Listen to Dream Theater’s New Song “Untethered Angel”

After months of teasing, it’s finally here: “Untethered Angel,” the first song to be released from Dream Theater’s next album Distance Over Time (not to be confused with The New York Times Magazine cover of the same image).

Because you all pay the big bucks for our one-listen hot takes, here’s mine.

Metal Injection writer Greg Kennelty says that “Untethered Angel” reminds him of Train of Thought, the album all us Dream Theater fanboys and fangirls typically invoke as the band’s pinnacle of heaviness, but other than the song’s opening and closing riffs — which are, indeed, bombastic chunkers — I don’t agree. Stylistically and structurally I’m way more inclined to invoke “Home,” which its sprawling layout, mid-paced energy, dynamic changes from part to part and extended guitar/keyboard instrumental section in the middle. Kennelty also asserts the song was recorded using 8-string guitars, and I don’t think that’s true. In any case the tune is certainly catchy, and pretty much in line with modern Dream Theater. The mix is a bit weird — LaBrie’s vocals are way low in the mix (on purpose, I wonder?), and the bass is audible for once — but I’m still digesting that part of it.

In summary: I am not sure what I think yet. Sorry to disappoint you all!

Check it out below. Distance Over Time comes out on February 22nd and as far as I can tell is not yet available for pre-order is available for pre-order here. The band will head out on tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Scenes From a Memory next spring.