Distance Over Time Explained

Distance Over Time
Type:studio
Artist:Dream Theater
Cover:Dream Theater Distance Over Time.png
Caption:Cover art by Hugh Syme
Border:yes
Released:February 22, 2019
Recorded:June–September 2018
Studio:Yonderbarn Studios in Monticello, New York and Mixland Studios, Midhurst, Canada (vocals only)
Genre:Progressive metal
Length:56:57
Label:Inside Out
Producer:John Petrucci
Prev Title:The Astonishing
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Distant Memories – Live in London
Next Year:2020

Distance Over Time is the fourteenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on February 22, 2019, and the band's first release on Inside Out Music.[1] [2] Distance over Time was announced alongside a tour of North America during which Dream Theater would support the new album and celebrate the 20th anniversary of its fifth studio album, (1999).[3] [4] [5] On December 7, 2018, the lead single "Untethered Angel" and its music video were released.[6] The second single, "Fall into the Light", was released on January 11, 2019.[7] The third single, "Paralyzed", and its accompanying video were released on February 8, 2019.[8] It is the band's most successful album chart-wise to date, taking top 10 positions in 19 countries (including going to number one in Germany and Switzerland).

Background and composition

Musically, Dream Theater decided to create a "tight and focused" album with a heavier sound than its previous album, The Astonishing (2016).[9] "At Wit's End" was the first piece that was written[10] and the writing process for the whole album took 18 days, making Distance Over Time their fastest written album to date.[11] The band compared the speed and style of Distance over Time's writing process to that of its 2003 album, Train of Thought.[12]

Dream Theater recorded the album in a cabin in Monticello, New York.

At just under 57 minutes long, not including a bonus track, Distance over Time is Dream Theater's first studio album with a run time under one hour in length since 1992's Images and Words, and their shortest since the band's 1989 debut, When Dream and Day Unite. It is Dream Theater's third studio album to not feature any songs longer than ten minutes, after When Dream and Day Unite and 2016's The Astonishing.

"Room 137" is Dream Theater's only song with lyrics written by Mike Mangini.

Critical reception

Distance over Time was met with critical acclaim; it received an average score of 82/100 from 6 reviews on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". Writing for AllMusic, Thom Jurek praised the album as a reaffirmation of Dream Theater's identity and appreciated its degree of freshness and energy. Consequence of Sound reviewed Distance over Time positively, stating that "Calling an hourlong album streamlined might seem strange, but that's exactly what Distance over Time is compared to Dream Theater's last release, 2016's 34-song, two hour and ten minute opus The Astonishing. Though the length is certainly shorter this time around, Dream Theater's expansive arrangements and complex songwriting haven't been scaled back on their 14th studio album.” Kerrang! said, "Sacrificing none of that trademark musicianship, this is Dream Theater at their most accessible, and they lose nothing for it".

On the day of its release, Distance over Time reached the top spot on iTunes' Top 100 Albums list.[13] Loudwire named it one of the 50 best metal albums of 2019.[14]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Distance over Time liner notes[15]

Dream Theater

Production

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Munro . Scott . Dream Theater Reveal New Album Distance over Time . . November 6, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
  2. Web site: Bienstock . Richard . Dream Theater Announce New Album, 'Distance over Time' . . November 5, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
  3. Web site: Ham . Robert . Dream Theater Reveal Release Date for New Album, Unveil Venues for 2018 North America Tour . . November 6, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
  4. Web site: Chapstick . Kelsey . Dream Theater Announce New Album 'Distance over Time', North American Tour . . November 6, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
  5. Web site: DiVita . Joe . Dream Theater Announce New Album + 2019 Tour, Share First Teaser Clip [Update] ]. . November 3, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
  6. Web site: Hear Dream Theater Face Down Fear on Epic New Song 'Untethered Angel' . . December 7, 2018 . December 7, 2018.
  7. Web site: DiVita . Joe . Dream Theater Release New Song 'Fall into the Light' . . January 11, 2019 . January 14, 2019.
  8. Web site: DiVita . Joe . Dream Theater Unveil 'Paralyzed' Music Video . . February 7, 2019 . February 19, 2019.
  9. Bienstock . Richard . Dream Theater Talk Recording in the Catskills and Their Heavy New LP . . November 14, 2018.
  10. Web site: Avin . Roie . Dream Theater – Interview at the Studio Pt. 1 . . 4:45. November 21, 2018.
  11. Web site: Altaf . Rodrigo . Dream Theater's James LaBrie: 'With 'Distance over Time' We Tried to Encompass Our Musical Roots' . Sonic Perspectives . November 21, 2018.
  12. Web site: Avin . Roie . Dream Theater – Interview at the Studio Pt. 2 . . 1:03. November 21, 2018.
  13. Web site: iTunes Top 100 Albums 2019. PopVortex. en. February 22, 2019.
  14. Web site: The 50 Best Metal Albums of 2019 . . . March 7, 2021 . December 3, 2019.
  15. Distance over Time . CD liner notes . Dream Theater . 2019. . 19075925442.
  16. Web site: Slovak Albums – Top 100.. ČNS IFPI. January 3, 2021. Note: On the chart page, select SK - Albums - Top 100 under the left field and "201909" on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data.
  17. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2019. hitparade.ch. December 31, 2019.