Dream Theater Reveal Plans for Next Album

After all was said and done, what did we think of Dream Theater’s last release, the double-album concept piece The Astonishing?

I used up a lot of e-ink in the run-up to the album’s release praising the band for attempting something so ambitious, and the singles they put out prior to the full album release definitely hit the spot. But once the whole thing came out I was pretty disappointed. The Astonishing was looooong — so long! — and filled with a bunch of unmemorable tracks that blended together. It didn’t deliver… for me, at least.

So what will Dream Theater’s next album be like? According to vocalist James LaBrie, we’ll find out some time in early 2019.

LaBrie told the Lead Singer Syndrome podcast [embedded below, via Blabbermouth] that the band plans to hit the studio this June. Dream Theater typically write in the studio, so the whole process could take several months. Indeed, Labrie added, “We’re hoping that the album will be out, let’s say, February of 2019. And then we’re looking, at this point, that we’d start the next world tour next March.”

Meanwhile LaBrie also confirmed that he’s working on a new solo album… but unless that’s being recorded right now, it’s hard to see the timing working out for a release anytime soon.