Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Linings

It’s been a long wait, and the release of Dream Theater’s new album is still two months away. I’ve been literally counting down the days since March 22, and it seems like the release date of June 23 will never arrive. Although when it does, I won’t be listening to anything else for the next couple of months. I’m particularly excited for the new Dream Theater tour in support of the new album. It’s agonising to think that this amazing band won’t return to Australia until 2010, assuming they do decide to do a leg here again. I saw them when they came to Sydney, way back in January of 2007, at the Hordern Pavilion. What an amazing concert.

I’m very excited about this new album. I’ve been following the bands progress through web updates since late last year, ever since Mike Portnoy annouced on his forum what the new album was going to be like.

“Imagine a DT album with ‘A Change of Seasons’, ‘Octavarium’, ‘Learning to Live’, ‘Pull Me Under’ and ‘The Glass Prison’….all on one album…” – Mike Portnoy

Pretty exciting stuff. I’m particularly excited this time around to get my hands on the additional audio releases: Instrumental version of the album, and CD of band cover songs (which at present remain a mystery). In four weeks time the first cover title will be released to the public, which is exciting in itself, meaning the album release will be just six weeks away. I’m also really excited because this album will consist primarily of DT epics. There are only six tracks, with an album length of approximately 75 minutes. Two of those tracks are singles. I’m expecting four 16 or 17 minute songs, but I’ll try to not get my hopes up.

Mike Portnoy, along with John Petrucci release an audio sample of snippets from the new album on the Eddie Trunk show, which I’ve been listening to a bit too much! Sounds very promising. Anyway, just 71 more sleeps until the next chapter in Dream Theater history is shared with the world, and I can’t wait.

Once again, another very informal, illogical post, but I hope you enjoyed it.

Talk to you soon,
Jared