.LaBrie/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 4:53
[4] Enigma Machine (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 6:01
[5] The Bigger Picture (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.LaBrie/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 7:40
[6] Behind the Veil (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.LaBrie/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 6:52
[7] Surrender to Reason (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.LaBrie/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 6:34
[8] Along for the Ride (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess) - 4:45
[9] Illumination Theory (J.Petrucci/J.Rudess/J.LaBrie/J.Myung/M.Mangini) - 22:17
    I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire" (instrumental) - 1:16
    II. Live, Die, Kill - 5:45
    III. The Embracing Circle" (instrumental) - 4:09
    IV. The Pursuit of Truth - 4:07
    V. Surrender, Trust & Passion" (includes a hidden instrumental track) - 7:00

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


James LaBrie - Lead Vocals
John Petrucci - Guitar, Backing Vocals, Producer
Jordan Rudess - Keyboards, GeoSynth App, Seaboard
John Myung - Bass
Mike Mangini - Drums, Percussion

String Ensemble
Misha Gutenberg Violin I, Concert Master
Larisa Vollis - Violin I
Yelena Khaimova - Violin II
Yevgeniy Mansurov - Violin II
Aleksandr Anisimov - Viola
Noah Wallace - Viola
Anastasia Golenisheva - Cello
Valeriya Sholokhova - Cello
Len Sluetsky - Contrabass

Richard Chycki - Engineering and Mixing
James "Jimmy T" Meslin - Assistant Engineer
John Arbuckle - Intern
Eren Başbuğ - Orchestral Arrangements, Conducting
Ted Jensen - Mastering
Hugh Syme - Cover and Album Design

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Recorded on January–May 2013 at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York.



Dream Theater is the self-titled twelfth studio album by American progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater, released on September 23, 2013 in Europe through Roadrunner Records and a day later in the US. Dream Theater is a progressive rock, progressive metal, and hard rock album, and songs on the album also include elements of symphonic rock, symphonic metal, pop, arena rock, soft rock, and classical music.

Preliminary writing for Dream Theater's twelfth album commenced on the A Dramatic Turn of Events Tour in April 2012. During soundchecks, the band would jam and record their ideas, and guitarist John Petrucci would try out independently composed material. They did not enter the recording studio until January 2013, returning to Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, where they recorded their previous album, A Dramatic Turn of Events. Recording concluded in May. The album was engineered by Richard Chycki, the guitarist of Winter Rose, a 1980s glam metal act of which James LaBrie was a member before joining Dream Theater.

Dream Theater has received critical acclaim. Allmusic called it "one of the more dynamic, far-reaching albums in DT's catalog," giving special praise to Mike Mangini's full integration into the band. Loudwire gave the album a score of 4.5/5, praising its more streamlined sound compared to previous Dream Theater albums and saying that "Towering and atmospheric, ‘Dream Theater’ pushes the envelope into some new musical dimension, a cosmic realm reserved for the best".

It also received praise from Metalholic.com saying "Prepare to be not only submerged but actually touched by this album…’Dream Theater’ is an emotional leviathan". UltimateGuitar.com gave a positive review, saying "The musicianship is flawless (as always), the composition is genius, the mixing is great".

After being released on September 24, 2013, it sold around 34,000 copies in the first week to land at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the band's second highest chart position, behind Black Clouds & Silver Linings, which peaked at No. 6. It also is the band's third consecutive top 10 debut. Also, the album topped Billboard's list of "Hard Rock Albums". It entered the Top 5 in fourteen countries including Japan, Germany, Argentina, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Switzerland and Canada; and Top 10 in nine countries including Denmark, Norway, Austria, Australia and United Kingdom.

The band also received their second Grammy nomination when the first single from the album, "The Enemy Inside", was nominated for "Best Metal Performance".

wikipedia.org



I liken Dream Theater to veteran football players. They innovated when they were young in their careers and long into their stride they brought something new to the game - an x-factor that was unparalleled by others, though often imitated. Yet, towards the end of their career, while they're still fan favorites with a bit left in the tank, they're mostly on the way out. Granted, I liken Dream Theater more to a Tony Gonzalez than a Brian Urlacher - more to give and often requested to knock around for another year for another shot at the title, but if you're looking for the apex of progressive metal, the torch has long since been passed.

That said, Dream Theater, an oddly self-titled affair for a band's twelfth outing, ups the band's game plan considerably from the likes of their previous outings and offers a noticeably brighter outlook on most things since 2005 (or, arguably, earlier, when Portnoy became fascinated with the darker side of metal on Train of Thought). While this can't be welcomed as any brilliant change of direction, since it was foreshadowed heavily by previous (and appropriately titled) outing A Dramatic Turn of Events, it certainly can be welcomed.

