FREE NEW DREAM THEATER MP3 — TODAY ONLY!

The good folks at Roadrunner Records are giving away a free track from Dream Theater’s new album Black Clouds and Silver Linings, which doesn’t come out until June 23rd. The new track, “A Rite of Passage,” is available for one day only, which means you’ve got until midnight tonight (EDT, presumably) to grab it. So go and download it for free right now!

One-listen verdict: It sounds like Dream Theater. As a completely out-of-the-closet Dream Theater fanboy, I have to say I think the production sounds a bit weak. But I like James LaBrie’s vocals (he gets better with age, like a fine, fine Canadian wine) and the rest of the band sounds top-notch as always. John Myung’s bass is curiously high in the mix (and this is a good thing). There’s some stellar Petrucci shred starting around 5:20, followed by — what else — a ripping Jordan Rudess keyboard solo. The song is over 8 minutes long and it’s got plenty of twists and turns. So, ya know… it sounds like Dream Theater. Big shocker.

In summary: new Dream Theater! Yay!

-VN