Promo copies usually are released a couple of month before the street date, to allow music journalist to listen to the album properly to write a review, as well as provide enough time for print magazines like classic rock prog in where the entire magazine has to be written and made ready long before it actually hits the stand (due to production time etc). If a band wants their album to be reviewed in time for the release date, they have to do it like this. For most bands, the bulk amount of sales of new albums happen within the first few weeks - which is why DT for instance will blip into some charts one week and out of it again the week after. Certain established giant sellers with huge established fan bases can skip the review process, but overall this part of the PR-engine is not wise to skip, because while you can expect the hardcore fanatics to buy the album, what you really want is the exposure to the casual audiences (and the potential exposure to new people).
Now, a side effect of this is that because you don't treat the journalists differently depending on whether they are radio, tv, magazines or internet sites, everyone get the promo at the same time regardless of whether they need it or not.
Trust me when I say this; there are literally hundreds of people out there right now who has the album, who is under no obligation to keep the album a secret. Details will come out, and I don't think people would lie just for the sake of lying at this point, as there are enough people who can actually bust them on the lies...
As for me not wanting to be first; don't read to much into that. It'll be ready when it's ready, and even then I might hold on to it for a while - so don't expect one just yet.
Topic: Dream Theater self titled album discussion - [SPOILER FREE DISCUSSION ONLY] (Read 915714 times)