Norway's Metal Express Radio recently caught up with DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess to discuss the band's new album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events. Check it out via the audio player below:

Dream Theater

Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci recently sat for an exclusive interview with MusicRadar.com, analyzing A Dramatic Turn of Events track by track and telling the stories behind the writing of each song.

Of the first single, 'On the Backs of Angels', he says, "I came up with the intro guitar riff while I was playing an acoustic at home by the fire. I was thinking, How should this record begin? What should be the first thing that people hear? The idea that came to me was a little bit PINK FLOYD – moody, foreboding, this drifting arpeggiated guitar pattern.

“We were very conscious when writing the song that it should reflect the signature sound of the band. We wanted it to have all of the elements of Dream Theater. It would be progressive, it would be metal, and it would be melodic. There would be some big shred moments mixed with very dramatic breakdowns. It’s got everything that we love to do as a band."

About the song, 'Lost Not Forgotten', he says, “The mood of the song always reminded me of an old-time epic film like Ben-Hur. So I wrote lyrics that are somewhat historical about this ancient Persian elite fighting force that kind of died out. Again, a good example of my love for storytelling and linking music to words.”

Read the full report at this location.

Photos of the A Dramatic Turn Of Events deluxe collector’s edition were recently revealed and can be viewed below:

The box set - available for pre-order here - includes:

- A Dramatic Turn Of Events album
- instrumentals of the entire album
- DVD of The Spirit Carries On – a 60 minute movie documenting Dream Theater’s drummer auditions
- double-LP set of A Dramatic Turn Of Events (180-gram vinyl in gatefold jacket)
- Dream Theater branded custom turntable slipmat
- litho print of album cover
- 50 lucky winners will find a Dream Theater "Ticket For Life" (randomly inserted)
- All content housed in a custom box
- Receive a digital download of the album the day BEFORE release

Tracklisting:

CD1:

'On The Backs Of Angels'

'Build Me Up, Break Me Down'

'Lost Not Forgotten'

'This Is The Life'

'Bridges In The Sky'

'Outcry'

'Far From Heaven'

'Breaking All Illusions'

'Beneath The Surface'

CD2:

'On The Backs Of Angels' (Instrumental)

'Build Me Up, Break Me Down' (Instrumental)

'Lost Not Forgotten' (Instrumental)

'This Is The Life' (Instrumental)

'Bridges In The Sky' (Instrumental)

'Outcry' (Instrumental)

'Far From Heaven' (Instrumental)

'Breaking All Illusions' (Instrumental)

'Beneath The Surface' (Instrumental)

The new song, 'On The Backs Of Angels', is available on YouTube below: