Dream Theater Finish Recording New Album

[HARD ROCK UNIVERSE]

DREAM THEATER have finished recording the follow-up to 2003's "Train of Thought", tentatively due in May/June via EastWest. "I just literally came from the very last session tonight — we just finished the album tonight, we start mixing it on Monday," DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy revealed during a live appearance Friday night (Feb. 25) on the "Friday Night Rocks" show on New York's Q104.3 FM. "We'll be delivering it to the label a couple of weeks after that. I think it's gonna be out in May. I mean, the tour starts in June, so hopefully the record will be on the shelves before then.

"What's it like? It's awesome. It's a little bit of everything — it's really a mixed bag. It's like classic DREAM THEATER where it's got some long songs, some short songs, some heavy songs…"

As previously reported, DREAM THEATER's "Live At Budokan" two-DVD set was recently certified platinum.

Released last October, "Live At Budokan" documents DREAM THEATER's April 26, 2004 show at Tokyo's Budokan Hall. Disc 1 of the two-DVD set has the complete live concert. Disc 2 is packed with special features including a Japanese tour documentary, the drum solo from Osaka, tours of Guitar World and Keyboard World by John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess, the tour opening video and a multiangle version of "Instrumedley".

Upcoming DREAM THEATER shows:

Jun. 10 - Sweden Rock Festival - Sölvesborg, SWE
Jun. 11 - Arrow Rock Festival - Lichtenvoorde, NETH
Jun. 12 - Buchholz Footballstadium - Zurich, SWI
Jun. 18 - Loca Rock Festival - Murcia, SPA
Jun. 26 - Graspop Festival - Dessel, BEL

[Frank]

MAN DO THOSE GUYS STAY BUSY!! THERES NO WAITING 4 TO 5 YEARS BETWEEN RELEASES FOR THEM!

[Rush862]

Can't wait for this one...

[HARD ROCK UNIVERSE]

DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy has sent the following press release to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"On Friday, February 25th 2005, DREAM THEATER wrapped up recording on their latest album. Mixing will be begin on Monday, February 28th and the record will be delivered to the label in mid-March. A release is expected for sometime around May/June through Atlantic Records.

"DREAM THEATER began writing and recording their latest album last November at the world famous Hit Factory studios in New York City. (everybody from MICHAEL JACKSON, JOHN LENNON, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, MADONNA, BRITNEY SPEARS, U2, MARIAH CAREY, REM, etc. etc. have all recorded at the legendary studio). As has been reported in the media several weeks ago, the famous recording studio is closing down upon the completion of DREAM THEATER's recording session.

"This album will hold the distinction of being the VERY LAST album ever recorded at the Hit Factory in NYC (the first was STEVIE WONDER's 'Songs In The Key Of Life'). After the DREAM THEATER sessions ended on Friday night, the lights were turned off and doors were locked to the world-famous studio — ending an era in the music industry........"