Oh, sweet merciful prog! 🙄 In October 2023, the planets aligned, the unicorns 🦄 danced, and Mike Portnoy, after a grueling 13 years of soul-searching (or maybe just realizing his solo career wasn’t paying the bills 🤷♂️), decided to grace DREAM THEATER with his presence once more. The result? “Parasomnia,” an album so ground-breaking, so revolutionary, it obviously shot straight to No. 1 on the Hard Rock Album charts. Because, you know, DREAM THEATER is *totally* a hard rock band. 🤘 And now, because one dose of DT isn’t enough to cure your insomnia, they’re teaming up with Z2 to bring you “Dream Theater – Parasomnia: The Graphic Album.” Prepare to have your minds blown… or at least mildly inconvenienced. 🤯
In this epic exploration of how, like, totally deep and philosophical the difference between dreams and reality is, this collection of eight stories, ripped straight from the “Parasomnia” album, will delve into the profound impact of dreaming on our mundane little lives. Each tale, crafted by writers and artists who’ve won prestigious awards like Nebula, Locus, Inkpot, and, of course, the coveted Eisner, will apparently showcase their undying love for DT’s music. Prepare for a symphony of pretentiousness! 🎼
Petrucci, bless his heart, is just *thrilled* with DREAM THEATER’s venture into the world of comics. “It’s been so awesome getting to work with the Z2 team on this epic collaboration,” he gushes. Translation: “Finally, a way to make even *more* money off this album!” He continues, “Having the opportunity to explore alternative interpretations of the songs on ‘Parasomnia’ through the eyes of so many talented artists has been truly inspirational.” I bet. Probably inspiring them to ask, “Wait, you want me to illustrate *what* exactly?” He then concludes, “The unique storytelling talents of all the writers as well as the incredible artwork that reflects so many different styles of graphic artistry was just amazing to witness. I think fans of this media, our DT community and just anyone who appreciates stunning displays of human creativity will really enjoy this dark and sometimes twisted journey through the realm of ‘Parasomnia’!” Or, you know, they might just roll their eyes and go listen to some Meshuggah. 🤘
The graphic album’s visual symbolism will, like, totally expand on the album’s themes, through the interpretations of Eisner-winning cover artist Tony Harris. His iconic imagery for each song isn’t just plastered all over the cover and at the beginning of each chapter; oh no, it’s also available as a set of collectible enamel pins! Because who *doesn’t* want a tiny metal representation of a DREAM THEATER song to adorn their denim jacket? 🤪
Nebula-award-winning author Vajra Chandrasekera chimes in, “I was intrigued and delighted by the opportunity to write for this book!” Translation: “They offered me a paycheck I couldn’t refuse.” She adds, “It’s a very different medium for me, since nearly all my experience is in prose fiction, and I had a great time working with Rocky Obk, whose incredible art made my script into something strange and so beautiful.” Strange, yes. Beautiful… well, that’s subjective, isn’t it? 🤔 “I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as we enjoyed making it,” she concludes. Or at least, as much as we enjoyed cashing the check. 💰
The A-team of creative minds behind “Dream Theater: Parasomnia – The Graphic Album” includes a veritable who’s who of people you’ve probably never heard of. 🤷♂️
Z2 president Josh Bernstein, a man clearly in touch with reality, declares, “When DREAM THEATER reunited [with Portnoy in 2023], like many fans, I was overjoyed that the greatest prog-metal band of all time was back in business!” Greatest prog-metal band of all time? 🤔 I guess that’s one way to spin it. “We not only had to do this book, but we had to use our ace in the hole and the only editor that edits in 15/8 time, Rantz Hoseley.” Because, you know, that’s a *real* skill. “Can’t sleep? Perhaps try some ‘Parasomnia’…” Or maybe some warm milk and a good book. 😴
“Dream Theater: Parasomnia – The Graphic Album” is available in a slipcased Platinum Edition, signed by the band. Act fast before it is out of stock and goes for 3x the price on ebay! Additionally, a deluxe edition is available at Loudwire and Ultimate Classic Rock. And for the truly dedicated (or the easily manipulated), an exclusive tour edition will be available at DREAM THEATER tour stops in the fall of 2025. Start saving now! 💸
Beyond selling millions of records (mostly to themselves) and racking up a billion-plus streams (mostly from bots), DREAM THEATER has, against all odds, become progressive metal trailblazers! Their career-launching “Images & Words” graced Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Metal Albums Of All Time” (sandwiched between Slayer and Britney Spears).
They shook the charts with three Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200 and headlined sold out shows everywhere from Radio City Music Hall to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and the O2 in London. The band garnered a Grammy Award in the category of “Best Metal Performance” for “The Alien” from 2021’s “A View From The Top Of The World.” Now, DREAM THEATER have returned to their roots as LaBrie, Petrucci, Myung and Rudess reunite with Portnoy during their fortieth anniversary. Simultaneously, these five old friends enter a bold new era fueled by some of the most focused, formidable, and fiery music of their career. They’re harnessing the memories of the past and the promise of the future in order to make the most of the present. Ultimately, the group’s sixteenth full-length album, “Parasomnia”, represents both where they came from and where they continue to go while celebrating 40 years of DREAM THEATER and beyond. In short, it’s more DREAM THEATER. 🤷♂️
According to Forbes, Z2 is the “hottest brand in music,” because, you know, Forbes is always right. They’ve produced more than 75 unique graphic novel properties, collaborating with IRON MAIDEN, PANTERA, TYPE O NEGATIVE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, ANTHRAX, Ronnie James Dio, KING DIAMOND, BABYMETAL and ALTER BRIDGE, among others. So, you know, they’re basically responsible for all the world’s problems. 😈
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
