Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci recently discussed the band's new album, The Astonishing, in an interview with Sweden's Rock Sverige. An excerpt is available below.

Q: In ten years’ time, do you think you´ll look back at this album as your finest moment?

John: "You know, it definitely right now feels like our careers have taken this path that kind of leads up to this moment, because for me and for the guys as well, it brings together a whole bunch of things that we´re interested in. It´s not only music, but it´s performance, it´s visual art when you see the show, it´s storytelling, it´s movies and literature and sci-fi and it´s all kinda rolled up into one. Creatively, it´s been so satisfying and even as far as the way that we´re presenting this publicly, as far as marketing and such, it´s been more interesting for everyone. So yeah, it´s definitely a crowning moment for us."

Q: Listening to the album, you really get the feel of a movie going along with it. Any plans for something like that?

John: "Right. When we first started thinking about this, again, it wasn´t that we were just writing an album, we wanted to write something that would cross different medias and could be whatever we imagined it to be and I was always so impressed with rock musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy or American Idiot and it was like 'We´re like the perfect band to do something like this. We´re called Dream Theater.' Doing that, is a goal that´s on the horizon. Being able to score a movie is something that people have always said, 'You guys should score a movie...', but we never did, so it´s kinda like we scored our own thing. To have that turn into something visual like a movie would be awesome. Some of the things that are already in development, are a videogame, which it is perfect for, and a novelization, which we haven´t announced officially, but we´re in talks with that. We´re taking the steps to get there and hopefully it will turn into this other thing."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Turbo Tape Games and Dream Theater are proud to announce the production of The Astonishing game, based on the concept album by the same name. The game will be released on PC, Mac, iOS and Android, in Q2 2016.

"The game is based on the album’s story, setting, and characters, giving players an opportunity to further experience the world of Ravenskill and the G.N.E.A. while battling Empirical forces and securing man-made artistry’s place in the futuristic world set forth in the universe of The Astonishing. Tactical gameplay and a storyline that progresses with the player make this a can’t-miss experience for gamers and music fans alike. The game will share core gameplay mechanics with TTG’s critically acclaimed UHR: Warlords, with several enhancements for this new project. The game will be available as a free download for iOS, Android, PC and Mac expected in late April 2016 with a one-time fee to continue playing past the first two missions. The game features both single-player and multi-player pass-and-play same-device functionality."

Go to this location to be notified immediately as the game is released as a free download. Additional game content will be sold at a friendly price.

Dream Theater's new album, The Astonishing, a character-based two-act double album that tells the story of dystopian future in which only machines can create music, was released on January 29th. The band kicked off their world tour for the album on February 18th. Fan-filmed video from the show, which featured The Astonishing performed in its entirety, is available below.

The setlist was as follows:

Act I
“Descent Of The NOMACS”
“Dystopian Overture”
“The Gift Of Music”
“The Answer”
“A Better Life”
“Lord Nafaryus”
“A Savior In The Square”
“When Your Time Has Come”
“Act Of Faythe”
“Three Days”
“The Hovering Sojourn”
“Brother, Can You Hear Me?”
“A Life Left Behind”
“Ravenskill”
“Chosen”
“A Tempting Offer”
“Digital Discord”
“The X Aspect”
“A New Beginning”
“The Road To Revolution”

Act II
“2285 Entr’acte”
“Moment Of Betrayal”
“Heaven’s Cove”
“Begin Again”
“The Path That Divides”
“Machine Chatter”
“The Walking Shadow”
“My Last Farewell”
“Losing Faythe”
“Whispers In The Wind”
“Hymn Of A Thousand Voices”
“Power Down”
“Astonishing”

Dream Theater has made the entire 34-track album available for streaming; check it out below.

Tour dates:

March
6 - Paris, France - Palais des Congres
8 - Copenhagen, Denmark - DR Koncerthuset
9 - Berlin, Germany - Friedrichspalast
10 - Bochum, Germany - Ruhrcongress
14 - Nurnberg, Germany - Meistersingerhalle
15 - Frankfurt, Germany - Alte Oper Hall
17 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
18 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
19 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
22 - Stuttgart, Germany - Liederhalle Hegel-Saal
23 - Zurich, Switzerland - Kongresshaus

April
14 - Quebec City, QC - Theatre du Capitole
15 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
16 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre
18 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
19 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
20 - Hartford, CT - Oakdale Theatre
23 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
24 - Baltimore, MD - Hippodrome Theatre
26 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theater
27 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre
30 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater

May
1 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
3 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
7 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
10 - Portland, OR - Schnitzer
11 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater

For up-to-the-minute news and ticket information visit this location.