Dream Theater are announcing the return of drummer Mike Portnoy to the group. Portnoy will reunite with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung – the trio formed the band at the Berklee College Of Music in 1985 – along with longtime members, vocalist James LaBrie and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. Dream Theater will be going into the studio to begin working on their 16th studio album and the first with Portnoy since 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
On All Input Is Error (Self-Released), Canada’s Pomegranate Tiger (aka prog multi-instrumentalist and accomplished composer Martin Andres) takes a topical AI concept and runs with it. Does he win the race? Yes, in the end – even if the final fate of humankind is ultimately unknown (there are no lyrics, you see, so you can make up your own mind, all you creatives out there).
Homer’s The Odyssey is an ancient, epic Greek poem that follows hero Odysseus on his perilous ten-year journey home from the Trojan War (that’s enough Wiki cut and pasting – Ed). Now The Anchoret, new Canadian titans of progressive metal, deliver a musical odyssey of their own.
Prog metal trio Black Orchid Empire crank up the technical complexity and again display their playing chops on Tempus Veritas (Season Of Mist). While there is a certain schizophrenia at play here, a clash of styles, if not intent, it has to be said that when these London-based boys (Paul Visser – vocals/guitars, Dave Ferguson – bass/vocals, and Billy Freedom – drums) are good, they are very good.
Prog Metal legends Dream Theater have announced 2023 European and UK tour dates. The band continues to support their acclaimed latest album A View From The Top Of The World, out now via InsideOut Music.
We caught up with Dream Theater great Jordan Rudess to discuss his current solo tour! Jordan discusses his downtime from Dream Theater, his practice regimen, the format of his solo gigs, storytelling through songs, seeing his creativity unlocked by technology, performing covers, singing live, and much more!
Having amassed a discography of over twenty albums as the lead vocalist (of which this is the fifth solely under his own name), and nearly two dozen guest appearances across a thirty year professional recording career, you could have forgiven James LaBrie for taking some overdue and well-earned time off when the 2020 Dream Theater world tour was halted. Instead, he and Eden’s Curse (whose Trinity album was adorned by his distinctive a glorious pipes) guitarist Paul Logue began trading the musical ideas that would grow into Beautiful Shade of Gray (InsideOut Music).
After a two year wait, the third ever Download Festival Japan will be held this summer on August 14, 2022 at the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Center in Chiba. Dream Theater And Bullet For My Valentine will headline this year’s edition, along with Mastodon, Steel Panther, At The Gates and The Halo Effect, and more bands to be announced. Continue reading
Foo Fighters, Dream Theater, and St. Vincent ran the table of the heavy music awards at the 64th annual Grammy Awards. Foo Fighters cleaned up in the Rock categories winning Best Rock Performance for “Making a Fire” and Best Rock Song for “Waiting On A War” – and Best Rock Album for 2021’s Medicine At Midnight (Roswell Records). The award is a posthumous accolade for drummer Taylor Hawkins, who passed away on March 25th. Long-running legendary prog metal band Dream Theater won for best Metal Performance for “The Alien” from their album “A View From The Top Of The World” released last fall 2021 (InsideOut Music). The band beat the most crowded field in the rock categories including Deftones, Mastodon, Gojira, and Rob Zombie, all past winners. St. Vincent won for Best Alternative Music Album Vocal or Instrumental for the song “Daddy’s Home.”
