Dream Theater excited their fans with a video on their official X account, where Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci announced the completion of their latest album’s writing phase.
This marks the band’s first project with Portnoy since the release of ‘Black Clouds & Silver Linings’ in 2009. In the video, Petrucci humorously notes their hard work:
“We’ve put in so much effort that our beards have turned gray.”
Portnoy chimed in with a comment about the changes they’ve undergone:
“Believe it or not, my hair was completely dark when we started.”
The duo then shared the significant milestone they reached:
“Can you believe it? It’s March 30th, 2024, a Saturday, and we’ve just finished writing the album and recording the drum tracks. It’s unbelievable,” John stated.
Mike expressed his excitement:
“I’m over the moon. The results are incredible, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve accomplished.”
Petrucci added:
“This is going to be a big surprise for our fans.”
Over the weekend, Portnoy took to Facebook to update fans on the progress of the new album, sharing the completion of his drum parts:
“Today marks my final day playing this drum set for a while. The drum tracks for DT16 are complete! But this is just the beginning. We still have guitar, bass, keys, vocals, and percussion work ahead, not to mention lyrics, mixing, and mastering. We’re keeping details under wraps for now, but we’re all thrilled with what we’ve created and can’t wait for you to hear it. Patience is key, as we’ll reveal more in due time.”
On October 25, 2023, the band thrilled fans with the announcement of Portnoy’s return after his departure in 2010. In a January interview with Guitar World, Petrucci reflected on the significance of Portnoy’s return:
“We’re about to start the new album in less than two weeks. It’s incredibly exciting to have Mike back. We founded the band together, and have remained friends since we met at Berklee [College Of Music] at 18. It feels special to have him rejoin the band, and he’s just as excited as we are.”
Last month, Portnoy revealed that he’d been given the reins to decide the setlist for Dream Theater’s upcoming concerts, signaling his integral role in the band’s future direction.
Grey Beards and Writing Sessions… pic.twitter.com/QXKQkk1xef
— Dream Theater (@dreamtheaternet) April 2, 2024