Most noticeable and appreciable among those elements on Dream Theater are the forward bearing roles of bassist John Myung and keyboard virtuoso extraordinaire, Jordan Rudess, who have expanded greatly on what felt like restrained roles in the latter half of the Portnoy era. Myung breathes a huge sigh of relief and a massive wind of interest into the group's tried and true sound with a bass sound that pops, fizzles, and grooves all throughout the album, while Rudess leads the light and melodic portion of the band's relatively formulaic approach to anti-formulaicness.

Guitarist John Petrucci continues to show that he can shred like nobody's business and lays down more than a few lightspeed polyrhythmic chugs and uber-technical solos which validate his appearance on the most recent Periphery album, but these are standard fare by now, as are James LaBrie's par-for-the-course vocals. They're not bad, mind you, but if you've heard one Dream Theater album, you've heard LaBrie's performance on this one. Seriously, listen to the end of "The Bigger Picture" - it's exactly the same as the end of "Strange Deja Vu."

Dream Theater as a whole is reminiscent of the Dream Theater from around Scenes From A Memory, but with an even more technical outlook that dips its toes into the pool of meaningfulness more often than on previous albums in recent history. That said, for the acquainted ear, it should be a treat to hear a little more purpose behind the punch of a Petrucci solo and the more atmospheric and, dare I say more prog-oriented (see "Illumination Theory") approach of Dream Theater classifies it as a rising action for the previously downward-dipping quintet.

All that said, I'm not quite sure how to classify the involvement of Mike Mangini on this album. It seems my initial criticism of the band's choice in drummers holds true as Mangini proves to be a suitable but safe replacement for Portnoy. Even in crafting his own rhythms, Mangini adds very little to the band that's new or extraordinarily thought provoking and overall, that's how this album can be characterized. Two parts stepping forward and three parts right where they've been. On the whole, it's an improvement, but not enough to move things forward by any order of magnitude.

But after all, with twelve albums under their belts, can we really expect Dream Theater to reinvent the game? Probably not, but heck, it's still fun to watch them catch a touchdown pass here and there.

Copyright 2005-2014 Sputnikmusic.com




Dream Theater have helped carry the torch of modern progressive rock for nearly three decades. But their forthcoming 12th album represents the birth of a new era in the band's career. This self-titled LP, produced by guitarist John Petrucci, is their first to involve new drummer Mike Magnini in the creative process from the beginning. The album features a disparate blend of styles, from the doomy instrumental "Enigma Machine" to the symphonic-metal intro "False Awakening Suite" to the epic "Behind the Veil," which morphs from moody atmospherics to a sing-along arena-rock chorus. Dream Theater will be released on September 24th on Roadrunner Records. In the meantime, check out an exclusive stream of the full LP.

Ryan Reed - September 16, 2013
RollingStone.com



The first introductory strains of the “False Awakening Suite,” which kick off Dream Theater‘s new self-titled album (due Sept. 24) seems to actually transport the listener into a theater. Images come to mind of the lights going down in some wildly ornate medieval house of drama, the orchestra has signaled the overture, and it is time for the massive sweep of something liberating, powerful and profound to roll forth.

There may be other prog metal outfits that blend dazzlingly crunchy riffs with swirling, dramatic strings and keyboard textures. But nobody does it quite like the supreme lords of the genre, and with this relatively short (2:42) three-sectioned suite (i. Sleep Paralysis, ii. Night Terrors, iii. Lucid Dream), it is clear that we’re in for a fasten-your-seatbelts show.

Was it really two years ago that Dream Theater entered the post-Mike Portnoy era with the triumphant ‘A Dramatic Turn of Events’ (which featured their first-ever nominated Grammy single, ‘On the Backs of Angels’)? With that album, and their newly minted drummer Mike Mangini, the band not only dismissed any concerns about their future, but they seemed to solidify the fact that they are here for the long haul.

Now, with this thunderous and confident new album, musical promises are delivered in the form of a blistering effort that throttles, dazes and exhausts in all the right ways.

Sure, there are things Dream Theater fans expect that are delivered in boatloads. All the jarring, complex barrages of precise musical mayhem are delivered with their usual sparkling efficiency. After all, for pure playing prowess, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung and Mike Mangini have few mortal equals.

But this is not just some Herculean contest to see how many notes or time changes can be delivered per second or per pound. Remember, what separates this band is their ability to take that rocket power and convert it into regal, elegant, even stately song forms.

Which is why new songs like ‘Behind the Veil,’ ‘The Looking Glass’ and ‘Along for the Ride’ work so well. Little homages peak out from time to time; a rush of some Rush, a nod to Yes and ELP, but led by the ever soaring and empathetic vocals of James LaBrie, these tunes are instantly unique and accessible. That is one aspect of this record that I think will lure new listeners in.

