The seven-track offering, due October 22, will see electric guitar virtuoso John Petrucci make his eight-string studio debut
(Image credit: Francesco Prandoni/Getty Images)
Dream Theater have announced their upcoming album A View From the Top Of The World, which will be the pioneering prog band’s 15th full-length record.
Set to be released on October 22 via InsideOutMusic/Sony Music – the second of the group’s efforts to have dropped on the label – A View From The Top Of The World will follow up 2019’s Distance Over Time.
The upcoming effort – penned by Petrucci and his bandmates James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess, John Myung and Mike Mangini – was recorded at the recently constructed Dream Theater Headquarters DTHQ), which is described as a hybrid recording studio, rehearsal space, control room and creative hive.
(Image credit: Rayon Richards)
After having their sold-out world tour suddenly stopped in its tracks due to Covid, and with the band split into two camps across the US and Canada, Dream Theater began writing over Zoom, with LaBrie projected through the DTHQ’s in-studio speakers while they collaborated.
Of the unusually crafted album, Petrucci commented, “We just love to play our instruments. That never goes away. I love to be creative, write, and exercise that part of my mind.
“We’ve been able to do this for a long time,” he continued, “and we don’t take it for granted. Whenever we get together, we know we can’t disappoint ourselves or our fans, so we manage to try even harder.”
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The record’s lead single has yet to be shared, meaning we’ll have to wait a little while longer before we can hear Petrucci wield his eight-string for the first time.
(Image credit: Neil Lupin/Redferns)
Speaking of the upcoming effort, Petrucci previously described the experience of using his eight-string as “a similar experience to back in the day when I got my first seven-string”.
On learning to get to grips with his as-yet-unreleased eight-string Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty, Petrucci continued, “It's totally inspiring and awesome and I can't wait for people to hear it. I'm so glad it made it on the new record. In due time, you'll be able to see it and hear it
“When I got my seven-string, I had never played one before and I didn't know what to expect. The way I approached it was that it was just an extension of the range of the guitar.
“It doesn't sound like I'm trying to mimic a style or a genre or anything like that. I'm just playing it in my own way, with my own approach. That's the way I did it. It was so comfortable.”
The full tracklist for A View From The Top Of The World is as follows:
The Alien
Answering The Call
Invisible Monster
Sleeping Giant
Transcending Time
Awaken The Master
A View From The Top Of The World
The news of the upcoming was joined by the announcement of a three-month Top Of The World Tour of North America, which will see the iconic band take their new tracks on the road, starting with a show in Mesa, Arizona on October 28 and ending with a gig at St. Petersburg, Florida on December 14.
Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
