Pre-release, Post-release. OtBoA

Dream Team · June 29, 2011, 05:51:20 AM

Based on the fact that it's the album opener, I'm going to predict it's a really strong track. My guess is a good mixture of all 3 elements, with any heaviness not being over-done. I suspect there will be some killer drumming in this song.

Aniland · June 29, 2011, 06:00:07 AM

I wonder who is more excited... us? or them? I feel like Mangini is biting his nails to nubs at this moment over how he'll be received.

Sixtease · June 29, 2011, 06:02:36 AM

I am more excited. :-)

Aniland · June 29, 2011, 06:03:43 AM

He's sitting there going, "This is AWH-FUL. This is AWH-FUL."

Freko · June 29, 2011, 06:04:47 AM

Pre: I think it will be like Voices, some really melodic and mellow bits and some heavy moments prolly in the chorus and some intermezzo where Labrie goes bananas.

Post

YtseJamittaja · June 29, 2011, 07:10:26 AM

Quote from: Samara on June 28, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
Pre: I'm hoping the song's sound matches that of its title, as in elegant, uplifting, and mystical. If JLB is correct that this album will sound like I&W, then I will be 100% satisfied if the song actually does. I also hope it's a very progessive song, and doesn't sound like radio friendly singles like Constant Motion and Rite of Passage.

This and ...

Quote from: DarkEternalNight on June 28, 2011, 08:11:57 PM
I'm craving a kickass drum intro.

This!

chrisbDTM · June 29, 2011, 07:40:40 AM

Quote from: Aniland on June 29, 2011, 06:03:43 AM
He's sitting there going, "This is AWH-FUL. This is AWH-FUL."

my body is not well

Flacracker · June 29, 2011, 07:59:45 AM

Pre: I hope this single is a bit longer and sounds like I&W.

Tunnel Vision · June 29, 2011, 08:01:08 AM

Quote from: chrisbDTM on June 29, 2011, 07:40:40 AM
Quote from: Aniland on June 29, 2011, 06:03:43 AM
He's sitting there going, "This is AWH-FUL. This is AWH-FUL."

my body is not well

My hands are shaking.

Tunnel Vision · June 29, 2011, 08:03:37 AM

..and the acoustic intro is kickass!

N4Player · June 29, 2011, 08:12:33 AM

Pure chills on the first listen. I love it! This is going to be the best album!

robwebster · June 29, 2011, 08:14:43 AM

Post: THAT PIANO MIDSECTION! So much weirder than any of the previous singles - all choppy, changey riffs. Sounds like James LaBrie's lyrics. Wish we had it in higher quality, YouTube is HORRIBLE, but it sounds brilliant. Chorus surprisingly subdued - unlike recent albums, where the chorus has been "what it's all about." This isn't quite as soaring as they have been, but strong all round. Also, the vocals sound a lot like a JLB solo record!

What a mission statement. Ending like a cliffhanger. I want to know what comes next. The chills arrived when the piano came in. Rudess and Petrucci are really going for it. Stellar stuff.

alirocker08 · June 29, 2011, 08:15:54 AM

...BRB, need to change my knickers. I just smileed. May have been impregnated as well, cheers DT!

jlandrus23 · June 29, 2011, 08:22:48 AM

James Lebrie killed it.

tri.ad · June 29, 2011, 08:23:47 AM

Post: Amazing, amazing, amazing. There's really nothing I can really complain about, regarding the song and the musicianship itself. The guitar solos are really nice, JR is more present than ever in the last four years, and I absolutely loved his Japanese-style Koto/Shamisen/whatever runs at 4:26 and 7:54. The piano solo was very nice as well - surprisingly, since he has tended to overplay them lately (particularly in his improvisations).
There are more different section than I expected, which I like, it makes the song more colourful.
MM really put a nice stamp on this song, his drumming is very groovy and flows very well with the song. And it's really nice to hear JM giving a really nice foundation for the sound. JLB singing was good, very good, and despite my hope to hear him belt out some high notes, I doubt that they would have fitted. So no complaints there, either.

