As Dream Theater celebrate their 40th anniversary, the storied prog metal band have come full-circle: their 16th studio album, this year's Parasomnia, reforms their aughts lineup, with drummer Mike Portnoy returning to the fold after spending more than a decade away.
The reunited lineup have hit the ground running with Parasomnia, its eight epic songs adding up to 71 towering minutes of witching-hour prog about the spooky things haunt restless minds in the dead of night.
To mark the occasion, keyboardist Jordan Rudess ranked his five favourite songs from across the band's catalogue — including taking philosophical inspiration from astronomer Carl Sagan, the band's most intense musical roller coaster, and the song that's "the ultimate Dream Theater statement."
Read past editions of Exclaim!'s High 5 column here.
5. "Pale Blue Dot"
Distance over Time (2019)
This one just hits differently. It's heavy, intense and thought-provoking all at once. The inspiration from Carl Sagan's words about humanity's place in the universe gives it this philosophical depth, but at the same time, it's a total headbanger. It's the kind of song that feels larger than life while still making you think about how small we really are.
4. "A View from the Top of the World"
A View from the Top of the World (2021)
This track feels like the ultimate Dream Theater statement. It's ambitious, cinematic, and packed with layers of sound. The huge orchestral moments in this song really stand out for me — they add such a dramatic intensity to the whole piece. It's a song that reminds me why we keep pushing ourselves creatively, even after all these years.
3. "Octavarium"
Octavarium (2005)
This song is massive in every sense. It's like a journey through everything we love about music, and the whole cyclical concept gives it this really satisfying depth. On a personal note, getting to play the Continuum and even lap steel guitar on this one was such a cool experience — it added these unique textures that took the song to another level. This one will always be special to me.
2. "VIII. Losing Time / Grand Finale"
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002)
This one hits on such an emotional level. It's the perfect way to close Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence because it ties everything together so beautifully. I have great memories of the sessions where I had just received my new Korg KARMA keyboard and all the inspiration it brought to the writing process. The ending feels like this cinematic moment where everything comes full circle. You can't help but get swept up in the grandeur of it — it's just a powerful way to wrap up such an epic journey.
1. "Scene Seven: I. Dance of Eternity"
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999)
This song is like a musical roller coaster: fast, intense, and full of twists and turns you never see coming. It's one of those pieces where every member of the band gets to shine in their own way, and together, it creates something completely unique. It's a challenging one for sure, but that's what makes it so rewarding to play.