Maps of Music

Dream Theater (2013)

Where the lyrics of Dream Theater take you, and where it was really made.

Dream Theater named its twelfth album after the band itself, to define who they were and show they were moving forward.

Key places

Where the album was written and recorded (2013)

Recording site Cove City Sound Studios — The album was written, recorded, mixed and mastered from January to May 2013 at this studio, the same studio used for A Dramatic Turn of Events. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Dream Theater is the twelfth studio album by the American progressive metal band
• Released worldwide in September 2013 through Roadrunner Records
• Self-titled, named after the band itself
• Written, recorded, mixed and mastered from January to May 2013
• Songs are shorter on average than most Dream Theater songs, except the long closer Illumination Theory
• Includes two instrumentals: False Awakening Suite and Enigma Machine
• First Dream Theater album to include drummer Mike Mangini in the songwriting process

Background

• Preliminary writing started on the A Dramatic Turn of Events Tour in April 2012
• Soundchecks were used to jam and record ideas
• Guitarist John Petrucci tried out independently composed material
• The band entered the studio in January 2013
• Surrender to Reason was the first song written
• The band said the self-titled name was meant to define who they were and show they were moving forward
• Many lyrics were based on real events, such as the Boston Marathon bombings

Recording

• Recorded at Cove City Sound Studios on Long Island, the same studio used for A Dramatic Turn of Events
• Every member's instrument was miked during writing so the sound could be previewed before formal recording
• Strings on two songs were arranged and conducted by Berklee College of Music student Eren Başbuğ
• Mixing was performed by Richard Chycki
• Petrucci described his guitar tone as a layered chocolate cake

Cover

• Cover and album design by Hugh Syme

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Petrucci, Myung and Portnoy formed the band under the name Majesty while attending Berklee College of Music.
• The band was renamed Dream Theater in 1988 after a legal challenge from a Las Vegas group also named Majesty.

Members

• Current members are John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), James LaBrie (vocals), Jordan Rudess (keyboards), and Mike Portnoy (drums), who rejoined in October 2023.
• Petrucci and Myung have remained in the band since its founding.

Career

• The band has released 16 studio albums; Images and Words (1992) is its highest-selling release.
• Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999) received high critical acclaim.
• By 2018 the band had sold over 12 million records worldwide.
• The band has been referred to as one of the "Big Three" of progressive metal, along with Queensrÿche and Fates Warning.
• A View from the Top of the World's lead single "The Alien" won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2022.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Dream Theater received generally positive reviews from music publications
• AllMusic felt it was one of the band's best albums and said it expands the reach of American prog metal
• Revolver described Illumination Theory as stunningly ambitious
• Loudwire said the band seemed to be expanding its appeal beyond the faithful
• PopMatters felt the band was no longer offering anything new
• Sputnikmusic said the album sounded familiar but gave it an overall positive review
• Grantland's Steven Hyden wrote that the album was a blast

Records

• Sold over 34,000 copies in the United States during its debut week
• Debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200
• Third consecutive top ten debut for the band
• Second-highest-charting album of the band, behind Black Clouds & Silver Linings
• Stayed on the charts until November 9, 2013
• As of January 2016, 87,000 copies sold in the United States in total
• The Enemy Inside received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, the band's second consecutive nomination

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The first song written was Surrender to Reason, which bassist John Myung credited with setting the pace for the rest of the writing
• Two songs use a string ensemble, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess called Illumination Theory the band's chance to go crazy after writing so many concise songs
• Petrucci used only six- and seven-string Music Man JP13 guitars for the recording
• The band played a concert at the Boston Opera House on 25 March 2014, which was filmed and later released on DVD and Blu-ray
• The Enemy Inside deals with PTSD and was written in response to the Boston Marathon bombings

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

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