Sure, there are the sprawling epics (we’ll get to that) but the album features enough intensely inviting melodies in shorter-form tunes to really give it the feel of a commercial, not just artistic force of nature. Years ago, this would have been called a seriously radio-friendly album, and not just because it includes some beautiful, mid-tempo ballads. And while newer listeners may need to get up to speed on the knotty, pulse jarring signature shifts and pressure drops, the military pounding of the first single, ‘The Enemy Inside,’ is itself a crash course on the band.

The rugged musical landscapes on ‘Dream Theater’ are naturally punctuated with gusts of wildly inventive solos courtesy of Rudess and Petrucci, both of whose playing, stupefyingly, seem to have notched up even more than the last record. They create their own weather system, dueling, erupting and hypnotizing before always bringing it back to some rewarding musical space, be it a lush symphonic meadow or some evil metallic cauldron. Dream Theater have never been more vital or ambitious, and without showing off, they prove what makes them the best at what they do.

As for the true album epic, we are treated to the kaleidoscopic, 22-minute opus entitled ‘Illumination Theory,’ a five-part piece broken down as follows: i. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire, ii. Live, Die, Kill, iii. The Embracing Circle, iv. The Pursuit of Truth, v. Surrender, Trust & Passion. This is what many Dream Theater purists will have arrived for. The monster. 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. Petrucci’s solos in this piece seem to defy logic at times, yet the warmth and emotional tone is never sacrificed. And Rudess scales heights impressive by even his own lofty standards.

Then, as simply as it began, it ends – quiet, peaceful and full of hope. The show is over. Lights, up. Towering and atmospheric, ‘Dream Theater’ pushes the envelope into some new musical dimension, a cosmic realm reserved for the best. 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. Sure, that’s good for Dream Theater. But it’s also good for music.

Chris Epting - September 18, 2013
www.loudwire.com
 

 L y r i c s


False Awakening Suite

Instrumental.


The Enemy Inside

Over and over again
I relive the moment
I'm bearing the burden within
Open wounds hidden under my skin

Pain is real as a cut that bleeds
The face I see every time I try to sleep
Staring at me crying

[CHORUS]
I'm running from the enemy inside
Looking for the life I left behind
These suffocating memories are etched upon my mind
And I can't escape from the enemy inside

I sever myself from the world
and shut down completely
All alone in my own living hell
overcome with irrational fear

Under the weight of the world on my chest
I buckle and break as I try to catch my breath
Tell me I'm not dying

[CHORUS]
I'm running from the enemy inside
Looking for the life I left behind
These suffocating memories are etched upon my mind
And I can't escape from the enemy inside

I'm a burden and a travesty
I'm a prisoner of regret
Between the flashbacks and the violent dreams
I am hanging on the edge

Disaster lurks around the bend
Paradise came to an end
And no magic pill
can bring it back again

[CHORUS]
I'm running from the enemy inside
Looking for the life I left behind
These suffocating memories are etched upon my mind
And I can't escape from the enemy inside


The Looking Glass

I would not expect you felt unnoticed and ignored
Better to rise above the clouds Then be a stranger in the crowd
All that you protected doesn’t matter anymore
Rather be stripped of all your pride
Than watch your dreams be cast aside

You are caught up in your gravity
Glorifying stardom
Singing your own praise

You live without shame
You’re digging up a gold mine
Standing on the sidelines
Watching through the looking glass

You are not content with being nameless and unknown
Trying to rise above the fray
Eager to give it all away

Some will not admit that 15 minutes have expired
Too much attention much too soon
Don’t see you walking on the moon

You are caught up in your gravity
Bathing in the spotlight
Imitating fame

You live without shame
You’re digging up a gold mine
Standing on the sidelines
Watching through the looking glass

You are caught up in your gravity
Glorifying madness
Singing your own praise

You live without shame
You’re digging up a gold mine
Standing on the sidelines
Watching through the looking glass

You live without shame
You’re digging up a gold mine
Standing on the sidelines
Watching through the looking glass


Enigma Machine

Instrumental.


