LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, the instrumental progressive rock/metal project featuring DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess and guitarist John Petrucci, alongside ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy and progressive rock icon Tony Levin (bass) of KING CRIMSON and PETER GABRIEL fame, will release its third album, “LTE3”, on March 26 via InsideOut Music. The effort will arrive 22 years after the release of 1999’s “Liquid Tension Experiment 2”. The official Christian Rios-created music video for the album’s third single, “Hypersonic”, can be seen below.
Portnoy said: “‘Hypersonic’ was the last song we composed of the four new compositions. We knew we needed an opener that was just going to take people’s heads off from the minute you hit play. ‘Paradigm Shift’ opens with this five-second run that just punches you in the face. This time around, we open with a 30-second run before we even settle into the main riff and groove. It was absolutely designed that way and to me 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.”
Added Petrucci: “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. There are a lot of intricate, full-band unison moments where the challenge is to be as locked as possible and I think those types of passages on this song are a testament of how well we work together. This song really reflects the personalities of all four of us and has a lot of very musical, as well as quirky moments, that just make it a very fun ride.”
The 8 songs on the new “LTE 3” are a mix of 4 fully composed tracks, 2 duets, 1 on-the-fly jam and 1 meticulously arranged cover. “We composed four songs. We realized that that was the same with the first 2 albums. So, this time around we did the same,” Portnoy explains.
Jordan Rudess agrees, “It felt like a continuation, like we stopped recording LTE2 and walked in a week later we’re doing LTE3. I know it’s amazing to say, but time has passed in a moment, the blink of an eye, the chemistry is the chemistry, and it didn’t change. It was great back then and it still is.”
Petrucci comments: “Who would think that a bunch of guys our age would be playing like that? It’s relentless. It’s definitely like a statement, you know we’re back. It follows in the Liquid Tension Experiment tradition absolutely, which is, that when you press play, it steamrolls you.”
“LTE 3” Album Artwork
“LTE 3” Tracklisting:
1. Hypersonic (8:22)
2. Beating The Odds (6:09)
3. Liquid Evolution (3:23)
4. The Passage Of Time (7:32)
5. Chris & Kevin’s Amazing Odyssey (5:04)
6. Rhapsody In Blue (13:16)
7. Shades Of Hope (4:42)
8. Key To The Imagination (13:14)
Bonus Disc: Includes almost an hour of improvised jams.
The pre-orders have started today at this location, and the album is available as:
- Limited deluxe hot pink 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Box Set (incl. a poster and 4 art-cards, Blu-ray includes 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)
