New Album “Distance Over Time’, First Set of 2019 Tour Dates announced!

[Zydar]

Yeah it's the best DT cover art from him in a long time. I like it.

[ytserush]

Love that album cover. Simple, yet powerful. And I really like that album title as well.

I like the title, but can't stand the cover.  I wonder if the artist presented this to DT and they all agreed 100% that this is It?  "Oh yeah, a robot holding a skull!!!" I think DT could have come up with something better than that. I guess I need to get over it and look forward to the music and try not to connect it with that image..

I read it as the death of humanity at the hands of Artificial Intelligence (our own creation) and that creation's reflection on the now extinct predecessor. I'm pretty fascinated by that, but to each their own. There's album covers from them I love and ones that I don't care for. This one I dig.

This could have been a classic Rush cover and fits in with John Petrucci's "What would Rush do?" aesthetic.

[MirrorMask]

Also, think of the possibilites of the back cover, the booklet style, additional pictures... there is potential in that! and hey, it's the first "white album" since Six Degrees, about time I'd say.

[robwebster]

Has anyone noted that it (seems to be) the updated DT12 majesty logo? I wasn't sure if that might've been a one-off for the self-titled, but it seems to be sticking around!

[fadetoblackdude7]

Also, think of the possibilites of the back cover, the booklet style, additional pictures... there is potential in that! and hey, it's the first "white album" since Six Degrees, about time I'd say.

I was hoping for red to be the dominant color on the artwork. None of their albums are mainly red.

Edit: don't get me wrong though, I think the album cover is superb!

[MinistroRaven]

Also, think of the possibilites of the back cover, the booklet style, additional pictures... there is potential in that! and hey, it's the first "white album" since Six Degrees, about time I'd say.

I was hoping for red to be the dominant color on the artwork. None of their albums are mainly red.

Greatest hits

[fadetoblackdude7]

Also, think of the possibilites of the back cover, the booklet style, additional pictures... there is potential in that! and hey, it's the first "white album" since Six Degrees, about time I'd say.

I was hoping for red to be the dominant color on the artwork. None of their albums are mainly red.

Greatest hits

Compilation, not an album

[MinistroRaven]

Also, think of the possibilites of the back cover, the booklet style, additional pictures... there is potential in that! and hey, it's the first "white album" since Six Degrees, about time I'd say.

I was hoping for red to be the dominant color on the artwork. None of their albums are mainly red.

Album =
a collection/compilation of recordings issued as a single item on CD, record, or another medium.

Greatest hits

Compilation, not an album

[nicmos]

Two nights in LA in March?  I'll probably be there for one of them, depending on work schedule and ticket prices.  Just got to wait to see the announcement on what venue they will play in.  Probably The Wiltern.

man, I lived like 5 blocks from the Wiltern for 7 years.  now where I live, they don't ever come within a 3 1/2 hour drive of me.

[GasparXR]

The snippet with vocals definitely reminds me of The Astonishing and ADTOE, but that's ok. The other snippet sounds REALLY cool and new though. More of a Rush-y hard rock vibe.

[Bertielee]

The snippet with vocals definitely reminds me of The Astonishing and ADTOE, but that's ok.

Yeah, sure, but given noxon's explanation, I wouldn't take too much from that snippet.

[GasparXR]

The snippet with vocals definitely reminds me of The Astonishing and ADTOE, but that's ok.

Yeah, sure, but given noxon's explanation, I wouldn't take too much from that snippet.

Don't worry, I was judging the snippet alone, I don't expect the entire song or album to have that one sound.

[lucasembarbosa]

When can we expect an official statement from the band and release of the first single??

[TAC]

When can we expect an official statement from the band and release of the first single??

When noxon says it's OK.

[RMGadelha]

Are official statements done on Fridays just like album releases? If that's the case, next Friday would be nice. I am curious about the song titles.

[robwebster]

Are official statements done on Fridays just like album releases? If that's the case, next Friday would be nice. I am curious about the song titles.

Official statements can be anywhen, but tend to avoid weekends as there are fewer eyes on them.

[Sebastián Pratesi]

Are official statements done on Fridays just like album releases? If that's the case, next Friday would be nice. I am curious about the song titles.

The press-release last year, announcing the new contract to Sony/InsideOut, was on a Monday (December 11). But, the 2013 press release about the self-titled album was on a Thursday (June 6).

That said, the shift to only-Friday releases was in 2015, so maybe that affected marketing/promotion. I don't know.

[NoseofNicko]

The teaser is nothing special and pretty generic, but I like the unexpected chord at 0:21.

[rab7]

The teaser is nothing special and pretty generic, but I like the unexpected chord at 0:21.

Without even looking, I'm going to guess it was at "open your HEART"

[NoseofNicko]

The teaser is nothing special and pretty generic, but I like the unexpected chord at 0:21.

Without even looking, I'm going to guess it was at "open your HEART"

Yes.

[Tomislav95]

That second clip ("Writing session Song 10") sounds like they're jamming, it's really... musical (for lack of better word ). I'm hoping for more of that because, IMO, that's what missing from last few (or more than a few) albums. And I could see them doing that after The Astonishing, the album that was more of a "strict", story driven album.

[Architeuthis]

But TA is very musical! It has catchy melodies all over the place and complex instrumental sections.
I'm sure this next album will be much darker and heavier yet musical at the same time. Judging by the cover leads me to believe that.

[Polarbear]

But TA is very musical! It has catchy melodies all over the place and complex instrumental sections.
I'm sure this next album will be much darker and heavier yet musical at the same time. Judging by the cover leads me to believe that.

