Dream Theater’s 'Parasomnia': A reunion of legends and the dark world of sleep

Progressive rock veterans Dream Theater are set to release their sixteenth studio album, Parasomnia, on February 7, 2025, through InsideOut Music. This upcoming record marks a highly anticipated reunion with drummer Mike Portnoy, who last appeared on a Dream Theater album in 2009 with Black Clouds & Silver Linings. The announcement of Parasomnia follows recent news of the band's forthcoming 40th-anniversary tour, which celebrates their impressive four-decade career.

Guitarist John Petrucci, a key figure in the band’s creative process, and considered a guitar god by many, took on production duties for Parasomnia, while James "Jimmy T" Meslin handled engineering, and legendary producer Andy Sneap brought his expertise to the mixing. Petrucci is quoted by Guitar Player magazine as saying: “Making a new record is an opportunity to say, 'What haven't I done before?'” Fans of his style of guitar playing will no doubt enjoy this new material, as he seems as technically proficient as ever.

The album cover, designed by longtime collaborator Hugh Syme (who also designed album covers for the band Rush), reflects the mysterious and dream-inspired themes of the album. Clocking in at 71 minutes, Parasomnia explores a range of surreal and sleep-related themes through songs that evoke the disruptive states associated with the album’s title. The term "parasomnia" encompasses various sleep disturbances, including sleepwalking, night terrors, and sleep paralysis — a fitting inspiration and motif for a band that has long been known for its ability to traverse dark and intricate subject matter.

From the opening track "In The Arms Of Morpheus" to the epic 19-minute closer "The Shadow Man Incident," each song delves into these haunting concepts, potentially creating a compelling narrative arc across the album. Also, if listeners experience such phenomena, relating to this album might be a true "when life gives you lemons..." moment.

Dream Theater and the concept album

The album will indeed by like a security blanket to those who enjoy Dream Theater’s blend of technical mastery and storytelling in potentially thrilling arrangements. Some appreciate the band’s knack for combining musical complexity with cinematic visuals, and that history will build on Parasomnia’s exploration of the subconscious. Dream Theater has always been known for pushing the boundaries of progressive metal, a genre they helped shape since their formation in 1985.

Mike Portnoy, who co-founded the band alongside John Petrucci and bassist John Myung, was a part of the band’s first ten albums, spanning from their 1989 debut When Dream and Day Unite to Black Clouds & Silver Linings. After leaving in 2010, Portnoy pursued a successful solo career, working with other acts like The Winery Dogs and Neal Morse, but his return to Dream Theater has been eagerly awaited by fans.

The full tracklist for Parasomnia is as follows:

In The Arms Of Morpheus (5:22)
Night Terror (9:55)
A Broken Man (8:30)
Dead Asleep (11:06)
Midnight Messiah (7:58)
Are We Dreaming? (1:28)
Bend The Clock (7:24)
The Shadow Man Incident (19:32)

Dream Theater has built a legacy on crafting albums that demand attention, both musically and lyrically, and Parasomnia promises to uphold that tradition.