Dream Theater New Album 2011 Speculations (merged)

[dongringo]

Oh the sweetness!

[tri.ad]

Awesome! Things seem to be progressing pretty fast.

[The Silent Cody]

Great news from JLB, now we can wait only for drummer announcement...

[jonny108]

From Petrucci's facebook: Woo hoo! Finished tracking all rhythm, clean and acoustic guitars today!

[chknptpie]

Swweeeeet - any thoughts on projected release dates?

[jonny108]

August I think possibly a month out either way. 

[The Silent Cody]

I was thinking that new album will be released in june...

[fadetoblackdude7]

It's definitely gonna be either August or September

[Kotowboy]

I couldn't find the " What Do You NOT Want On DT 11 " Thread, so...

I want more than 6-8 tracks. Imo, They could be the best 6 - 8 songs they've ever done, but I find you get bored of the

lack of choice after a while.

Hopefully, the longer writing time means they have more material than usual and can put 10 tracks at least on.

[gummyfish]

Hi, new poster, longtime lurker here. i've been trying to join for a while but hadn't been able to.
anyway, i know the topic of "will this next album be more metal or prog" has been brought up, but i'm curious what to expect. personally, since the announcement of their plans to record the new album, i've been holding my breath for Metropolis pt. 3. Commercially, do you guys  think a concept album would be out of the question? a revisit of their 1999-era sound would be awesome imo.

[ariich]

Welcome to the forum gummyfish! I merged your thread into the existing one for album speculation.

As for your question, I think Metropolis Pt 3 is a pretty unpopular idea in general, but a concept album of some kind could be cool.

I have no idea what to expect really, so I'm ready for anything!

[gummyfish]

sorry for the extra thread, but i wonder why nobody wants Metropolis pt.3? SFAM is one of their more popular albums, i think a follow-up with a new reincarnation story would be sick. and in the same way that SFAM took themes form Metr. pt1, Pt.3 could use themes from SFAM. guess i'm in the minority, but considering SFAM is my favorite album of theirs, i think it'd be sick.

[wasteland]

sorry for the extra thread, but i wonder why nobody wants Metropolis pt.3? SFAM is one of their more popular albums, i think a follow-up with a new reincarnation story would be sick. and in the same way that SFAM took themes form Metr. pt1, Pt.3 could use themes from SFAM. guess i'm in the minority, but considering SFAM is my favorite album of theirs, i think it'd be sick.

Well, you know, sequels are always kinda dangerous adventures to undertake... An eventual Metropolis Pt.3 would be immediatly compared with SFAM, and if it didn't stand the comparison, which is not a completely unlikely case scenario, well, that would ruin the whole trilogy in many people's opinion.

Beside this, I feel that Metropolis Pt.2 brought the concept to its rightful and exceptional conclusion, I can't see how the story could be further developed.


Anyway, I want to bring out here some trivial speculation I have been doing recently.

The questions essentially are: short/long title, dark/bright artwork? (sorry if this has been discussed)

[ariich]

sorry for the extra thread, but i wonder why nobody wants Metropolis pt.3? SFAM is one of their more popular albums, i think a follow-up with a new reincarnation story would be sick. and in the same way that SFAM took themes form Metr. pt1, Pt.3 could use themes from SFAM. guess i'm in the minority, but considering SFAM is my favorite album of theirs, i think it'd be sick.

Well, you know, sequels are always kinda dangerous adventures to undertake... An eventual Metropolis Pt.3 would be immediatly compared with SFAM, and if it didn't stand the comparison, which is not a completely unlikely case scenario, well, that would ruin the whole trilogy in many people's opinion.

Beside this, I feel that Metropolis Pt.2 brought the concept to its rightful and exceptional conclusion, I can't see how the story could be further developed.


Anyway, I want to bring out here some trivial speculation I have been doing recently.

The questions essentially are: short/long title, dark/bright artwork? (sorry if this has been discussed)

Yeah, that's pretty much my thoughts as well.

Also SFAM is one of my least favourite DT albums.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

They'll probably play one or two songs from their new record in the upcoming European tour, considering the album definitely isn't going to be out for when they get there. It's all cool though, so Mangini gets a grasp of more DT songs and gets to "warm-up" live with the guys. 