Sonically, I can't say too much, of course. But as far as I can tell, it could have been worse. It sounds a tad too compressed so far, and the drums (particularly the snare) could have been a tiny bit louder. The most remarkable improvements are the bass (less distortion, as far as I can hear) and the keyboards (they really don't seem to be subdued as they were, but they are really driving the song). Andy Wallace surely did a nice job.

Nice. Really nice. I hope that the rest of the album can live up to this terrific opener.

ThatGuitarGuy · June 29, 2011, 08:25:48 AM

That was incredible. It totally held my interest way more than a lot of the stuff they've been writing lately. I loved it.

I'm glad the instrumental section wasn't a wank fest.

I bet the annoying crap of going back and forth wanking was all Portnoy...now the songs are shorter which gives us more tracks to dig into.

My only qualm is not with the writing but the mixing. One thing I always loved about previous mixes was how clear all the cymbals were, especially with how good portnoy was with his cymbal work. This mix suffers from something that happens in a lot of typical metal mixes that aren't as intricate. The overhead mics for the cymbals are too quiet. The only cymbal you can hear really well is the hi hat. Shame. I really wanted to hear more of what MM was doing.

Heretic · June 29, 2011, 08:27:10 AM

Pre-release:

Post-release:

jlandrus23 · June 29, 2011, 08:29:53 AM

I thought I was going to be letdown, but I was not. I am looking forward to the rest of the album. That song is sick!!!!

cfmoran13 · June 29, 2011, 08:29:59 AM

Can anyone please post the direct link to the song? I'm trying to find this on my iPhone because my f*cking employer has YouTube firewalled.

chrisbDTM · June 29, 2011, 08:34:18 AM

Quote from: cfmoran13 on June 29, 2011, 08:29:59 AM
Can anyone please post the direct link to the song? I'm trying to find this on my iPhone because my f*cking employer has YouTube firewalled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oasnbzEMV08&feature=channel_video_title

Pettor · June 29, 2011, 08:36:10 AM

Quote from: Pettor on June 29, 2011, 03:56:03 AM
Pre: I REALLY wish it's a lighter, moody track with geat performance by James and some great piano by Jordan. I actually wonder why Jordan hasen't had any awesome piano solo in any song latley, he's freaking brilliant at that! Also hope it's ~7 minutes and have no "forced" instrumental section. PLEASE PLEASE don't let this be another AROP or CM!!

Post: Somehow I just feel I will be let down by the single once again. I liked the previous albums but the singels were far from my favorites!

Do you guys think I was pleased? Just read what I wanted and I think you will see everything was there! PIANO! PIANO!

robwebster · June 29, 2011, 08:45:23 AM

Quote from: alirocker08 on June 29, 2011, 08:15:54 AM
...BRB, need to change my knickers. I just smileed. May have been impregnated as well, cheers DT!

If DT keep this up all album, I'm going to be pregnant. Full to the brim with babies.

PixelDream · June 29, 2011, 08:54:05 AM

That was pretty damn awesome. A return to form in more ways than one, that's what I think about it after the first listen.

ricky · June 29, 2011, 08:58:19 AM

My Review

where to start. i've been looping non-stop since it was posted, so i've had enough time to begin to digest it. i had alot of preconceptions as to how it was going to sound - and of course they were somewhat off track. throughout the song, i kept thinking to myself "this part sounds like FIF", or "wow, this other part sounds like 6 degrees"...to the point where i did that for nearly every album. overall, i was very impressed. dt did a keep job in maintaining the complexity they are known for, while not being redundant or too over the top. as for each individual members performance:

James - very solid. the phrasing of the vox is what impressed me the most. it seemed like they were formed in a way as to work with the instrumental sections dynamically, and they complemented one another well.

John P - jp's playing stood out to me the most; the guitar parts were absolutely fantastic. this man is truly a master of his instrument.

