Well, here we are. April 26, 2006. For those of you who have been checking – forever – on the website for some indication of when our new album will be released, I have good news – SOON! As you can see, this is a new look to the PD website. I am preparing a whole new one for the release of the new album, Pyre of Dreams, which is nearly complete. Originally, it looked like late last summer was going to be a release date but, as they say Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

Much has happened in the PD world since mid-summer last year. I have returned to university life and academia, quite unexpectedly, to try and finish work on my Ph.D. in astrophysics that I began over 20 years ago. For those of you that are interested, my thesis work is on T Tauri stars, protostars and early stellar formation. This also has some applications in early solar system (ie, planetary) formation. I am working in the Space Studies Department at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks on this with Dr. Paul Hardersen who is my mentor and advisor on my thesis work. Needless to say, though, this is a lot of work and I have not been able to devote as much time to PD and finishing the album as I needed to get it out by late last summer. Such is Life and I am having a great time doing my *other* main hobby in life once again! I also married my longtime girlfriend, Kelly Fletcher, on October 8 of this past year. Kelly is a professional writer as well as an accomplished percussionist/drummer. You’ll be hearing some of her works on the new PD album as well.

In addition, longtime PD bassist Chris Siegle and his girlfriend Karen had a baby girl, Sophia, last April 14. Chris has since departed from the band to devote more time to his fatherly duties with Karen. We wish him the best of luck and will miss his playing and presence in the band and around the studio!

We have, though, not been totally idle on any front. Bassist and Chapman Stick player John Lally has come in to fill the shoes vacated by Chris. John is an awesome player and serious prog bassist. Along with John has come Jim Waugaman, keyboardist extraordinairre!! A further addition to the current lineup is Scot Harvey, a totally excellent drummer! You’ll get a chance to hear all three of these players on the new album as they have been contributing parts to it is as well over the past several months as I have been wrapping up recording sessions. You’ll get a better chance to meet these new guys on the band members page when I get it programmed in a few days. Plus, we’ll be doing some live shows sometime soon so you might get a chance to hear them live too!

In any case, that’s only a small taste of what has been going on here. I am in the mixing phase with the new album and it’s about halfway done. I can’t say, for sure, when it’ll be done but it will be early summer for sure. The final track listing has not been set in stone yet but I am thinking I am going to drop one of the songs, Scorpio Blue, from the CD. I am still pondering which song to open the CD with as well. But, in general, here’s the current arrangement:

Threnody
Synesthesia
Nightfall
Temple in Time, Part 1: Mist
Temple in Time, Part 2: Nimiane
Temple in Time, Part 3: Dragon’s Breath:Soliloquy of a King
Temple in Time, Part 4: Dragon’s Breath:Camlann
Temple in Time, Part 5: Avalon
Android Dreams
Aphrodite
Alien Embassy

Also, here’s a quick peek at the new album artwork, done once again by the Awesome Audre!

Well, that’s about it for now. As time permits I will finish up the mixing and get the album put together for release. Although I am partial to it, I think it’s the best album we’ve ever written and recorded. I hope you all agree!

Check back often as it truly is nearing completion and I will be redesigning the website with lots of new stuff and looks! Until Next Time!

-Rowen. April 26, 2006.