On the Backs of Angels

This is the first single from A Dramatic Turn of Events, the 11th studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was the first record to feature drummer Mike Mangini following the departure of founding member Mike Portnoy in September 2010. Mangini was recruited after a lengthy audition process that was filmed for a documentary that ran on their label Roadrunner Records' YouTube channel. It also marked the first time guitarist John Petrucci was the sole producer for Dream Theater. He told MusicRadar: "From day one it was always going to be the first track on the record. It's also the first song that Mike Mangini really brought to life, so right there it's special." The song was released via YouTube on June 29, 2011.

Petrucci came up with the intro guitar riff while he was playing an acoustic at home by the fire. He told Musicradar: "I was thinking, How should this record begin? What should be the first thing that people hear? The idea that came to me was a little bit Pink Floyd – moody, foreboding, this drifting arpeggiated guitar pattern."

The band was conscious when writing the song that as the opening track to the first post-Portnoy album, it should reflect the signature sound of the band. Said Perrucci: "We wanted it to have all of the elements of Dream Theater. It would be progressive, it would be metal, and it would be melodic. There would be some big shred moments mixed with very dramatic breakdowns. It's got everything that we love to do as a band."