I think I've said this before, but IMO on TA the music served the story instead of the other way around. There were some great musical moments scattered around, but the whole concept for me was too overbearing, and those great moments were muddled somewhat.

On topic: What are the chances that this album will be Dream Theater's "Counterparts"? Counterparts was a no nonsense rock album, and for Rush, a return to a heavier sound after years of flirting with pop sensibilities. From snippets and comments from the band, I kinda get same vibes. A heavy, no nonsense prog metal album. And a return to their roots after some years of experimenting with shorter songs, and concepts.

[RodrigoAltaf]

That second clip ("Writing session Song 10") sounds like they're jamming, it's really... musical (for lack of better word ). I'm hoping for more of that because, IMO, that's what missing from last few (or more than a few) albums. And I could see them doing that after The Astonishing, the album that was more of a "strict", story driven album.

I got a FII vibe from that snippet, and kept thinking of songs like Just Let Me Breathe and Lines in the Sand. It got me ten times more excited than the other one, especially with the bass being so prominent, and Mangini rocking out.

[Renzo]

I got a FII vibe from that snippet, and kept thinking of songs like Just Let Me Breathe and Lines in the Sand.

Exactly the song I was thinking of..

[The Curious Orange]

I'm so stoked about new DT music!
I'm loving the title, specifically the fact it abbreviates to "D/T".
I quite like the artwork, specifically the black on white of the logo.
I'm a little surprised the tour isn't starting in Europe - that seems to be the established paradigm.
 

[danidogma]

The 30 seconds sample and the video look very good BUT I'm a little sad because I was expecting a sound for the new album more of this style:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxkeTsEXnyI

For me, without a doubt, Xanadu's cover is the best sound by far Dream Theater has had with Mike Mangini in my humble opinion: the bass is perfectly understood, the guitar is crisp and in solos it sounds with an incredible tone, the voice in place and the most natural drumming sound I've ever heard from Mike Mangini.

As for the material, it always looks good, but there's not much to analyze.

I'll keep to the fact that there's a little less to listen to it. I would have loved the sound to be like in Xanadu

[MirrorMask]

I'm a little surprised the tour isn't starting in Europe - that seems to be the established paradigm.

So you're saying there's been a paradigm shift? 

It could be any number of factors for the switch. Economics. Logistics. The Astonishing doing worse in the USA than in Europe and the desider to "win back over" quicker, so to speak, the fans with a classic album and a tour for one of their best records.

I wonder if they'll do a summer tour in Europe, blending in at festivals, or a proper tour from September on. Or maybe both, like they used to do with MP in the band.

[Groundhog]

The 30 seconds sample and the video look very good BUT I'm a little sad because I was expecting a sound for the new album more of this style:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxkeTsEXnyI

For me, without a doubt, Xanadu's cover is the best sound by far Dream Theater has had with Mike Mangini in my humble opinion: the bass is perfectly understood, the guitar is crisp and in solos it sounds with an incredible tone, the voice in place and the most natural drumming sound I've ever heard from Mike Mangini.

As for the material, it always looks good, but there's not much to analyze.

I'll keep to the fact that there's a little less to listen to it. I would have loved the sound to be like in Xanadu

The 30 second sample sounds musically promising, but it is way too compressed to sound great. It is easily heard for example when the vocals kick in. The sound does not increase in volume and the clarity of the sound just gets worse.

Dynamics aside the production and the mix seems to be an improvement over the previous albums - especially the drum mix. Could do with less effects on vocals though.

I really liked what I heard on the song 10 video. I am pumped for this album as far as the music goes, but I am yet again disappointed by loudness war treatment of the sound on the sample.

Hopefully there will be version with different mastering on vinyl or through HDTracks.

EDIT: The DR database figures were for the Rush songs and not for the DT cover so it did not apply here. So I removed the comments concerning that.

[vtgrad]

YES!  Pumped as usual!  Actually let out a yell when I saw the Charlotte date... perhaps they slip Asheville in the there as well and wife and I will hit them both!  Nice to see NC getting love from the dates... that's a 2-hour drive for me so I'll sleep in my own bed that night!

See you in Charlotte?

Yer Bugger!  We'll figure out a place to eat before the show maybe... depends on when we get there.  At worst we'll see each other at the show for sure!  I'll be wearing the Images and Tour classic t-shirt I always wear!

[Groundhog]

Listened to the Dream Theater's cover of Xanadu again as it's been while. Like danidogma I would love if the new album sounded like this. The difference in dynamics, clarity, bass and drums is night and day compared to the sample. I am not surprised about the amount of compression as it is the norm these days, but I am surprised that the band still goes for this kind of sound when they could easily release a better sounding album.

[Ben_Jamin]

That second clip ("Writing session Song 10") sounds like they're jamming, it's really... musical (for lack of better word ). I'm hoping for more of that because, IMO, that's what missing from last few (or more than a few) albums. And I could see them doing that after The Astonishing, the album that was more of a "strict", story driven album.

It sounds like the snippet we got with vocals. Maybe thats gonna be the first song released.

[mikeyd23]

Listening back to the 30 second sample on YouTube, one thing that jumped out was MM's cymbals. They sound more upfront in the mix, which is great.

[JustDefyYou]

Very excited about all of this, I just hope whatever they have planned for the tour it doesn't involve playing to a click.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Very excited about all of this, I just hope whatever they have planned for the tour it doesn't involve playing to a click.

Isn't that their standard m.o. since Mangini joined?