Dream Theater – Parasomnia
Dream Theater – Parasomnia
Inside Out Music
07/02/2025
Review by Oli Gonzalez
9/10
Yes, this is THE Dream Theater! They’re back, and celebrating their 4th decade as a band, marking this monumental effort with the release of their hotly awaited new album “Parasomnia”. The iconic lineup consists of James LaBrie on vocals, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, and perhaps most famously, the return of drummer Mike Portnoy after a 15-year absence! The multi-time Grammy award-winning Progressive Metal act aim to make a statement with this 16th studio album, and remind the world that they are still very much here!
Overall, this is everything you’d expect from a Dream Theater album. Yet this feels fresh and original, representing evolution whilst staying true to their Progressive Metal roots. The production values are absolutely flawless, leaving you to believe that every single minute detail has been given meticulous attention and care, to create the absolute best product. If you need evidence of this, just check out the opening to ‘Night Terror’, and tell me how overwhelmingly crushing and sharp that guitar tone is! Though this does not overpower any other instrument and you can still feel the hypnotic groove of the bassline, the ever-complex drum patterns, and the underlying melodies from the keys, which provide aesthetics, and comfort.
Vocalist James is as fierce and soaring as ever in a clinical performance which others should be measured against. Though this just seems like another day at the office, with his exceptionally high standards. You can barely tell the difference from the young man who recorded ‘Pull Me Under’ 30+ years ago, which is a nod to his exceptional skill and consistency across time. Though his vocals appear to be seldom used in this record, with the band seemingly more content to let the music do the talking and tell the narrative. An album narrative where the themes of sleep disturbances, sleepwalking, and nightmares are central. The aforementioned ‘Night Terror’ and also ‘Broken Man’ possess the necessary spine-chilling undertones to achieve this effect, especially given the use of the simple yet devasting haunting strikes of the keys!
If you didn’t already know, each musician in this band is the absolute elite amongst elite in their fields. “Parasomnia” will be used as the material for many a music teacher across the globe as the gold standard for each, and a level for musicians of all abilities to attempt to emulate. We witness some incomprehensibly complex guitar work in ‘Midnight Messiah’ and the near-20 minute journey that is ‘The Shadow Man Incident’. This has led to some criticism that the band can’t ‘do’ melody and resort to soulless showmanship instead. But that judgement is up to you. Dream Theater certainly can also strip things down and deliver epic sentimental ballads. If you don’t believe me, check out ‘Bend The Clock’, but make sure you have the box of tissues handy if you do. This has some seriously cavernous emotional depth, especially when you’re subjected to that scorcher of a lead guitar solo!
“Parasomnia” is by no means casual listening, given the marathon-length songs and the time it takes for each complex arrangement to develop and reach the strategically planned crescendo. But almost anybody, from the seasoned Prog musician to the casual listener, will sit back and appreciate the undeniable quality on display here, if they’re willing to commit the time to become immersed in this musical journey. “Parasomnia” is a statement that Dream Theater ARE back, and they mean business!
TRACKLISTING:
01. In The Arms Of Morpheus
02. Night Terror
03. A Broken Man
04. Dead Asleep
05. Midnight Messiah
06. Are We Dreaming
07. Bend The Clock
08. The Shadow Man Incident
LINKS:
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