Progressive metal giants Dream Theater recently released the deluxe edition of their latest album, Parasomnia, marking the return of drummer Mike Portnoy. However, an unexpected issue arose concerning the album’s artwork. The British musician Ben Jones, leader of the progressive project Orion, discovered that an illustration in Parasomnia was identical to one used in his own album, The Lightbringers, released in August 2024. Both artworks were created by artist Hugh Syme.
Upon realizing the duplication, Jones expressed his surprise on social media, stating, “A piece of the artwork from Dream Theater’s new deluxe edition is exactly the same as the one in the booklet for ‘The Lightbringers’ for the song ‘The Ghosts Among Us’.” He emphasized that he did not believe Dream Theater was at fault, noting that Mike Portnoy responded, clarifying the band was unaware the material had been previously used. Jones further explained that he had a friendly dialogue with Dream Theater’s management and clarified that he did not think they had done anything wrong.
This situation highlights the complexities that can arise in the music industry, even among well-intentioned artists. Both parties have handled the matter amicably, underscoring the importance of communication and understanding in the creative community.
