Parasomnia is a term defined as a disruption of sleep, which includes many sleep-related issues such as sleepwalking, night terrors, seizures or paralysis. What a great name for a Dream Theater album since it sits perfectly alongside the ‘dream’ portion of the band’s name. Parasomnia is a much-anticipated return to form, marking a significant point in the band’s evolution and a thrilling reunion with drummer Mike Portnoy. With so many bands dipping their toes into prog/metal territories, it was perfect timing for these prog masters to release a new album.

Parasomnia begins with the track ‘In The Arms Of Morpheus’, an instrumental song that feels like an intro leading to a heavy drum presence and killer riffing. At about halfway in, the calm is disrupted with a much more aggressive vibe that serves as a great starting point for this journey. Track two, ‘Night Terror’, starts with an ominous intro leading into a barrage of heavy guitar riffs, a killer drum beat, and a fantastic vocal performance by James Labrie. This track was an excellent pick for an early-release single and will quickly become a fan favourite. The second single, ‘A Broken Man’, unleashes a torrent of razor-sharp riffs upon the listener. The lyrics indicate a PTSD-like disturbance of sleep that stems from trauma inflicted upon a serviceman during battle. The bass line is heavy, and the song has a definite Rush vibe.

‘Dead Asleep’ depicts a violent sleepwalking disturbance in a couple’s relationship. The heavy drums create a darker sound while the soaring guitars push a heavy chug, indicating something aggressive and dark unfolding within the song’s theme. This track is exactly what I love about Dream Theater; not only do the lyrics of this song take you on a journey of storytelling, but the vocals and music immerse you directly in the experience (which, I should add, is also helped by a fantastic guitar solo). ‘Midnight Messiah’ is yet another single of sheer heaviness, with the guitars and drums working in tandem to speed things up. Sticking to the album’s overarching theme, this track is about a person who looks forward to sleep as they become powerful and successful in their dreams. The chugging guitars give this song a weighty prog feel. Track six, ‘Are We Dreaming?’ is a short interlude filled with voices that are hard to discern if what we hear reflects a dream or a waking state. This is a cool effect and adds so much to the album.

‘Bend The Clock’ is a ballad-like track with fantastic vocals that describe turning back or bending time to avoid nightmares; it is a beautiful, moving song. The conclusion of this journey ends with the song ‘The Shadow Man Incident’. This is the album’s magnum opus, clocking in at just under twenty minutes in length. This track has a huge orchestral sound and finishes the album in style. At approximately three minutes, the song accelerates with a cool chug and heavy drum beat. The directional changes throughout the song make this a very interesting and unpredictable listen. The lyrics tell an interesting story about a meeting with an apparition that makes one wonder if the whole experience is just a dream. At halfway through, I get a strong Deep Purple vibe. The song is another excellent example of classic Dream Theater.

Parasomnia consists of a seventy-two minute experience that takes the listener into the deep recesses of many stages of sleep disorders by connecting the music and lyrical content that only Dream Theater can do. Parasomnia will quickly become a fan favourite for longtime supporters and a great gateway album for newcomers. I’m almost certain this album will be on many best-of lists of 2025… it will definitely be on mine.