S Poddar
It is now official: Dream Theater announced their new album, Parasomnia, and offered a new, aggressive single called “Night Terror.” This will be the group’s first album with its founder and drummer, Mike Portnoy, since Black Clouds & Silver Linings in 2009. Fans can expect it to arrive February 7, 2025, with pre-orders available today, October 11.
The progressive metal band announced the news late last night (October 10th) through social media and the excitement that finally came with the return of Portnoy to the band after more than a decade. Parasomnia will be the 16th studio album by the band and 11th with Portnoy as a drummer. For the old fans, the return is exciting because Portnoy himself is known for playing some of the most technical, intricate drumming styles that laid down the dream-theater sound in the early years.
To coincide with this announcement, the band dropped a single, “Night Terror,” coupled with its video. Almost 10 minutes of this song are filled with Dream Theater’s characteristic odd-time signatures and intricate instrumentation and virtuosic drumming by Portnoy. The song offers a strong preview for what is in store on the rest of Parasomnia.
According to a press statement by Dream Theater, “This album marks the beginning of a special new chapter for us as bandmates and as brothers. It represents not just our growth as musicians but also the journey we’ve embarked on together over the last four decades.” This note at the very outset traces the importance of the music produced for the band, as such it will be both their personal story and musical development.
Apart from the euphoria surrounding the album, Dream Theater will make history by touring for the first time in over two years, and they are celebrating their 40th anniversary as a band. The main event of the European tour on October 20th in London will come alive. Tickets for this reunion are on sale now, and they can be purchased using the links below for the tour dates listed.
Accompanying the announcement, the album cover promises a dreamy, immersive atmosphere in line with the album themes of sleep and dreams. The tracklist has also been made public, giving a first glimpse into the story and soundscape behind the album. The titles of the tracks are as follows:
- In the Arms of Morpheus
- Night Terror
- A Broken Man
- Dead Asleep
- Midnight Messiah
- Are We Dreaming?
- Bend the Clock
- The Shadow Man Incident
Back in April, Portnoy was teasing fans with the promises of how special the new album was going to be. He was writing to fans, being “blown away” by the material they were working on: “We cannot wait for you all to hear this… but patience, all will be revealed in due time.” Now that Parasomnia is standing at the door, it turns out that the fans’ patience will pay off at last.
Portnoy initially departed from Dream Theater in 2010 after experiencing burnout and a desire to pursue other musical ventures. Over the years, he remained busy working with other bands, including Avenged Sevenfold, Sons of Apollo, Metal Allegiance, Twisted Sister, and The Winery Dogs. Meanwhile, Dream Theater hired Mike Mangini to fill the drum vacancy left by Portnoy.
The time Mangini spent with the band was good, but with the announcement of Portnoy coming back in October 2023, Mangini took the news graciously. In a statement on Dream Theater’s official website, Mangini said, “I understand Dream Theater’s decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time.”. As I said from Day 1, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. He was to help the band carry on as a drummer.
He then thanked the fans for their support through his tenure, concluding, “I love the pictures I have of you all losing your minds and having fun. Finally, I really love the band, crew and management and wish them and the entire organisation all the very best.”
With Portnoy back behind the drum kit, Parasomnia promises to be a pivotal moment in Dream Theater’s storied career, blending their past with their future. The true fans of progressive metal, and long-time followers of Dream Theater, are waiting anxiously for what this reunion would bring forth in the band’s sound going forward.
