Dream Theater’s New Album Will Be Concept Album

As Dream Theater were announcing a new European tour for early 2016, one in which they announced that they'll be performing their forthcoming album in its entirety, promoters were leaking the new album's title. Dream Theater confirmed that the new opus will be called The Astonishing. This will be the first concept album they've written since 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.

We now know a little more about the album itself, thanks to Dream Theater's own newsletter sign-up.

The Astonishing will relate the story of a rebellion against the Great Northern Empire of North America, led by the Ravenskill Militia. It is 2285, the people of North America live under the rule of Lord Nafaryus, emperor of the Realm. Ravenskill, a small town on the outskirts of the Realm, is trying to start a rebellion against the tyrant by sending a message via the implants all the inhabitants of the Realm have.

When you go to their main website, you have to choose one of two sign-up pages. One is for the Great Northern Empire, the other is for the Ravenskill Rebel Militia. Go and sign-up to both to receive both the Emperor's message and the Militia's message, and learn more about the upcoming battle.

Dream Theater will be releasing the album in early 2016, and will present it live on the following dates (more dates to come):

Feb 18, 2016 – Palladium – London, United Kingdom
Feb 19, 2016 – Palladium – London, United Kingdom
Feb 22, 2016 – Carre Theatre – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb 27, 2016 – Oslo Concert Hall – Oslo, Norway
Feb 28, 2016 – Oslo Concert Hall – Oslo, Norway
Mar 2, 2016 – Cirkus – Stockholm, Sweden
Mar 5, 2016 – Le Palais des Congrès – Paris, France
Mar 6, 2016 – Le Palais des Congrès – Paris, France
Mar 18, 2016 – Teatro Degli Arcimboldi – Milan, Italy
Mar 19, 2016 – Teatro Degli Arcimboldi – Milan, Italy
Mar 23, 2016 – Kongresshaus – Zurich, Switzerland

Hang Out with Dream Theater on Live Google+

Members of Dream Theater will be available to chat with on Live Google+ Hangout On Air. They will be answering questions on November 1, 2013 at 3pm EST.

You can add your own questions about the Live at Luna Park DVD to Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #LiveAtLunaPark

On November 1st you will need to go to the Dream Theater website, Facebook or Twitter sites, where they will post the URL link for the live video feed.

And, following the release of their eponymous new CD, garnering rave reviews by the way, they will be embarking on a European Tour starting in early January 2014. No dates yet for a North American tour, but stay tuned.

Dream Theater European Tour 2014:
Jan 15: Coliseu do Porto, Oporto, Portugal
Jan 16: Palacio Vistalegre, Madrid, Spain
Jan 17: Anaitasuna, Pampona, Spain
Jan 18: St. Jordi Club, Barcelona Spain
Jan 20: Mediolanum Forum, Milan, Italy
Jan 21: Obihall, Florence, Italy
Jan 22: Palalottomatica, Rome, Italy
Jan 23: Geox Theatre, Padova, Italy
Jan 25: Gasometer, Vienna, Austria
Jan 26: Zenith, Munich, Germany
Jan 27: Volkshaus Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Jan 29: Tipsport Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
Jan 30: Arena, Ludwigsburg, Germany
Jan 31: Le Zénith, Paris, France
Feb 01: Stadthalle, Offenbach, Germany
Feb 03: Cibona, Zagreb, Croatia
Feb 04: Small Tivoli, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Feb 05: Spodek Hall, Katowice, Poland
Feb 07: Brose Arena, Bamberg, Germany
Feb 08: Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium
Feb 09: Swiss Life Hall, Hannover, Germany
Feb 10: Saarlandhalle, Saarbrucken, Germany
Feb 12: Aeronef Club, Lille, France
Feb 13: O2 Apollo, Manchester, United Kingdom
Feb 14: Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom
Feb 15: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Feb 17: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb 18: Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Dusseldorf, Germany
Feb 20: Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Feb 21: Spektrum Arena Ans, Oslo, Norway
Feb 22: Annexet, Stockholm, Sweden
Feb 24: Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finlad

James Labrie Previews New Solo Album

 

Today really has been a big day for Canadian prog metal artists. To round this out, here is news about Dream Theatre vocalist James LaBrie... and yes, his is Canadian!

 

It is just under two weeks till the latest studio album from Dream Theater's James LaBrie hits the streets, and as such a lyric video for the anthem 'Back On The Ground' has been released for your listening pleasure. This track is taken from the album "Impermanent Resonance", to be released on July 29th, 2013 in Europe and August 6th, 2013 in North America via InsideOutMusic, and you can check out the video below.
 

 

James LaBrie - "Impermanent Resonance"

1. Agony
2. Undertow
3. Slight Of Hand
4. Back On The Ground
5. I Got You
6. Holding On
7. Lost In The Fire
8. Letting Go
9. Destined To Burn
10. Say You're Still Mine
11. Amnesia
12. I Will Not Break
 

Next to the standard CD and the Digital Download format, "Impermanent Resonance" will also be available in Europe as limited edition Digipak featuring alternate artwork and two bonus tracks ("Unraveling" and "Why") as well as on limited LP version (with the full album as bonus CD).
 

The previous James LaBrie album, "Static Impulse" from 2010, will also be released for the first time as LP (with the full album as bonus CD) on the same street date of the new album. 
 

Both LP's will be available on 180gr. black vinyl but also on strictly limited clear vinyl (only 200x copies each!).
 

Check out the newly launched pre-order links here:

"Impermanent Resonance" in Europe (all formats): http://www.insideoutshop.de/Search?q=impermanent
"Static Impulse" in Europe (all formats): http://www.insideoutshop.de/Search?q=static
North American pre-order bundles http://www.cmdistro.com/Item/James_LaBrie_-_-Impermanent_Resonance-_CD_+_Shirt_+_Autographed_Postcard_-PRE-ORDER-/PKG001599 

Dream Theater Will Finally Release Live at Luna Park

News from the Dream Theater front. It seems they have now put a firm date of November 5 2013 for the release of the Live at Luna Park DVD. Here's the press release:

Dream Theater began their mammoth “A Dramatic Tour Of Events” world trekin July 2011 with the final leg in South America taking place in August 2012. It was here at the Luna Park Arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina that they decided to film the two nights. Those two shows will encompass Live At Luna Park, a very special DVD to be released this fall via Eagle Rock Entertainment.

Due to extenuating circumstances, the release date for Live At Luna Park has been pushed back from its originally scheduled Spring release. In an effort to make this project as special as possible, and deliver the ultimate live experience for Dream Theater fans, these delays proved necessary. It will be abundantly clear why the extra time was needed come November.

Live At Luna Park contains the 160-minute main show accompanied by a wealth of bonus material. All tracks from their A Dramatic Turn Of Events album are included, in either the main show or the bonus features. This title features many of Dream Theater’s classic tracks including: “Metropolis Pt. 1”, “The Silent Man”, “Pull Me Under”, “The Root Of All Evil”, “The Test That Stumped Them All”, “The Spirit Carries On” and the recent “On The Backs Of Angels”.

 

Live At Luna Park is available in North America November 5th as Blu-Ray, 2DVD, 2DVD + 3CD, Blu-Ray + 3CD, Deluxe Edition with 40 page Book, Blu-Ray + 2DVD + 3CD, Digital Video via I-Tunes.