After wrapping up the European leg of its 40th Anniversary Tour 2024–2025 last week, Dream Theater has released the next piece of music from its upcoming 16th studio album, “Parasomnia.” “A Broken Man” is the latest track from the reunited lineup of vocalist James LaBrie, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, keyboardist Jordan Rudess and drummer Mike Portnoy.
The song opens with a driving musical barrage that subsides as LaBrie tells the story of a war veteran who is experiencing sleep disturbances such as nightmares and insomnia due to combat experience. The song contains audio from actual veterans speaking about their personal horrors and replaying the traumatic events of wartime deployments. A visualizer for the song, created by longtime collaborator Wayne Joyner, can be seen below.
An album announcement 15 years in the making, “Parasomnia” is scheduled for release on Feb. 7, 2025, via Inside Out Music/Sony Music. It is Dream Theater’s first album with Portnoy since 2009.
Clocking in at 71 minutes, “Parasomnia” takes the listener on a musical journey that has become synonymous with the band since the beginning of its career. Parasomnia is a term for disruptive, sleep-related disturbances including sleepwalking, sleep paralysis and night terrors. Songs such as “A Broken Man,” “Dead Asleep,” “Midnight Messiah” and “Bend the Clock” build upon the themes brought on by the album title.
“Parasomnia” track listing:
1) In The Arms of Morpheus (5:22)
2) Night Terror (9:55)
3) A Broken Man (8:30)
4) Dead Asleep (11:06)
5) Midnight Messiah (7:58)
6) Are We Dreaming? (1:28)
7) Bend the Clock (7:24)
8) The Shadow Man Incident (19:32)
“Parasomnia” is available for pre-order in the following configurations:
- Ltd Deluxe Box-set – includes Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook (Incl. CD1: full album, CD2: instrumentals, Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos & 5.1 Surround Sound – mixed by Mark Gittins, High-Resolution Stereo Mixes, animated visualizers for each song created by Wayne Joyner, + 68-page booklet), Ltd Gatefold 180g Dark Green 2LP (feat. alternative cover artwork), Majesty-logo dream catcher keyring, Sleeping mask, Dream journal, 60x60cm poster & hand-numbered, foil-stamped certificate of authenticity. Limited to 3500 copies worldwide.
- Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook – (Incl. CD1: full album, CD2: instrumentals, Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos & 5.1 Surround Sound – mixed by Mark Gittins, High-Resolution Stereo Mixes, animated visualizers for each song created by Wayne Joyner, + 68-page booklet)
- Gatefold 180g 2LP + 12-page LP-booklet
- Special Edition CD Digipak
- Digital Album – (incl. Dolby Atmos – mixed by Mark Gittins)
Dream Theater will head out on the next leg of its 40th anniversary tour this month. The world tour continues Dec. 7 in Mexico City, Mexico, at the Explanada Estadio Azteca before wrapping up December. 22 in Santiago, Chile. The North American leg is scheduled to kick off on Feb. 7 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and run through March 22 in the band’s hometown of New York City. More information on all tickets and VIP packages can be found at https://dreamtheater.net/tour/.
