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Storm Corrosion (Steven Wilson & Mikael Akerfeldt)
Dec 2011 update: There’s an official FB page (other one now unlinked), and the album is expected on Roadrunner in April 2012. GO here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Storm-Corrosion/187831801312141
March 2012 update: The pre-order for the album is HERE.
For a while now, Porcupine Tree‘s Steven Wilson and Opeth‘s Mikael Akerfeldt have been talking about an official collaboration (outside of SW’s involvement in Opeth production, etc). Well, it now has a name…
STORM CORROSION
They have “churned out” about only 15 minutes of music so far, but the goal for the group is to do “something really, really special and really different” – whatever that means for these prog-metal gents.
Per Steven Wilson’s FB page, Storm Corrosion won’t occur until at least after September 2011 (when SW’s 2nd solo album comes out). Opeth also has a new one due in the Fall of 2011; so we shouldn’t expect any Storm Corrosion until 2012, most likely. Its naming is at least a good sign of things being “in the works.”
Mike Portnoy is also involved, but I think to a more limited extent compared to SW & MA… though, with Portnoy’s being ousted from Dream Theater and done on the road with Avenged Sevenfold – perhaps he’s more freed up.
For more news, I’d pay attention to these webpages:
http://swhq.co.uk/
http://opeth.com/
~Dan – np: Erik Friedlander plays Masada Book Two: Book of Angels, Volume 8 (Volac) 
Mike Portnoy leaves Dream Theater
I know, this is probably old news to some (Sept 8th), but I just got back… sigh… makes me sad (and kind of angry at the other guys for just not wanting to take a breather)…
From Mike Portnoy’s MySpace blog:
I am about to write something I never imagined I’d ever write:
After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater….the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.
To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision…it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so….
After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater…
Please don’t misinterpret me, I love the DT guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them…it’s just that I think we are in serious need of a little break…
Dream Theater was always my baby…and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985…24/7, 365…never taking time off from DT’s never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was “off” between cycles)…working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band…
But I’ve come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me out…and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and inspired.
We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here & there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a “hiatus” to recharge our batteries and “save me from ourselves”…
Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather…I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be…
While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way…so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes….
Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DT and I talked about “always following your heart and being true to yourself”…sadly I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater…and I would simply be “going through the motions”, and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.
I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come…I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played….
I’m sorry to all the disappointed DT fans around the world…I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work…I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)…but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within….
You DT fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me….(and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future MP projects!)
Sadly…
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP
“Move on be brave, don’t weep at my grave, because I am no longer here…
But please never let your memory of me disappear….”
— The Spirit Carries On
REVIEW: Dream Theater @ Roseland Theater (Portland, OR – 6/21/10)
FYI… PHOTOS of the SHOW at the BOTTOM
Progressive metal powerhouse Dream Theater is quite possibly one of the most technically superb group of musicians ever assembled. They’ve also weathered over 20 years in the dog-eat-dog music industry and remained a challenging force in the progressive rock/metal landscape. One might say that they’ve risen to icon status amongst their peers. When I think about drummer Mike Portnoy, guitarist John Petrucci, and bassist John Myung – I can’t really think of many other musicians in any genre that baffle me with their prowess so profoundly.
Singer James LaBrie and keyboardist Jordan Rudess round out the quintet. They are both very talented in their own right, and while I won’t dwell on it, LaBrie and Rudess sometimes make Dream Theater’s sound a throwback to the 80s… which I suppose is an unfortunate consequence of shrieking singers and ax-blade keytars (come on, guys, this is 2010!). Thankfully, the rhythm from Myung & Portnoy and the shred from Petrucci prevailed for most of the over two hour set. Sorry, but in the everlong, ever-subjective DT-fan keyboardist debate I rank Kevin Moore > Derek Sherinian > Jordan Rudess. Just laying it out there now… sorry if it’s offensive to some. Again, I don’t want to dwell… so back to the positive – all five guys in Dream Theater now run circles around the notes, making them fit in a pretty incredible sonic package.
This show was one of the handful of one-off in between dates as Dream Theater tour the U.S. with metal legends Iron Maiden. If you hit one of the Maiden shows, make sure you show up early, as Dream Theater doesn’t have much input on when they go on, and sometimes it has been before the advertised time.
Luckily, this Portland show was Dream Theater’s to shine. I showed up a little late, and unfortunately missed the opener. Dream Theater started right around 8:45pm and ripped into A Nightmare To Remember from their latest record, Black Clouds and Silver Linings. The 16-minute song (on the record) showcases all five guys’ talents and set the stage for what was to come…
Some of my favorite parts of the set were their earlier tunes… the “puppies on acid” intro to the “The Mirror / Lie” seamless prog-metal fest and the switch-up “Pull Me Under” that converts into “Metropolis Part 1” during the middle of the solos. Wow! The newer tunes, which I consider anything from Scenes from a Memory and on (i.e.- since Jordan joined), were also full of amazing musicianship… led by the “balls and chunk” in “Home” and the instrumental opening to “Count of Tuscany.” Another new era song, “As I Am,” ranks for me due to John Myung’s bass harmonics’ opening and some of my favorite Dream Theater word play (justify / just defy)…
Setlist: 2 hours 15 minutes
- A Nightmare To Remember
- Constant Motion
- Hollow Years
- The Mirror / Lie
- A Rite Of Passage
- Home
- Panic Attack
- As I Am
- Pull Me Under / Metropolis Pt. 1
- Encore: The Count Of Tuscany
Brilliant showmanship, technical skill with an air of ease, stellar solos, and only a touch of keytar… Dream Theater is yet again showing up the competition. They are truly the kings of the progressive scene.
(and one from MikePortnoyDT’s twitter…)
many more photos below
The Appropriate Linkage:
Check them out on tour with Iron Maiden now…
~Dan – np: Pink Martini – Hey, Eugene!
DREAM THEATER PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2010 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution
(click for larger)
Higher Resolution (20 pics)
Limited to 1200 pixels wide or tall (29 pics)
Dream Theater @ Roseland Portland (6/21)
So, since I’m out of town for work, I won’t be able to upload my photos and review from tonight’s Dream Theater‘s Roseland Theater gig in Portland (Oregon) until most likely Tuesday night (6/22)… in the meantime, check out some of Cinn City / Skulls-n-Bones photo coverage of the recent Denver gig… I sooooooo envy their amazing shots!!
Check back later on Tuesday for my Portland coverage! It shant be as nice looking as Cinn City’s shots, but hopefully make you wish you were there and/or bring back the joy of being there.
~Dan
Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings
Progressive metal veterans DREAM THEATER have announced BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS as the title of their tenth studio album. 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:
1. A Nightmare to Remember
2. A Rite of Passage
3. Wither
4. The Shattered Fortress
5. The Best of Times
6. The Count of Tuscany
I’m excited about the instrumental CD on the special edition… yay!
~Dan
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
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