LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, the legendary supergroup comprised of Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, Sons of Apollo), John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), and Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) are set to return with a new album titled ‘LTE3’ via InsideOutMusic. The album release date was moved to April 16th, 2021.
Today, the band are pleased to share the video for the album’s third single and opening track “Hypersonic.” You can watch the video, created by Christian Rios, here:
“‘Hypersonic’ was the last song we composed of the four new compositions. We knew we needed an opener that was just going to take peoples’ heads off from the minute you hit play. It’s kind of a cross between ‘Acid Rain’ and ‘Paradigm Shift’ mixed with a lot of ‘The Dance of Eternity’ kind of insanity. We purposely threw everything including the kitchen sink into that one.
– Mike Portnoy
“As we were putting the album together, we all felt that there needed to be a track that had some chops and speed and that frantic nervous energy that a song like ‘Paradigm Shift’ from the first LTE album or ‘Acid Rain’ from LTE2 had – something heavy and full of energy. This song definitely checks off that box.”
– John Petrucci
“I remember how this one started – Petrucci head down at the guitar bringing this crazy riff to life, and things proceeding with great inspiration after that. Sometimes inspiration takes you on a ride and the whole chromatic moving section with chordal variation rushed out of all of us. This piece also features a totally written counterpoint thing at 4:10. Add some mad unisons and some Levin inspired, Zappa-like madness and you have a tune called ‘Hypersonic!'”
-Jordan Rudess
“I think I heard the guys saying, ‘let’s get more nuts with the opening riffs than we did on the previous albums.’ For me it’s time to pull out the Stick – the only way I have a chance to keep up. Our usual plan is enacted here – blazing fast sections lead to melodic areas you want to sing along with but can’t because there are so many twists and turns.”
-Tony Levin
The album will be available in the following formats:
- Limited deluxe hot pink 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Box Set (incl. a poster and 4 Art-cards, Blu-ray incl. a 5.1 surround mix with visuals, and full band interview from the studio)
- Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook
- Limited 2CD Digipak
- Gatefold black 2LP+CD
- Digital album (2CD)
Pre-order ‘LTE3’ now here: https://liquidtensionex.lnk.to/LTE3/
The band recently shared clips from the Blu-ray band interview which you can see here:
Interview Clip #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mn5PX0Batg&t=1s
Interview Clip #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHj–HNffqI&t=33s
Tracklisting:
- Hypersonic (8:22)
- Beating The Odds (6:09)
- Liquid Evolution (3:23)
- The Passage Of Time (7:32)
- Chris & Kevin’s Amazing Odyssey (5:04)
- Rhapsody In Blue (13:16)
- Shades Of Hope (4:42)
- Key To The Imagination (13:14)
Bonus Disc: Includes almost an hour of improvised jams.
Watch the video for “Beating The Odds” here:
Watch the video for “The Passage of Time” here:
In 1997, Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, and Tony Levin, joined forces to create Liquid Tension Experiment. The foursome would release their iconic, self-titled debut album in 1998 and the dazzling follow-up, LTE2 in 1999, creating a dynamic, frantic, and inventive sound all their own. The incredible creativity between the collective would prompt Petrucci and Portnoy to invite Rudess to join Dream Theater, effectively marking the end of this side project. However, since that time, there have been few reunions more in demand. Now, with the world in lockdown and calendars unexpectedly aligned, the inconceivable has finally happened… a new Liquid Tension Experiment album.
