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The Berklee College of Music graduates have
carved out a lengthy career throughout its 40- year existence . On the band ’ s 16th full-length album , Parasomnia ( released on February 7 , 2025 , via Inside Out Music / Sony Music ), Dream Theater welcomes back their original drummer , Mike Portnoy , who exited the band after 2009 ’ s Black Clouds & Silver Linings ( replaced by Mike Mangini ). Across the eight expansive tracks ( minus a brief instrumental ) with a 71-minute total album runtime , the quintet – which also features guitarist John Petrucci , bassist John Myung , and keyboardist Jordan Rudess - blazes through progressive passages and melodic moments with technical precision . To the untrained ear ( or a non-drummer ), one might not recognize the musical chemistry that Portnoy brings back to the band . But it ’ s evident that the camaraderie and the musical interplay have been missing for the past 16 years , not that it was any of Mangini ’ s fault . From the cinematic instrumental album opener “ In the Arms of Morpheus ” to the ballad-esque “ Bend the Clock ” to the epic 20- minute album closer “ The Shadow Man Incident ,” the band has created a conceptual centerpiece that is noticeably darker and heavier than their past few records . The latter track ’ s thematic arc tells the story of a sleeper ’ s ( the main character ?) confrontation with an apparition . In contrast , musically , the track
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melds marching snare drum rudiments , swirling orchestral accents , and melodic sequences that bring the record to a climactic finale . Due to the band ’ s songwriting skills and dynamic musical structures , Dream Theater has always had a knack for making a 10- minute song feel like four minutes : “ Dead Asleep ” at 11:06 is a perfect example . With designer Hugh Syme once again at the visual helm , the album cover art reflects hints of Images and Words , while lyrical references to 1999 ’ s magnificent Metropolis Pt . 2 : Scenes From a Memory album can be detected in the fifth track “ Midnight Messiah .” The first single , “ Night Terror ,” did a sufficient job of reintro- |
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newreleases
March 7
Bob Mould HereWeGoCrazy Frog Eyes TheOpenUp Jethro Tull Curious Ruminant Kedr Livanskiy Myrtus Myth Lady Gaga MAYHEM The Wiggles Wiggle Up , Giddy Up !
March 14
Bambara Birthmarks Circuit des Yeux Halo On The Inside Coheed and Cambria The Father Of Make Believe Whatever The Weather Whatever The Weather II
March 21
Japanese Breakfast For Melancholy Brunettes My Morning Jacket Is Phil Cook Appalachia Borealis Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco I Said I Love You First The Horrors Night Life Young Widows Power Sucker
March 28
Deafheaven Lonely People With Power Destroyer Dan ' s Boogie Great Grandpa Patience , Moonbeam Joe Armon-Jones All The Quiet Part I Lucy Dacus Forever Is A Feeling Mumford & Sons Rushmere Perfume Genius Glory Sacred Paws Jump Into Life Spellling Portrait Of My Heart The Darkness Dreams On Toast
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Bob Mould |
Lucy Dacus |
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10 illinoisentertainer . com march 2025 |