Album 17 Is Already Underway
Dream Theater is my favorite band of all time, so this one is very exciting. The band is back in the studio working on album number 17, and I honestly didn’t think it would start this year. I figured next year.
The band posted a photo of all five members at their Ytse Jam Studios with a three-word caption: “#DT17 is underway.” That’s all we got. No title, no release window, no producer named. Parasomnia, their 16th album and the first with Mike Portnoy back behind the kit in 15 years, came out in February 2025. James LaBrie had said writing and recording would likely start in late 2026 or early 2027, so they’re hitting the early end of that window.
Parasomnia was really good. It was a welcome return to see Portnoy back in the band. I’m a big fan of Mike Mangini and some of his work in the band, but Portnoy is the right fit for this band. His feel, and the way he knows how to drive Dream Theater’s music, combining the heavy elements with the storytelling and whimsical components, is something I think was missing during the Mangini era. It makes the music a lot of fun to listen to.
So here’s to hoping for a Metropolis Pt. 3. Metropolis Pt. 2 is my favorite album of all time, and ever since Portnoy rejoined, the fan base and I have speculated this could happen. Portnoy hasn’t ruled it out. Back in 2023 he called a sequel “the obvious thing,” then added, “maybe because it’s the obvious thing, we wouldn’t do it. But you never know.”
I’ll take “you never know.”
It’ll be months before a new album is even announced, let alone released. Expect a full world tour after that. Keep your eyes peeled for news on progress, and get ready for Dream Theater album number 17.
Source: Dream Theater on Instagram