Reuniting with a longtime bandmate after more than a decade apart is no small feat, especially when that bandmate happens to be a co-founder of one of progressive metal’s most influential acts. For Dream Theater, the return of Mike Portnoy – who had last recorded with the band in 2009 – was not just a momentous occasion but a challenge that came with a fair amount of pressure.
"There was pressure, but I think it was self-inflicted," guitarist John Petrucci told Guitar World. "You'd have to be dumb not to be aware of the anticipation that the announcement created in our fans, and we knew people would be looking forward to hearing what we could come up with.
That anticipation culminated in Parasomnia, the band’s 16th studio album and their first with Portnoy in 16 years. The album arrived at a milestone moment, coinciding with the band’s 40th anniversary. A concept album that delves into the complexities of sleep disorders, Parasomnia blended Dream Theater’s signature technical precision with what many called a renewed sense of urgency.
Despite the weight of expectations, the creative process felt natural. According to Petrucci, stepping into the studio with Portnoy again was like no time had passed. "But thinking about all of that before we even walked into the studio was inspiring and pushed us to want to do our best," he explained. "There was a real incentive to figure out how we could take this album to a level that's going to be undeniable. And when I say undeniable, it's not only how other people perceive it but how we perceive it as a band when we're working on it."
“From the moment we started writing it, we knew it was going to be a heavy, aggressive album. Having Mike back and all of us being together in the studio made us feel like we were 18 again. We just wanted to write super-heavy riffs and rock out,” he added.
Asked whether Parasomnia felt like Dream Theater’s "musical rebirth," Petrucci acknowledged the significance of the moment. "In a way, it does. It's our 16th album, and it comes after our 40th year as a band. Those benchmark moments have created new enthusiasm and renewed energy, and we're all vibing on the anticipation that those moments bring. We're thinking, 'Man, this is an amazing time in our career. Let's make sure we rise to the occasion.'"
With four decades under their belt, the band still approaches each new chapter with enthusiasm. "We had lofty goals from the very beginning," Petrucci said. "We looked up to bands like Iron Maiden and Rush, who had long careers and were always putting out records. We wanted to do the same thing."
