The bright side of Portnoy's departure: let's talk about it

[LadyEars]

My biggest fear is that the "new" DT will not have that really hard metal edge anymore. I realize for some of the more prog-oriented fans this is a good thing. But for the metal heads, this could take away a very important element of the music. Even though JP likes metal and writes metal riffs, I think MP was the driving force behind the down and dirty, gritty, mean, crunchy metal side of DT. What comes to mind is "don't cross the crooked step"... would DT actually write and play something like that without MP? And if JM and JR step up and play bigger roles, will that further pull them away from the dark side?

[bodiesinflight]

So what?

Bands change, if you don't like the new stuff but loads of people do then tough.

[orcus116]

I see that as a good thing because metal really wasn't their thing to be perfectly honest.

[7StringedBeast]

My biggest fear is that the "new" DT will not have that really hard metal edge anymore. I realize for some of the more prog-oriented fans this is a good thing. But for the metal heads, this could take away a very important element of the music. Even though JP likes metal and writes metal riffs, I think MP was the driving force behind the down and dirty, gritty, mean, crunchy metal side of DT. What comes to mind is "don't cross the crooked step"... would DT actually write and play something like that without MP? And if JM and JR step up and play bigger roles, will that further pull them away from the dark side?

THE MIRROR.  Nuff said.  That is a JP riff.  The first riff he ever wrote on a 7string.  He also wrote The Dark Eternal Night.  C'mon JP is one heavy guitar player.  They will just play metal more tastefully like in Scenes or Six Degrees instead of the in your face almost a parody metal like ANTR

[moffatt]

I am very confident in JP and what he will bring to the table on the next album.

[antigoon]

I see that as a good thing because metal really wasn't their thing to be perfectly honest.

Not anymore. It used to be, though.

[7StringedBeast]

I see that as a good thing because metal really wasn't their thing to be perfectly honest.

Not anymore. It used to be, though.

I agree that the way they have been approaching metal over the last 2 albums has not been as good as before the last 2 albums.

[orcus116]

True. "The Glass Prison" and spots of TOT have some solid riffage but the decline is rather obvious in the newer albums. I know TGP was Pantera inspired so I'm afraid to know what stuff like TDEN and ANTR are inspired by.

[LadyEars]

So what?

Bands change, if you don't like the new stuff but loads of people do then tough.

Very articulate. Thank you so much for sharing.

[bodiesinflight]

So what?

Bands change, if you don't like the new stuff but loads of people do then tough.

Very articulate. Thank you so much for sharing.

It's a point, stop being so depressed. Believe it or not some of your posts don't come top in the 'articulate' stakes!

[Aniland]

Guys cool it.

[sneakyblueberry]

Let's also consider that whoever the new drummer of Dream Theater is (I pity this man, since he will receive some of the rudest treatment a drummer has ever had when it comes to the fanbase), he probably will not be as technically proficient as the great Portnoy.

lol

[Neon]

Perhaps Mike will head up another Progressive Nation tour next year? He could run the whole thing and tour with other musicians if he wanted to play.

Mike will also probably do more covers - he always love doing them, be it with DT, TA, or his side-project cover-bands... I wouldn't mind seeing Yellow Matter Custard reunite for a different show because there's certainly enough Beatles songs he could do an entirely different show!

-Marc.

Oh, god.....YES!!!!!!  I would love to see another YMC show.

[hefdaddy42]

The metal riffage will still be there, but the other stuff like harsher vocals and blastbeats are hopefully gone forever.

[tri.ad]

The metal riffage will still be there, but the other stuff like harsher vocals and blastbeats are hopefully gone forever.

I'd be happy if it turned out that way. You know, some very nice vocal harmonies by JLB, JP, possibly JR and the new drummer could come out from this.

[The Letter M]

The metal riffage will still be there, but the other stuff like harsher vocals and blastbeats are hopefully gone forever.

I'd be happy if it turned out that way. You know, some very nice vocal harmonies by JLB, JP, possibly JR and the new drummer could come out from this.

...which is why I would REALLY love it if Nick D'Virgilio could be their drummer... the man would totally shake things up in DT land in a way they've probably been needing for awhile now.

Also, NDV is the multi-band drummer guy anyway! He's done Frost*, Agents Of Mercy/Karmakanic, and Cirque Du Soleil, as well as Spock's Beard, all in the last year or so... he's definitely more than capable of covering DT's style.

-Marc.

[rumborak]

Let's also consider that whoever the new drummer of Dream Theater is (I pity this man, since he will receive some of the rudest treatment a drummer has ever had when it comes to the fanbase), he probably will not be as technically proficient as the great Portnoy.

lol

I honestly don't think it would be too difficult for DT to find a more proficient drummer. I have seen numerous videos over the last few years of drummers who run circles around MP. Mike was a great combo of drumming + organization, but from the pure drumming angle he is (these days) clearly bested by quite a few drummers.

EDIT: NDV? No way. Totally different style. Maybe old-school DT material, but the post-ToT he simply wouldn't be convincing at.

rumborak

[KevShmev]

Yeah, as good as Portnoy is, he isn't exactly the most technically proficient drummer around.  What he can do, he does really, really well, but his window is, okay, I won't say narrow, but it is not that broad either. 

And as great as NDV is, I don't think he would be a good fit.  He isn't really a metal guy, and the new drummer has to be one who regularly plays at least some metal. 

[ehra]

The bright side: we get to hear more from JP and possibly the others.

[Nic35]

Mike Mangini. That would seriously be awesome.

[Dublagent66]

The bright side: we get to hear more from JP and possibly the others.

This.  There really aren't too many other bright sides for me except for the possiblity of MP's return sometime in the future.  DT just lost one of the best drummers in the world and there are parts of MP that can never be replaced.  The metal element will still be abundant since JP mentioned that he loves playing heavy riffs.  That's is a good thing.  The JP thread really helped to cheer me up a little, but this whole damn thing is still trying to sink in.