Dream Theater Wiki
A View from the Top of the World
AVFTTOTW

Cover Art by Hugh Syme

Studio album by Dream Theater
Released 22 October 2021
Recorded October 2020 - March 2021 at DTHQ
Genre Progressive metal, progressive rock
Length 70:19
Label InsideOut Music
Producer John Petrucci, Andy Sneap, James "Jimmy T." Meslin
Dream Theater studio albums chronology
Distance Over Time
(2019)
A View from the Top of the World
(2021)
Parasomnia
(2025)
Singles from A View from the Top of the World
  1. ”The Alien"
    Released: 13 August 2021
  2. ”Invisible Monster"
    Released: 22 September 2021
  3. ”Awaken the Master"
    Released: 25 October 2021
  4. "Transcending Time"
    Released: 26 January 2022
  5. "Answering the Call"
    Released: June 2023

A View from the Top of the World is the fifteenth studio album by Dream Theater. The album was first teased on July 10th, 2021, before being announced on July 28th, 2021, alongside a North American tour with Arch Echo. It was released on October 22, 2021.

The Alien was the album's first single, released on August 13th 2021. Invisible Monster was released as the 2nd single on September 22nd 2021. A music video for Awaken the Master was released on October 25th 2021, three days after the album was released. Two more music videos followed, for Transcending Time, which was released on January 26, 2022, and Answering the Call on June 15th, 2023.

This was Dream Theater's final album recorded with Mike Mangini on drums, as original drummer Mike Portnoy rejoined the band in October 2023.

Personnel[]

Tracklist[]

# Title Lyrics Length
1 The Alien LaBrie 9:32
2 Answering the Call LaBrie 7:35
3 Invisible Monster Petrucci 6:31
4 Sleeping Giant Petrucci 10:05
5 Transcending Time Petrucci 6:25
6 Awaken the Master Myung 9:47
7 A View from the Top of the World
  • I. The Crowning Glory
  • II. Rapture of the Deep
  • III. The Driving Force
Petrucci 20:24


Tone and lyrics[]

To be added

Trivia[]

  • This album is the first to have a track over 10 minutes long, but under 15 minutes since A Dramatic Turn of Events, released in 2011. That album had Lost Not Forgotten, Bridges in the Sky, Outcry, and Breaking All Illusions, clocking in at 10:11, 11:01, 11:24, and 12:25 long, respectively.
  • This album is the first to have a track over 20 minutes long since the self-titled album, released in 2013. That album contained the track Illumination Theory, which was listed at 22:17 long (and is actually 19:15 long, with a hidden piece of music after about 30 seconds of silence).
  • This is the first album since Black Clouds & Silver Linings to have fewer than nine tracks.
  • This album is the first to have a proper title track since Octavarium, released back in 2005. (Astonishing could possibly be considered a title track as well.)
  • This album has the longest title of any Dream Theater album.
  • This is the first Dream Theater album to be recorded at the band's new purpose-built recording studio, DTHQ.
  • This is the first Dream Theater album to incorporate 8-string guitars.

"To stretch beyond our limits, to blaze a brand new trail, bold enough to conquer, brave enough to fail..."