If Dream Theater were to change their style COMPLETELY for one album

[reneranucci]

Fusion.

Or salsa.

[Dr. SeaWolf]

I'd love for them to do a pop-prog album in the vein of Journey, Styx, or early Asia. I think they could really nail something like that if they just turned down the shred a bit and inserted hooks everywhere. I think of songs like Don't Stop Believin, Cutting it Fine, and Blue Collar Man and I can imagine Dream Theater doing an awesome job at a few similar tracks.

I like this idea

[LCArenas]

Acoustic Rock.

[antigoon]

Straight up hard rock. No more of this "br00tal" shit.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Jazzy rock sounds pretty cool, and I'd like to throw in some electronica style for good measure.

Infected Mushroom, anyone? 

[contest_sanity]

I second power metal.

Third.

But they would have to write cheesy lyrics to do power metal, something they have no experience with

You're being facetious right? I think you are, but I can't tell for sure. 

Well, let's see -- there would need to be at least one song each covering the following subjects: vampires, ancient Egyptian monsters, voices from beyond the grave, and dark, satanic Masters... wait a second...

[Slain]

I'd really rather not see Power Metal, I do agree with something more like Infected Mushroom (love that band) with a more electronic/industrial feel, which would be cool. Entirely unrealistic unless JR started writing tons of songs, but you never know.

 What they should do, is let Jordan Rudess and John Myung collaborate and write the whole next album, lyrics and all. THAT would be interesting and new.

Honestly, I have a feeling we're going to be getting something similar to their last two Roadrunner releases.

[antigoon]

DT doing power metal would be fucking AWFUL.

[Nick]

I honestly think of everything mentioned power metal would be the last thing Dream Theater would try.

[contest_sanity]

I honestly think of everything mentioned power metal would be the last thing Dream Theater would try.

Yeah -- I was just joking around with the idea.

[ACID_FOX]

What they should do, is let Jordan Rudess and John Myung collaborate and write the whole next album, lyrics and all. THAT would be interesting and new.

This.

[Darkes7]

I'm getting a feeling some have missed the words "change" and "completely" in the title - "the same but with less solos" or "tr00 real kvlt progressive rock/metal" doesn't count as such.

I'd love something darker and more monumental, in the direction of gothic/doom metal. They have shown bits here and there they're definitely capable of this, and done properly it would be amazing - an album with songs around 4-7 minutes, and obviously one massive epic at the end which would greatly mix DT and the new style.

[orcus116]

When have they ever done doom metal?

[Darkes7]

I have said they have shown bits they are capable of this, meaning more monumental parts. E.g. The Ministry of Lost Souls intro definitely counts as monumental. They've never done it directly, but I can imagine it.

[orcus116]

Well I guess you're kinda right. TMOLS does have the slogging pace of a doom metal song 

[Sigz]

Well I guess you're kinda right. TMOLS does have the slogging pace of a doom metal song 

[Marvellous G]

This isn't me flaming as I haven't heard much power metal, but doesn't ITPOE verge on power metal quite a bit anyway?

[Adami]

This isn't me flaming as I haven't heard much power metal, but doesn't ITPOE verge on power metal quite a bit anyway?

No. Just cheesy metal.

[Nic35]

This isn't me flaming as I haven't heard much power metal, but doesn't ITPOE verge on power metal quite a bit anyway?

No. Just cheesy metal.

Part 1 isn't cheesy at all. It's the second best song of their three last album.

[Darkes7]

This isn't me flaming as I haven't heard much power metal, but doesn't ITPOE verge on power metal quite a bit anyway?

I'd say a little bit but not much.

[tri.ad]

This isn't me flaming as I haven't heard much power metal, but doesn't ITPOE verge on power metal quite a bit anyway?

No. Just cheesy metal.

Part 2 for sure. But Part 1? Hell no.

[orcus116]

Part 1 was awesome. In fact one of the things I thought when I heard it was "Dream Theater is back".

