Favorite intro to a Dream Theater song

[erwinrafael]

Inspired by the thread on striking moments, just had an idea of starting a thread on favorite song intros. Dream Theater has a penchant for making memorable instrumental introductions that suck me into the song. Here are my top 5.

5. A Life Left Behind - this is fairly recent, but this one really captures the prog rock side of Dream Theater. And I love how this is largely an acoustic intro, except for the old-school prog keys, for the first full minute.

4. A Savior in the Square - my favorite mellow intro in a Dream Theater song used to be Surrounded, followed by The Count of Tuscany, but ASITS topped them both because of JP's killer guitar. It's like the guitar is singing. And I love how JM is counterpointing what JP is doing, as if it is a vocal duet.

3. The Mirror - this is my favorite heavy intro. Mike Portnoy at his best, carrying the introduction with his changing drum patterns over JP and JM's heavy riffing. And those Kevin Moore keys are haunting.

2. About to Crash (Reprise) - Our New World comes close, but this intro is the music that puts me in a positive mood every time I hear it. It is so uplifiting.

1. Breaking All Illusions - When I first heard this, the first word that came to my mind: MAJESTIC.

[ariich]

For intros, I think ITPOE part 2 (if that counts) is definitely up there for me. It's just so atmospheric and cool. Shame the song as a whole isn't quite as strong.

[fischermasamune]

Those mentioned are very good. Other intros I particularly like are from 6:00 and Lines In The Sand.

[thosava]

The most iconic intro would probably be Pull Me Under.
Breaking All Illusions is also one of my favourites.
But my all time favourite intro has to be Octavarium. As soon as i hear the feint sounds coming in i get instant chills.

[wizard of Thought]

Moment of Betrayal

[mikeyd23]

Yeah I'd say PMU or Metropolis are probably the most iconic ones, but I love BAI and the 6:00 drum intro too. Many others as well, but those are the ones that come to mind at the moment.

[Chino]

The Glass Prison

[RoeDent]

One that I love that hasn't been mentioned yet is The Great Debate. The bass, the drums, the samples, and the whole buildup of tension just makes it one of my favourites. Another reason I like it is because the end of the song mirrors the beginning, with a gradual breaking down of the same patterns.

[erwinrafael]

One that I love that hasn't been mentioned yet is The Great Debate. The bass, the drums, the samples, and the whole buildup of tension just makes it one of my favourites. Another reason I like it is because the end of the song mirrors the beginning, with a gradual breaking down of the same patterns.

We could make another thread about favorite endings.

[Enigmachine]

For intros, I think ITPOE part 2 (if that counts) is definitely up there for me. It's just so atmospheric and cool. Shame the song as a whole isn't quite as strong.

What about ItPoE pt. 1? Gets right into the song with a dramatic descending pattern then a really cool riff.

[TheCountOfNYC]

1: The Count of Tuscany
2: Breaking All Illusions
3: A Change of Seasons
4: The Glass Prison
5: Take the Time

[jasc15]

Honor Thy Father.

[Architeuthis]

Octavarium
Dystopian Overture (great intro to the album)
The Great Debate
On the Backs of Angels
Metropolis part 1
Dark Eternal Night
The Best of Times
Illumination Theory
The list goes on and on, Dream Theater has the best intros to songs of any band out there.

[SebastianPratesi]

I agree with most of what you posted.

I'd add "Lifting Shadows Off A Dream". Amazing work by every instrument.

[Lycanthrope]

Puppy-Dogs on Acid for me, always loved that

[Calvin6s]

The Mirror because when they played just that intro before Take the Time live, it blew me away.  And on the same album, Voices.

[MirrorMask]

The Mirror - this is my favorite heavy intro. Mike Portnoy at his best, carrying the introduction with his changing drum patterns over JP and JM's heavy riffing. And those Kevin Moore keys are haunting.

You said it for me. 

[Disciple_Kickstand]

The Glass Prison!!!!!

[ariich]

For intros, I think ITPOE part 2 (if that counts) is definitely up there for me. It's just so atmospheric and cool. Shame the song as a whole isn't quite as strong.

