A View from the Top of the World | ||||
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![]() 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 | ||||
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Singles from A View from the Top of the World | ||||
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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[]
- John Petrucci - guitars, production
- John Myung - bass
- Mike Mangini - drums, percussion
- Jordan Rudess - piano, keyboards
- James LaBrie - vocals
- Andy Sneap - mixing, mastering
- James "Jimmy T." Meslin - engineering, additional production
- Hugh Syme - art direction
Tracklist[]
# | Title | Lyrics | Length |
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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
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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..."