The world of progressive music rejoiced in October 2023 when, after 13 years, Mike Portnoy rejoined his brothers John Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess and James LaBrie within the legendary DREAM THEATER. The ensuing album, “Parasomnia”, was an explosive hit, reaching No. 1 on the Arduous Rock Album charts because it strengthened DREAM THEATER‘s standing because the premier progressive steel band on the planet. Now, in partnership with Z2, the band is releasing the companion quantity: “Dream Theater – Parasomnia: The Graphic Album”.
On this exploration of simply how skinny the road is between the waking world and the world of goals, this quantity of eight tales dives deep into the songs contained throughout the “Parasomnia” album. Every highly effective story examines the affect of the dreaming world on our on a regular basis lives, because it is delivered to life by a surprising roster of Nebula-, Locus-, Inkpot– and Eisner-award-winning writers and artists, who’ve every poured their love of the band’s music into each story.
Petrucci was thrilled with the outcomes of DREAM THEATER‘s sojourn into the world of comics and sequential artwork. “It has been so superior attending to work with the Z2 workforce on this epic collaboration,” he mentioned. “Having the chance to discover different interpretations of the songs on ‘Parasomnia’ via the eyes of so many gifted artists has been actually inspirational. The distinctive storytelling abilities of all of the writers in addition to the unbelievable art work that displays so many various types of graphic artistry was simply superb to witness. I believe followers of this media, our DT group and simply anybody who appreciates beautiful shows of human creativity will actually get pleasure from this darkish and typically twisted journey via the realm of ‘Parasomnia’!”
The visible symbolism of the graphic album expands on the themes from the album, through the interpretations of Eisner-winning cowl artist Tony Harris, whose iconography for every music is current not solely on the duvet, and begins every chapter, however can also be accessible within the deluxe editions as a set of collectible enamel pins.
Concerning the expertise of bringing DREAM THEATER‘s songs to life on the comedian web page, Nebula-award-winning creator Vajra Chandrasekera mentioned: “I used to be intrigued and delighted by the chance to jot down for this ebook! It is a very completely different medium for me, since almost all my expertise is in prose fiction, and I had a good time working with Rocky Obk, whose unbelievable artwork made my script into one thing unusual and so lovely. I hope everybody enjoys studying it as a lot as we loved making it.”
The complete artistic workforce for “Dream Theater: Parasomnia – The Graphic Album” consists of: Cat Rambo, Lydia Rasero, Kevin J. Anderson, Christian Rosado, Benjamin Raab, Deric Hughes, Gianenrico Bonacorsi, Dan Hernandez, Damien Worm, Gavin Highnight, Sofia Girol, Vajra Chandrasekera, Rocky Obk, Steve Niles, Stan Yak, John Reppion, Ryan Kelly, Simone D’Angelo and Lucas Carvalho.
“When DREAM THEATER reunited [with Portnoy in 2023], like many followers, I used to be overjoyed that the best prog-metal band of all time was again in enterprise,” shared Z2 president Josh Bernstein. “We not solely had to do that ebook, however we had to make use of our ace within the gap and the one editor that edits in 15/8 time, Rantz Hoseley. Cannot sleep? Maybe attempt some ‘Parasomnia’…”
“Dream Theater: Parasomnia – The Graphic Album” is out there as a slipcased Platinum Version, signed by the band, and is out there solely for pre-order through Z2Comics.com. Moreover, a deluxe version is out there at Loudwire and Final Traditional Rock, and an unique tour version will probably be accessible to buy at DREAM THEATER tour stops within the fall of 2025.
Past promoting tens of millions of data worldwide and gathering a billion-plus streams, DREAM THEATER have developed into progressive steel trailblazers over the course of an unprecedented journey, earmarked by one unforgettable milestone after one other. The career-launching “Photos & Phrases” graced Rolling Stone‘s “100 Biggest Metallic Albums Of All Time”, whereas “Awake” claimed No. 1 on Guitar World‘s “Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Outlined 1994”. Along with rising as Traditional Rock‘s “fifteenth Biggest Idea Album”, “Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Reminiscence” topped a fan-voted Rolling Stone ballot because the No. 1 “All-Time Progressive Rock Album”. They shook the charts with three High 10 debuts on the Billboard 200 and headlined bought out exhibits all over the place from Radio Metropolis Music Corridor to Purple Rocks Amphitheatre, and the O2 in London. The band garnered a Grammy Award within the class of “Greatest Metallic Efficiency” for “The Alien” from 2021’s “A View From The High Of The World”. Of the latter, Prog raved, “Not simply correct DREAM THEATER, then, however one thing ever-so-slightly larger and higher,” and Consequence Of Sound attested, “‘A View From The High Of The World’ exhibits that the quintet continues to be providing music that’s simply on par with their earlier efforts.” Now, DREAM THEATER have returned to their roots as LaBrie, Petrucci, Myung and Rudess reunite with Portnoy throughout their fortieth anniversary. Concurrently, these 5 outdated pals enter a daring new period fueled by a number of the most centered, formidable, and fiery music of their profession. They’re harnessing the recollections of the previous and the promise of the longer term with the intention to benefit from the current. Finally, the group’s sixteenth full-length album, “Parasomnia” (Inside Out Music/Sony Music),represents each the place they got here from and the place they proceed to go whereas celebrating 40 years of DREAM THEATER and past.
Just lately dubbed the “hottest model in music” by Forbes, Z2 has rapidly turn into the premier vacation spot for genuine graphic novels and collectibles, created in partnership with top-tier artists, musicians, and pop-culture icons. Distributed globally through Simon & Schuster, a number of Eisner– and Ringo-nominated Z2 has produced greater than 75 distinctive graphic novel properties, collaborating with IRON MAIDEN, PANTERA, TYPE O NEGATIVE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, ANTHRAX, Ronnie James Dio, KING DIAMOND, BABYMETAL and ALTER BRIDGE, amongst others.