The Bigger Picture

Long before the colors start to bleed
I can see the painting come alive
Clever like an angel in disguise
Moving in and out of reach

If the candle lights this crooked path
Like a lighthouse peering through the haze
I will find the river through the rain
And I’ll reach the water’s edge

Shed your light on me
Be my eyes when I can’t see
Shed your light on me
Be my guide so I can see
The Bigger Picture

Like a moth burned by the fire
and driven to the flame
(Prophecies’ a blessing and a curse)
I must bare this cross alone
There’s no one else to blame
With each treasure found
Another shipwreck’s washed ashore
I am carried by the current
On a slow and steady course

[CHORUS]

What If caught in a moment
I get lost and can't find my way
What if all along i was wrong
In every turn, In every way

Would you talk me off the ledge
Or let me take the fall
Better to try and fail
then to never try at all

You look but cannot see
Talk but never speak
You live but cannot breathe
See but don’t believe

Wounds that never heal
A heart that cannot feel
A dream that’s all too real
A stare as cold as steel

I’ve listened to the stories of resentment and disdain
I’ve looked into the empty eyes of anger, fear, and shame
I’ve taken blood from every stone
And traveled every road

When I see the distant lights illuminate the night
Then I will know I am home


Behind The Veil

What would possess you to justify
Such dark and twisted ways?
What kind of monster would come to feast
When the devil shows his face?
What does it take for life to change
And a mind to lose control?
Cruelly left you to suffer the blame
After all the lies you told

I am finding courage in my darkest hour
I am bent, not broken
Calling out

Someone save me, look behind the veil
Please don't walk away
Someone save me, bring me home tonight
I can't face another day

Can you see the stranger
Hiding in plain sight?
Feeding on the chaos
When the lightning strikes
There's no redemption
There's no being saved
There's no salvation
For a soul depraved

You are finding promise in your finest hour
You are bent, not broken
Calling out


Surrender To Reason

In moments of pain
Where heart and mind collide
Self reflection helps me decide
I believe the sacrifices in life
Give more than they take

Visions flowing slowly shedding light
Memories swimming in the sea of time
Pieces to the puzzle falling into place
That with which we struggle through we’ve learned to embrace

Love show the way, alter my state of mind
Wash away the sorrow
Grace lead the way
When boundaries are found
Surrender to reason

Life gives you brighter days
Through sacrifices made
My spirit travels like the wind and waves
My heart and mind unite
Mistakes resolved give sight
The river’s currents slowly turns the stone

Restless angels
Help me find my way
Restless angels
Help me find my strength

Restless angels
Help me find my way
Restless angels
Let love show the way
Let grace be the way
Surrender to reason


Along For The Ride

At this moment words fail me
And my vision's unclear
Blind to the truth
Like hands reaching out in the darkness

[CHORUS]
I can't stop the world from turning around
Or the pull of the moon on the tide
But I don't believe that we're in this alone
I believe we're along for the ride
I believe we're along for the ride

Through the gift of surrender
I'm embracing the fight
Breaking the code
There's clarity on the horizon

[CHORUS]
I can't stop the world from turning around
Or the pull of the moon on the tide
But I don't believe that we're in this alone
I believe we're along for the ride
I believe we're along for the ride

I will not live under a shadow of fear
Never be crippled by chaos and doubt
Fall prey to your madness

I am not shattered
Out of the ashes I rise
Knowing that nothing is stronger than faith
Finding hope in our hopeless lives

[CHORUS]
I can't stop the world from turning around
Or the pull of the moon on the tide
But I don't believe that we're in this alone
I believe we're along for the ride

I can't stop the world from turning around
Or the pull of the moon on the tide
But I don't believe that we're in this alone
I believe we're along for the ride
I believe we're along for the ride
I believe we're along for the ride


Illumination Theory

[I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire]

[Instrumental]

[II. Live, Die, Kill]

Consider this question
Look deep inside
Deliver a true confession
What are you willing to live for?

Consider this question
Open your eyes
Examine your own reflection
What are you willing to die for?

When your backs’ against the wall
And the time's uncertain
Consider this question
No standing by
When flesh and blood are threatened
What are you willing to kill for?

We seek to understand
We cry with head in hand

The bridges we build to connect
The distance that makes us forget
Hate dividing us, love reminding us
Of our shared humanity

Hope can be a shadow fleeting
I would rather die believing
Capture it all in a final act of faith

We seek to understand
We cry with head in hand

A story that needs to be told
An answer that begs to be found
The beauty we wish to behold
Is never too far away

[III. The Embracing Circle]

[Instrumental]

[IV. The Pursuit Of Truth]

Mothers for their children
Husbands for their wives
Martyrs for the kingdom
Fighting for your life
A soldier for his country
A junkie for the high
Teachers for their students
Vengeance for a crime
Rebels for their freedom
A tyrant for the praise
Cowards for salvation
Money, love, and fame

Noble and brave
Lay down our lives for the cause
Death over shame
Grace before glory

[V. Surrender, Trust & Passion]

To really feel the joy in life
You must suffer through the pain
When you surrender to the light
You can face the darkest days

If you open up your eyes
And you put your trust in love
On those cold and endless nights
You will never be alone

Passion glows within your heart
Like a furnace burning bright
Until you struggle through the dark
You’ll never know that you're alive

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


Currently no Samples available!