[Adami]

I don't think he was reffering to part 1 when he reffered to it as power metal. Thus, I am not as well.

[RoeDent]

Reggae!

[FlashCE]

I'm getting a feeling some have missed the words "change" and "completely" in the title - "the same but with less solos" or "tr00 real kvlt progressive rock/metal" doesn't count as such.

I'd love something darker and more monumental, in the direction of gothic/doom metal. They have shown bits here and there they're definitely capable of this, and done properly it would be amazing - an album with songs around 4-7 minutes, and obviously one massive epic at the end which would greatly mix DT and the new style.

It seems like you've missed the words "change" and "completely" in the title. If they've done metal before how is doing doom metal a complete change?

[black_biff_stadler]

Classic technical metal covering the evocative moodiness of Cynic, the mechanical brilliance of Spiral Architect, and eclectic flare of Psychotic waltz but with just enough flow to be able to convincingly pull off their trademark once-an-album really long epic.

[Dream Team]

Straight up hard rock. No more of this "br00tal" shit.

This. JP is a great rock player but we hardly ever get to hear it. I think this would suit James better as well.

[Darkes7]

I'm getting a feeling some have missed the words "change" and "completely" in the title - "the same but with less solos" or "tr00 real kvlt progressive rock/metal" doesn't count as such.

I'd love something darker and more monumental, in the direction of gothic/doom metal. They have shown bits here and there they're definitely capable of this, and done properly it would be amazing - an album with songs around 4-7 minutes, and obviously one massive epic at the end which would greatly mix DT and the new style.

It seems like you've missed the words "change" and "completely" in the title. If they've done metal before how is doing doom metal a complete change?

Read the post again. Thank you.

[ScioPath]

glam rock i say

[Dr. SeaWolf]

Straight up hard rock. No more of this "br00tal" shit.

This. JP is a great rock player but we hardly ever get to hear it. I think this would suit James better as well.

I think much of BCSL was a step in this direction, with the exception of a few parts of ANTR and AROP.

[black_biff_stadler]

glam rock i say

Winter Rose-core!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[antigoon]

Straight up hard rock. No more of this "br00tal" shit.

This. JP is a great rock player but we hardly ever get to hear it. I think this would suit James better as well.

I think much of BCSL was a step in this direction, with the exception of a few parts of ANTR and AROP.

Eh, I dunno. Everything in ANTR except the middle sections is ridiculously heavy and AROP is, too. That and JP is on record saying he always wants to have the heaviest sound possible. Sure, there are a lot of exceptions but the heavy stuff is just so overwhelming.

[reneranucci]

I dream of something like post-rock meets acoustic rock meets pop-rock. Catchy songs with lots of atmosphere and delicate melodies, with subtle touches of prog elements in the form of interesting time signatures, complex orchestration and the ocassional virtuoso (yet tasty) solo spot. Roughly, maybe something like Dredg (rock + atmosphere + some post-rock bits) but less heavy and with more piano and acoustic guitar, not to mention that JLB´s voice adds a whole new dimension to the music (at least in my mind).

[orcus116]

Straight up hard rock. No more of this "br00tal" shit.

This. JP is a great rock player but we hardly ever get to hear it. I think this would suit James better as well.

I think much of BCSL was a step in this direction, with the exception of a few parts of ANTR and AROP.

Eh, I dunno. Everything in ANTR except the middle sections is ridiculously heavy and AROP is, too. That and JP is on record saying he always wants to have the heaviest sound possible. Sure, there are a lot of exceptions but the heavy stuff is just so overwhelming.

If he's gonna think like that he should at least take a look at what some of the bands making actual interesting heavy riffs are doing. I can't remember the last heavy riff they did that was actually memorable.

[Failtality]

Anything that involves Myung actually playing bass again, instead of rhythm guitar with thicker strings.

I agree that they could make an epic power metal album if they tried though.