A Nightmare to Remember

[Xenon]

If Mikael Akerfeldt had done vocals for "day afeter day..." I would like it, but portnoy is not a the best singer and a worst growler. I don't know what was going on in his mind thinking that was a good idea.
As some of you pointed out, the song drags after the beautiful agony part.

nothing that MP does in this song counts as growling.

Exactly.

[King Postwhore]

Why do people get all tangled up on semantics.  When it gets to Mike section the song drags.  Before that it is a damn good song.  Most agree with that.

[Zook]

What if the song ended with the solos, unison and normal ending fade out? Makes it 11 minutes and 5 seconds.

[sneakyblueberry]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

[Zook]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I'd rather them play it a bit safe than try and fail at something new, ruining a song in the process.

[sneakyblueberry]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I'd rather them play it a bit safe than try and fail at something new, ruining a song in the process.

Well by god count your lucky stars cos playing it safe is what they do best.

[Zook]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I'd rather them play it a bit safe than try and fail at something new, ruining a song in the process.

Well by god count your lucky stars cos playing it safe is what they do best.

As long they don't map out older songs of theirs to make new ones I'm good.

[sneakyblueberry]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I'd rather them play it a bit safe than try and fail at something new, ruining a song in the process.

Well by god count your lucky stars cos playing it safe is what they do best.

As long they don't map out older songs of theirs to make new ones I'm good.

I can't tell if this is a reference to the sampling thread or the Thiago Campos thing but either way I lol'd.

[Zook]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I'd rather them play it a bit safe than try and fail at something new, ruining a song in the process.

Well by god count your lucky stars cos playing it safe is what they do best.

As long they don't map out older songs of theirs to make new ones I'm good.

I can't tell if this is a reference to the sampling thread or the Thiago Campos thing but either way I lol'd.

Thiago of course, but he wasn't wrong... Mostly.

[BlobVanDam]

Great song, and the second half doesn't drag it down imo. My only complaints with the song are that the lyrics in the second half of the growl section don't fit the delivery, and that MP held back on doing full on growls.

What I've always loved about this song is how well JR fits the heaviness, adding something unique to the song with the theramin and creepy halloween type sounds. It gives it an awesome mood. I love what he does with the middle section too, with the Rhodes kind of sound.
And I love the vocals too. JLB is sounding great, and the harmonies are among my favourite from DT, both in the heavy sections and the soft section.
But let's not forget about JP! I like how he blends the bluesy rock leads over that awesome metal riffing.

I'd probably give it an 8.5/10.

[erwinrafael]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I'd rather them play it a bit safe than try and fail at something new, ruining a song in the process.

Well by god count your lucky stars cos playing it safe is what they do best.

This notion of DT playing safe in the last two albums is really overblown.  It lacks context. In the context of DT having a run of 5 albums in a heavy and very metal direction, releasing ADTOE that reverses the trend towards a heavy sound was not a safe choice at all. It was a gamble that the fanbase that they developed during the heavy riff-driven era would accept a turn towards a less heavy more melodic musical direction.

DT12 is also not safe in the context that DT relies heavily on instrumental virtuosity to carry their songs. We are so used to them doing long songs filled with instrumentals, like ANTR. Releasing an album full of songs that are to the point and cuts down on excess instrumentals is NOT safe in this context.

[Xenon]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I apreciate something new, but you gotta do it well. If you gonna do it poorly like that, don't do it.

[Siddhartha]

Love it from start to finish.

One of DT best songs.

[Madman Shepherd]

One of DT's worst songs.  The lyrics are far too literal, the subject isn't interesting, and the riffs are boring. 

Strangely, I think one of the overblown criticisms is MP's vocals.  If you were to like the rest of the song, I don't see how this could seem out of place.  I still don't like the lyrics during that part and I think just letting James do the different vocals they originally planned on might have sounded cooler but this is far from their biggest problem. 

I do have to admit the beautiful agony part is kind of cool. 

[King Postwhore]

What's wrong with being literal?  It's telling a story and I'm fine with that.  It's much better than DARK MASTER!!!!!!!

[Sycsa]

I fell in love with this song watching the drummer auditions and I thoroughly enjoy it all the way through every time I listen to it. For a while, I listened to it every night while drifting into sleep, as I mentioned in my very first post here on DTF.

The "Day after day" section gets a big thumbs up from me, it successfully pushes the energy levels over the top in an already immensely energetic song. Props to Mike for trying something new with the blast beats as well, too bad he didn't follow it up properly and opted not to do it in the live renditions. I only wish Jordan's Rhodes in the middle of the song were mixed louder.

I hope it will get an official release one day, it would be interesting to hear it with the alternate vocal melodies. (If anyone missed this, check it out, really neato: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2352022.aspx).

[adastra]

I fell in love with this song watching the drummer auditions and I thoroughly enjoy it all the way through every time I listen to it. For a while, I listened to it every night while drifting into sleep, as I mentioned in my very first post here on DTF.

The "Day after day" section gets a big thumbs up from me, it successfully pushes the energy levels over the top in an already immensely energetic song. Props to Mike for trying something new with the blast beats as well, too bad he didn't follow it up properly and opted not to do it in the live renditions. I only wish Jordan's Rhodes in the middle of the song were mixed louder.

I hope it will get an official release one day, it would be interesting to hear it with the alternate vocal melodies. (If anyone missed this, check it out, really neato: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2352022.aspx).

