"Illumination Theory" is a song by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. The song was released on 23 September 2013, as the closing track of the band's 12th album Dream Theater. It features a string ensemble conducted and arranged by Eren Başbuğ. The song's lyrics, according to the guitarist John Petrucci, are about things for which people will live, die or kill. The song's length is 22:17, making it Dream Theater's fifth longest to date.
The entire song was released as a 12" picture disc exclusively for Record Store Day 2014 and limited to 2,700 copies.
Segments I. "Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire" (instrumental) II. "Live, Die, Kill" III. "The Embracing Circle" (instrumental) IV. "The Pursuit of Truth" V. "Surrender, Trust & Passion"
The song properly ends at 19:17, leading to a 30-second silence followed by a hidden track consisting of an electric guitar and piano instrumental, clocking the song out at 22:17.
Personnel Dream Theater James LaBrie – lead vocals John Petrucci – guitar, backing vocals, producer Jordan Rudess – keyboards, Continuum, GeoSynth App John Myung – bass guitar Mike Mangini – drums, percussion
String ensemble Violin I – Misha Gutenberg (concert master), Larisa Vollis Violin II – Yelena Khaimova, Yevgeniy Mansurov Viola – Aleksandr Anisimov, Noah Wallace Cello – Anastasia Golenisheva, Valeriya Sholokhova Contrabass – Len Sluetsky
Production Eren Başbuğ – orchestral arrangements, conducting
References