Dream Theater to release self-titled new album on 24 September

Dream Theater are (from left) Mike Mangini, John Petrucci, James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess and John Myung
Dream Theater are (from left) Mike Mangini, John Petrucci, James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess and John Myung

Prog-rock heavyweights Dream Theater have announced 24 September as the release date for their forthcoming new album, and in a first for the band, the record will be a self-titled one.

Since the start of this year, the celebrated fivesome (guitarist John Petrucci, singer James LaBrie, bassist John Myung, keyboardist Jordan Rudess and drummer Mike Mangini) have been working on the new set at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, with Petrucci producing and Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Rush) engineering and mixing.

"I see every new album as an opportunity to start over," Petrucci says of the upcoming disci. "To either build or improve upon a direction that has been evolving over time or to completely break new ground. This is the first self-titled album of our career, and there is nothing I can think of that makes a statement of musical and creative identity stronger than that. We've fully explored all of the elements that make us unique, from the epic and intense to the atmospheric and cinematic. We're incredibly excited about Dream Theater and can't wait for everyone to hear it."

The album will be available in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard and special edition CDs, 180 Gram Vinyl Double LP, and a Limited Edition Box Set. A world tour will follow the release. Details will be announced soon.

Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar WorldGuitar PlayerMusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.