What about ItPoE pt. 1? Gets right into the song with a dramatic descending pattern then a really cool riff.

It's very cool but basically just gets on with. Not much of an intro, really.

[TAC]

The Best Of Times and The Count Of Tuscany. Two great moments from BC&SL.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Scarred

[Enigmachine]

For intros, I think ITPOE part 2 (if that counts) is definitely up there for me. It's just so atmospheric and cool. Shame the song as a whole isn't quite as strong.

What about ItPoE pt. 1? Gets right into the song with a dramatic descending pattern then a really cool riff.

It's very cool but basically just gets on with. Not much of an intro, really.

That's what's cool about it though. For an epic you expect a long build up so the way ITPOE instantly begins is suprising and exciting.

[seasonsinthesky]

Agreed with many posted. Some that were not:

– A Nightmare to Remember (well-used environment sounds, great buildup)
– Lost Not Forgotten (love how the piano comes in from the atmosphere at the end of BMUBMD)
– Metropolis (such an interesting blend of stuff happening)
– Take the Time (my favourite part of the song tbh)
– Overture 1928 (one of the coolest buildups ever!)
– Blind Faith (one of several unique/experimental payoff moments that makes SDOIT so interesting)
– Trial of Tears (what needs to be said?)
– Hell's Kitchen (every second is so brilliant, including the intro)

[chaossystem]

Among the ones not mentioned yet:

Constant Motion, A Rite of Passage, The Shattered Fortress, Breaking All Illusions, The Enemy Inside, Surrender to Reason.

[TAC]

– Lost Not Forgotten (love how the piano comes in from the atmosphere at the end of BMUBMD)

Oh hell YES!!

[paulstfu]

In no particular order:

The Count of Tuscany
Six Degrees of Inner turbulence (And I mean the overture)
The Best of Times
Learning to Live

Definitely number 1: OCTAVARIUM

[Kotowboy]

I'm really loving the intro riff to Our New World.

[Enigmachine]

I'm really loving the intro riff to Our New World.

It's weird how a riff in 15/8 can sound so catchy and natural.

[Calvin6s]

Scarred

That's a great one from Awake too.  Scarred, Voice and The Mirror all have epic intros.  Awake is such a masterpiece.

[Dream Team]

Only A Matter Of Time, Pull Me Under, Learning To Live, Scarred, About To Crash (Reprise), The Count Of Tuscany, Breaking All Illusions, The Looking Glass, A Life Left Behind

[Kotowboy]

I'm really loving the intro riff to Our New World.

It's weird how a riff in 15/8 can sound so catchy and natural.

Is it ? Are you counting the entire riff ? Not just 3 bars of 4 and a bar of 3 ?

[Enigmachine]

I'm really loving the intro riff to Our New World.

It's weird how a riff in 15/8 can sound so catchy and natural.

Is it ? Are you counting the entire riff ? Not just 3 bars of 4 and a bar of 3 ?

Yeah, I'm counting the whole riff, but alternating bars of 4/4 and 7/8 (which it would be if the tempo is assumed to be around 90bpm) is still a bit of a strange choice for a catchy rock song. Yet it works

[PixelDream]

Misunderstood - I love the sound of the acoustic guitar and the FX but JLB's first few lines are hair rising for me. Just the word 'waiting' alone, it's just so damn perfect and beautiful. Love the perfect reverb on his warm voice here. I don't know I'm not a big JLB fan per se, but this intro and just how he sings this track is just godlike.

Every track on SDOIT disc 1 has a cool or interesting intro, so all five of them.

As I Am
The Root of All Evil
6:00
Scarred
Voices
Take the Time
Trial of Tears
Overture 1928
Honor Thy Father

[KevShmev]

Too many great ones to narrow it down to just one, but one I haven't seen mentioned nearly enough:

Lines in the Sand

The first time I heard it, I thought that intro was the most awesome thing ever. 

[Darkstarshades]

No Count of Tuscany? lol