John M - JOHN IS BACK. you can actually HEAR the bass parts for once, and they were great.

Rudess - there were alot of subtle parts in this song that i felt really worked well. the pads were good, the melodies were good...overall a typical phenomenal jordan perforce.

Mangini - i never had any doubts about his drumming in dt. great job.

the mix - for the most part, good. did anyone else think the drums were mixed a little low, though?

oh, and by the way - i think the artwork is the dog's pants. totally awesome.

i have to be honest though. while i do like it, i admit that it didn't totally blow me away like i hoped it would. the being said, still an awesome song.

Flacracker · June 29, 2011, 09:24:27 AM

Quote from: ThatGuitarGuy on June 29, 2011, 08:25:48 AM
That was incredible. It totally held my interest way more than a lot of the stuff they've been writing lately. I loved it.

I'm glad the instrumental section wasn't a wank fest.

I bet the annoying crap of going back and forth wanking was all Portnoy...now the songs are shorter which gives us more tracks to dig into.

My only qualm is not with the writing but the mixing. One thing I always loved about previous mixes was how clear all the cymbals were, especially with how good portnoy was with his cymbal work. This mix suffers from something that happens in a lot of typical metal mixes that aren't as intricate. The overhead mics for the cymbals are too quiet. The only cymbal you can hear really well is the hi hat. Shame. I really wanted to hear more of what MM was doing.

You don't know that the song are shorter. This song itself is almost 9 mins which is the length of a lot of their songs.

Knguro · June 29, 2011, 03:12:50 PM

Post: This was one of my happiest days in my life I seriously see DT going for it, I will buy this cd first thing in the morning sep 13th. It is just a musical joy!

Vajra · June 29, 2011, 06:17:45 PM

Quote from: Samara on June 28, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
Pre: I'm hoping the song's sound matches that of its title, as in elegant, uplifting, and mystical. If JLB is correct that this album will sound like I&W, then I will be 100% satisfied if the song actually does. I also hope it's a very progessive song, and doesn't sound like radio friendly singles like Constant Motion and Rite of Passage.

Post: Lived up to my expectations perfectly! Wasn't exactly what I expected sound wise, but in terms of quality, it was right on the spot.

Heaven Outcry Angel · June 29, 2011, 06:18:55 PM

Pre: Its going to be the best thing ever

post: its the best thing ever

well.... up there at least

The Silent Cody · July 01, 2011, 06:08:29 AM

Post: After first listen it was weak

Nothing to remember (any "badass JP riffing")

it was very medium DT track...after second listen...I was very surprised when I heard some things that I haven't for the first time, and it became great track...I'm after 6th listen right now, and it grows with every listen, breakdown riff is awesome, intro is perfect, chorus is staying in my head for a while now, AND THAT OUTRO!!!!!!

I think that we get an edit anyway

instrumental section is too poor for DT

I'm sure that we'll get 4 minutes more on CD

And for ending, JM's parts are 100% different style than on BC&SL, he is not following guitars only, he plays like old good JM

Knguro · July 01, 2011, 06:24:12 AM

Quote from: ricky on June 29, 2011, 08:58:19 AM

the mix - for the most part, good. did anyone else think the drums were mixed a little low, though?

100% agree with this, i think they could have give them a little more presence but meeh what a hell, it is a great song may be better than any material in the last 2 CDs. with exeption of a couple of epics

chrisbDTM · July 01, 2011, 06:31:17 AM

the reaction around the net is that it doesnt feel like 8 minutes. and that is awesome

i dont hear any edits. but i hope this isnt one.

TheGreatPretender · July 01, 2011, 10:39:24 AM

Pre: It's probably not gonna be longer than 10 minutes, if it's on Youtube. Hopefully it'll go back to being a bit more proggy than the previous album.

Post: Sweet! I was right about the time! It sounds like a modern day Pull Me Under!

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Pre-release, Post-release. OtBoA