Dream Theater Post New Song and Video, “Invisible Monster”
Dream Theater have released “Invisible Monster,” the second single from their forthcoming album, A View From the Top of the World (following “The Alien” in August).
Musically, you know what you’re getting with Dream Theater at this point in their career — no big surprises here! — but DT fans should find the song both catchy and technical enough for their liking. Lyrically, it’s about the inner demons that plague artists, and the video clip follows a painter struggling with those “invisible monsters” cut alongside the band performing the track.
One thing I noticed that is a bit of a departure: drummer Mike Mangini has ditched the overhead toms, cymbals and other doo-dads that have defined his drum kit for the past few years. Bummer! They were fun to look at as his arms flailed in every conceivable direction. I guess he finally decided to side with efficiency of motion instead of looking badass, not that I can blame him.
Explains guitarist John Petrucci:
“It was written after we’d written a bunch of material. A lot of the music was super energetic and upbeat tempo-wise. Mike suggested we do something a little different though. So, we started working on a more mid-temp song. The hook, riff, and melody changed so naturally. I equate it to ‘Pull Me Under’ back in the day where we’d just start playing, something would come out, and we’d be like, ‘Whoa, that’s cool’. There’s a serendipitous moment where it happens. Lyrically, it’s about how anxiety plagues people. It’s like there’s an invisible monster beating you. You don’t see it, but it’s haunting you all of the time.”
A View From the Top of the World comes out October 22. Pre-order it here.
Dream Theater go on tour about a week after the album comes out. Here are the dates:
10/28 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center [tickets]
10/29 – San Diego, CA @ San Diego Civic Theater [tickets]
10/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Microsoft Theater [tickets]
11/01 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater [tickets]
11/02 – Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall [tickets]
11/04 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre [tickets]
11/06 – Denver, CO @ Paramount [tickets]
11/08 – Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre [tickets]
11/09 – Milwaukee, WI @ Miller High Life Theatre [tickets]
11/11 – Chicago, IL @ The Chicago Theatre [tickets]
11/12 – Akron, OH @ Goodyear Theater [tickets]
11/13 – Toronto, ON @ Meridian Hall [tickets]
11/15 – Ottawa, ON @ National Arts Centre [tickets]
11/16 – Quebec, QC @ Grand Theatre [tickets]
11/17 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell [tickets]
11/19 – Rochester, NY @ Kodak Center [tickets]
11/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met [tickets]
11/21 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre [tickets]
11/23 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center – Wang Theatre [tickets]
11/28 – Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre [tickets]
11/29 – Red Bank, NJ @ Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center [tickets]
11/30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre [tickets]
12/02 – Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium [tickets]
12/03 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center [tickets]
12/04 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House [tickets]
12/06 – Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry House [tickets]
12/07 – Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy [tickets]
12/09 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links Deep Ellum [tickets]
12/10 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater [tickets]
12/11 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center [tickets]
12/13 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live [tickets]
12/14 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater [tickets]