Yeah big thumbs up to Portnoy for trying something new! 

[sneakyblueberry]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

I'd rather them play it a bit safe than try and fail at something new, ruining a song in the process.

Well by god count your lucky stars cos playing it safe is what they do best.

This notion of DT playing safe in the last two albums is really overblown.  It lacks context. In the context of DT having a run of 5 albums in a heavy and very metal direction, releasing ADTOE that reverses the trend towards a heavy sound was not a safe choice at all. It was a gamble that the fanbase that they developed during the heavy riff-driven era would accept a turn towards a less heavy more melodic musical direction.

DT12 is also not safe in the context that DT relies heavily on instrumental virtuosity to carry their songs. We are so used to them doing long songs filled with instrumentals, like ANTR. Releasing an album full of songs that are to the point and cuts down on excess instrumentals is NOT safe in this context.

Going back to a formula that has proven itself to work time and time again does not constitute risk. 

I would say there's probably the same amount of time spent on instrumental passages in the latest album as there is on Awake, so even that aspect could be considered a re-hash.

[adamack]

If Mikael Akerfeldt had done vocals for "day afeter day..." I would like it, but portnoy is not a the best singer and a worst growler. I don't know what was going on in his mind thinking that was a good idea.
As some of you pointed out, the song drags after the beautiful agony part.

Oh man, Mikael would have made that sound amazing.

[adamack]

I hope it will get an official release one day, it would be interesting to hear it with the alternate vocal melodies. (If anyone missed this, check it out, really neato: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2352022.aspx).

Wow, awesome stuff by MP in that link! Thanks for it. Love how he posted the different takes.

After hearing the "cookie monster" take and the take with James, I'm really glad they decided to go with the toned-down approach. Hearing the other takes shed some light on everything.

[Kotowboy]

The worst song on the album for me.

[ariich]

I like it a lot.

Only real downside is that it slightly overstays its welcome. The instrumental section towards the end goes on a bit.

[Kotowboy]

Now I think about it - I think the running order is pretty much worst to best for me

[ariich]

WOOHOO RANKING TIME!

1. The Count of Tuscany
2. Wither
3. The Shattered Fortress
4. A Nightmare to Remember
5. The Best of Times
6. A Rite of Passage

[adastra]

I hope it will get an official release one day, it would be interesting to hear it with the alternate vocal melodies. (If anyone missed this, check it out, really neato: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2352022.aspx).

Wow, awesome stuff by MP in that link! Thanks for it. Love how he posted the different takes.

After hearing the "cookie monster" take and the take with James, I'm really glad they decided to go with the toned-down approach. Hearing the other takes shed some light on everything.

Haven't heard that before o_O  MP sounds pretty good on that most BRUTAL take!

[wolfking]

You know, I'd probably go as far as saying that the MP vocal section is DT's worst moment.

[BlobVanDam]

You know, I'd probably go as far as saying that the MP vocal section is DT's worst moment.

You know, I'd probably go as far as saying that the MP vocal section is DT's most exaggerated and overblown criticism.

[hefdaddy42]

Any lyrical section meant to be dark and sound demonic ending with "everyone survived" is just...a bit ironic.

Not when taken in the context of the rest of the lyrics it isn't.

I have no idea how you could say such a thing.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

While the criticism of MP's contributions may be warranted, its probably the last time DT ever tried something 'new' on an album.  Sure it may have fallen flat for a lot of people, but I'd rather hear DT take risks like that than rest on their laurels - which they're certainly guilty of on the last two albums, imo.

Yeah, that is true, but unlike Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, the experimentation wasn't that successful.

I mean, MP's blast beats sound like JLB trying to do growls or something.

[TAC]

You know, I'd probably go as far as saying that the MP vocal section is DT's worst moment.

That is basically MP jumping the shark.

Oh man, Mikael would have made that sound amazing.

Oh God no. Puleeze.

[TAC]

And another thing..on MP's Score Commentary, during the Innocence Faded outro, he talks about how this section is very Journeyish and that DT fans would never let them get away with playing a section like that again.
Now I thought that outro was universally loved, yet somehow MP thought DT would rather hear something like the Night After Night section??

[Xenon]

All those takes with mp singing don't do anything for me. I think even James agressive, screamy vocals could have been better.

[bosk1]

Any lyrical section meant to be dark and sound demonic ending with "everyone survived" is just...a bit ironic.

Not when taken in the context of the rest of the lyrics it isn't.

I have no idea how you could say such a thing.

I can say such a thing because the lyrics and tone make perfect sense, and anyone who simply focuses on the last line or two isn't paying attention to why that line is there and how its role in that section is quite different than what the line in isolation would otherwise imply.

[lithium112]

I can say such a think because the lyrics and tone make perfect sense, and anyone who simply focuses on the last line or two isn't paying attention to why that line is there and how its role in that section is quite different than what the line in isolation would otherwise imply.

Seriously, so much this. Sure, if you take that line alone, it sounds very positive, but when taken in the context of a child's recollection of a horrific tragedy ("No son should ever have to see his father such a mess" is pretty dark) this makes perfect sense.

I love this section, and especially live it was amazing to see. One of the highlights of that tour for me.

[TAC]

I love this section, and especially live it was amazing to see.

Actually, I do too. Not a fan of the studio version, but that part was really cool live.