[Jirpo]

I doubt this will be a concept album.
Also, I want 8 tracks with lengths a similar vein to I&W, with maybe a couple 12-15 minute pieces or just one big epic.

[gummyfish]

sorry for the extra thread, but i wonder why nobody wants Metropolis pt.3? SFAM is one of their more popular albums, i think a follow-up with a new reincarnation story would be sick. and in the same way that SFAM took themes form Metr. pt1, Pt.3 could use themes from SFAM. guess i'm in the minority, but considering SFAM is my favorite album of theirs, i think it'd be sick.

Well, you know, sequels are always kinda dangerous adventures to undertake... An eventual Metropolis Pt.3 would be immediatly compared with SFAM, and if it didn't stand the comparison, which is not a completely unlikely case scenario, well, that would ruin the whole trilogy in many people's opinion.

Beside this, I feel that Metropolis Pt.2 brought the concept to its rightful and exceptional conclusion, I can't see how the story could be further developed.


Anyway, I want to bring out here some trivial speculation I have been doing recently.

The questions essentially are: short/long title, dark/bright artwork? (sorry if this has been discussed)

Well, Nicolas was Victoria reincarnated, so the next character could be the next in line. but i see what you're saying. and as for the artwork, i'd expect them to continue in the "dark" direction. And i could see the title being a general allusion to the new beginning feel that they have goinf for them right now. like "Rebirth" or something like that. just a guess.

[wasteland]

Well, Nicolas was Victoria reincarnated, so the next character could be the next in line. but i see what you're saying. and as for the artwork, i'd expect them to continue in the "dark" direction. And i could see the title being a general allusion to the new beginning feel that they have goinf for them right now. like "Rebirth" or something like that. just a guess.

Yeah, that's a possibility, but, hey, this would mean that we could have Metropolis Pt. 3,4,5,...,n XD Anyway, what you say could happen, but it is very unlikely, I think: if DT11 is being Metropolis Pt.3 , I will chew and eat my jaw. (bringing ariich's -or was it someone else?- self-punishment to a whole new level XD)

Concerning the title/birghtness discussion, my guess is: short/medium brightness (eg Octavarium)

[ariich]

Well, Nicolas was Victoria reincarnated, so the next character could be the next in line. but i see what you're saying. and as for the artwork, i'd expect them to continue in the "dark" direction. And i could see the title being a general allusion to the new beginning feel that they have goinf for them right now. like "Rebirth" or something like that. just a guess.

Yeah, that's a possibility, but, hey, this would mean that we could have Metropolis Pt. 3,4,5,...,n XD Anyway, what you say could happen, but it is very unlikely, I think: if DT11 is being Metropolis Pt.3 , I will chew and eat my jaw. (bringing ariich's -or was it someone else?- self-punishment to a whole new level XD)

Concerning the title/birghtness discussion, my guess is: short/medium brightness (eg Octavarium)

Yeah that was me, although yours is even more ambitious!

[dongringo]

Metropolis Part 3 would be the last thing I'd want from them. I know I'm in the minority on this, but l just find the concept of reincarnation totally unbelievable. I love the album musically, but just can't listen to it due to the concept. If they did another concept album, I would hope it to be about something that is more believable by more people, some more true to real life. I really hope they stay away from theories like evolution, reincarnation, etc. It's just a big turn off, to me anyway. I respect everyone's opinions though. Just thought I'd through mine out there.

[jonny108]

What we know so far: Jordan is tracking keyboards, JM has finished Bass, MM has finished Drums, JP has finished all rythym, acoustic and clean (possibly lead by now too).  James has done 3/4 songs so far and continuing on Monday.  AWESOMENESS!!!! 

[Ben_Jamin]

It should be done by the end of May.

[IdoSC]

It should be done by the end of May.

Awesome. How long does it usually take from the time they finish recording till the album is released?

[FretMuppet]

Hmmm, I quite like the idea of a concept album, they haven't done one for quite some time, which might have given them time to refuel their creative conceptual sides.

Maybe a lyrically conceptual album, (like most of Systematic Chaos)

a musically conceptual album (like Octavarium)

or both musical and lyrical concept (like SFAM)

[FretMuppet]

It should be done by the end of May.

