Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings Set for June 23, 2009

I am trying to be as careful about this announcement as possible. I, for one, couldn't stand the last album. It was barely progressive, mostly unmelodic, lyrically generic (vampires and "are we profiting from war?" Really?) and seemed to signal that Dream Theater might finally become a generic modern metal band.

Then I saw that album cover.

In many ways, the cover reminds me of Images and Words and Awake. I don't think anyone wants the band to make those albums again, but the pure creativity and songwriting strength of that period has still never been matched (though I personally thought Octavarium was very good and very intelligently crafted). The six-song tracklist may also be a good sign that we'll get some intelligent music this time around.

Anyway, the full details of the announcement are below.

Progressive metal veterans DREAM THEATER have announced BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS as the title of their tenth studio album. The band commenced work on the album: their second for Roadrunner Records, following up 2007's Systematic Chaos - in October of last year.

Roadrunner will release the record on June 23. In addition to the standard version CD, the album will also be available on vinyl LP, as well as a 3-disc Special Edition CD that will include the full album, a CD of instrumental mixes of the album and a CD of six cover songs, the titles of which will be revealed at a later date.

Six weeks prior to the June 23 street date, Roadrunner will release one cover song per week through digital retailers.

Drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci are once again at the helm as producers, while Paul Northfield mixed the record.

The band will embark on a world tour in support of the album beginning in Europe throughout June which will be followed by the second edition of the band's PROGRESSIVE NATION tour featuring Zappa Plays Zappa, Pain Of Salvation and Beardfish throughout North America in July/August.

A video for the first single, "A Rite of Passage" will be shot in late March.

The track listing for BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS is as follows:
A Nightmare to Remember
A Rite of Passage
Wither
The Shattered Fortress
The Best of Times
The Count of Tuscany