On the Backs of Angels
Encyclopedia
"On the Backs of Angels" is a song by American progressive metal
band Dream Theater
, featured on their 11th studio album
A Dramatic Turn of Events
. The song was written by the band's guitarist and producer John Petrucci
, keyboardist Jordan Rudess
and bassist John Myung
. The song's lyrics were written by Petrucci.
"On the Backs of Angels" was released as A Dramatic Turn of Events lead single
via YouTube
on June 29, 2011. A music video for the song was released on September 14, 2011. The song was played during every show of the European leg in support of the album.
In composing "On the Backs of Angels", Dream Theater tried to illustrate their signature sound. From the start, the band envisioned the song as an album opener that, according to Petrucci, would make their fans "feel at home".
"On the Backs of Angels" is 8:43 long with numerous time signature
changes, although it is mostly played in 4/4 and 3/4 time. The song's introduction features a moody and foreboding arpeggiated guitar pattern that was written by Petrucci and inspired by Pink Floyd
. At 5:51, the song breaks down into a piano passage that was improvised by Rudess. The song bears a structural resemblance to Dream Theater's 1992 hit single "Pull Me Under
" from Images and Words
.
On November 30, 2011 it was announced that "On the Backs of Angels" has been nominated for a Grammy Award
in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category, the first Dream Theater song ever to do so.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, featured on their 11th studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
A Dramatic Turn of Events
A Dramatic Turn of Events
A Dramatic Turn of Events is the 11th studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on September 13, 2011 through Roadrunner Records...
. The song was written by the band's guitarist and producer John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
, keyboardist Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.-Biography:...
and bassist John Myung
John Myung
John Ro Myung is an American bassist, Chapman Stick player and a founding member of the progressive metal group Dream Theater. He is considered a virtuoso player who is widely recognized for his technical proficiency....
. The song's lyrics were written by Petrucci.
"On the Backs of Angels" was released as A Dramatic Turn of Events lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
via YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on June 29, 2011. A music video for the song was released on September 14, 2011. The song was played during every show of the European leg in support of the album.
In composing "On the Backs of Angels", Dream Theater tried to illustrate their signature sound. From the start, the band envisioned the song as an album opener that, according to Petrucci, would make their fans "feel at home".
"On the Backs of Angels" is 8:43 long with numerous time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
changes, although it is mostly played in 4/4 and 3/4 time. The song's introduction features a moody and foreboding arpeggiated guitar pattern that was written by Petrucci and inspired by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
. At 5:51, the song breaks down into a piano passage that was improvised by Rudess. The song bears a structural resemblance to Dream Theater's 1992 hit single "Pull Me Under
Pull Me Under
-Personnel:*James LaBrie - vocals*John Petrucci - guitar, backing vocals*Kevin Moore - keyboards*John Myung - bass, chapman stick*Mike Portnoy - drums, backing vocals-External links:* http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/dream_theater/pull_me_under/...
" from Images and Words
Images and Words
Images and Words is currently ranked #2 on Digital Dream Door's list of the top 100 progressive metal albums of all time. Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes the album at number 8, just after Fear Factory's Demanufacture and before Sepultura's Roots, in his classification of the best metal albums...
.
On November 30, 2011 it was announced that "On the Backs of Angels" has been nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category, the first Dream Theater song ever to do so.