Awesome. How long does it usually take from the time they finish recording till the album is released?

Usually about 10 weeks I heard...

[IdoSC]

Hmmm, I quite like the idea of a concept album, they haven't done one for quite some time, which might have given them time to refuel their creative conceptual sides.

Maybe a lyrically conceptual album, (like most of Systematic Chaos)

a musically conceptual album (like Octavarium)

or both musical and lyrical concept (like SFAM)

SFAM, SDOIT, 8V, SC and BCSL are all conceptual albums.
SFAM - obviously
SDOIT - all the songs are about lifetime struggles
8V and SC - you already named it
BCSL - all the songs follow the concept of "Every black cloud has a silver lining"
In a way, TOT has a sort of a musical concept too, but that one's debatable I guess.

[ariich]

BCSL - all the songs follow the concept of "Every black cloud has a silver lining"

That was one purely coincidental, so it's not in any way a conceptual album.

[chrisbDTM]

I love the musical conceptual album stuff. So I would be psyched If that was part of DT11

[IdoSC]

BCSL - all the songs follow the concept of "Every black cloud has a silver lining"

That was one purely coincidental, so it's not in any way a conceptual album.

Really? Oh well, didn't know that. I always thought the lyrics were written that way on purpose.

[Ben_Jamin]

@Ariich: How is it coincidental when they wrote the lyrics with that in mind?

[ariich]

@Ariich: How is it coincidental when they wrote the lyrics with that in mind?

They didn't. They wrote a bunch of lyrics, and then when coming up with an album title, they realised that most (but not all - AROP for example, and TSF is tenuous) of the lyrics kind of fit that basic theme.

[Ben_Jamin]

Yeah, I understand you now.

[Bone_Daddy]

I'd love to hear some funkay slap bass from Myung

I would just like to hear the bass significantly more in the mix.

[JediKnight1969]

Hmmm, I quite like the idea of a concept album, they haven't done one for quite some time, which might have given them time to refuel their creative conceptual sides.

Maybe a lyrically conceptual album, (like most of Systematic Chaos)

a musically conceptual album (like Octavarium)

or both musical and lyrical concept (like SFAM)

SFAM, SDOIT, 8V, SC and BCSL are all conceptual albums.
SFAM - obviously
SDOIT - all the songs are about lifetime struggles
8V and SC - you already named it
BCSL - all the songs follow the concept of "Every black cloud has a silver lining"
In a way, TOT has a sort of a musical concept too, but that one's debatable I guess.

Make no mistakes: the only CONCEPTUAL album ever made by DT is SFAM.

[darkshot]

Hmmm, I quite like the idea of a concept album, they haven't done one for quite some time, which might have given them time to refuel their creative conceptual sides.

Maybe a lyrically conceptual album, (like most of Systematic Chaos)

a musically conceptual album (like Octavarium)

or both musical and lyrical concept (like SFAM)

SFAM, SDOIT, 8V, SC and BCSL are all conceptual albums.
SFAM - obviously
SDOIT - all the songs are about lifetime struggles
8V and SC - you already named it
BCSL - all the songs follow the concept of "Every black cloud has a silver lining"
In a way, TOT has a sort of a musical concept too, but that one's debatable I guess.

Make no mistakes: the only CONCEPTUAL album ever made by DT is SFAM.

Exactly... SFAM was a true concept album, the whole thing telling a single story, even divided into acts and scenes.  Theres a difference between a concept album and a themed album.  Most of DT's albums have a common theme to them, but the songs are mostly independent of one another.  Six Degrees is even less of a themed album than BC&SL I think, because the "Six Degrees" thing was mostly just the song that shared the album title.  Most of the first disc of SDOIT has small lyrical references to the inner turbulence theme, but they are all independent songs.

I think theres a decent chance the new album could be a concept album like SFAM was, given the new sense of inspiration the band seems to have lately.  I think its likely that DT11 will be another themed album like BC&SL and Octavarium, but I think we need something fresh at this point...  Something like Images & Words which was basically a collection of kickass songs that had nothing to do with each other, they didn't try too hard to make a theme throughout the album, they just focused on making great songs.  That would make a lot of fans happy I think...