Mike Portnoy Enjoys How Dream Theater Works On New Albums

Mike Portnoy (Instagram @mikeportnoy)

JAKARTA - Dream Theater will release a new album in the near future. This will be Mike Portnoy's first project upon his return as drummer in October 2023.

Portnoy reported that the songwriting session was going well, as well as the recordings that were still running. Recently, the drummer has also been going back and forth to the recording studio.

"It's very good. The writing has been completed. My drum track has been completed. The guitar has been completed. So, this week we were in the bass session," said Mike Portnoy during a recent interview with The Prog Report.

"I'm at home right now. So I went back and forth between studios as needed. I'm not always there 100 percent, but I'll be back playing keyboards in a few weeks and then we'll start vocals," he continued.

The former Averaged Sevenfold drummer said the footage was a long process, but he enjoyed the whole process that was carried out with Dream Theater personnel.

"So, yes, it's a long process. I haven't spent this much time making an album for a long time. Dream Theater is still implementing an old style where the band is in the studio all the time, and no one has done anything at home separately," he said.

"So, yes, this is a process longer than I've experienced so far. But it's great, it's an old way, it's the way I made recordings with Dream Theater for a long time. I haven't done it for a long time, but it's good, and the process is very detailed like this. All bands and other projects, everyone is doing their own business, but it really gives some kind of band vibrational unity. Even a few weeks ago, James (LaBrie) flew back, came from Japan and we spent time collaborating for vocal melody, so the lyrics can be written into those melody, "he continued.

"That's how the process is at Dream Theater. So, yes, it's nice to be a part of every step like it used to be. It's been a long time since I made a recording this way."

However, Portnoy could not provide details of Dream Theater's new album. One thing that is certain is that every personnel is happy with what is currently being done.

"We are all very happy with this, very proud of it. And can't wait to get some information out, but I haven't been able to do it yet," concluded Mike Portnoy.