ADToE Cover - What's your opinion?

[Nekov]

I've just noticed something - Some people think that the guy on the unicycle is MP and the plane represents DT......but I think the title points to the rip in the rope, meaning the guy is about to fall to his death.

Maybe everyone's already noticed it and I'm just slow lol.

I thought about this, but I think the rope breaking while the guy is trying to balance on it is also part of the MP metaphore which is directly linked to the title.

[JimmyJava]

Yeah, I think the metaphor is that that's MP on his "high stool", playing with Avenged Sevenfold, not realising that he's about to fall down. The plane represent the safe and steady Dream Theater. Maybe  

[Metabog]

Yeah, I think the metaphor is that that's MP on his "high stool", playing with Avenged Sevenfold, not realising that he's about to fall down. The plane represent the safe and steady Dream Theater. Maybe  

I disagree. I think it's meant to say that something terrible happened along their road as a band, but even though the wire is cut, somehow they kept on going.

Also, and I think this has been posted.

[ZBomber]

Really lame cover. But as others have said, most of DT's covers aren't that great anyways, so whatever.

how are they not great?

Because almost every one is a bunch of items photoshopped (poorly at that, it often looks so fake) over some background that make no sense together.

[robwebster]

You guys are so picky, I like the art. It's very subtle, and I think it explains the feel of the album quite well.

I think subtlety is the one thing I don't really see in Hugh Syme's art. He sort of smashes the viewer around the face with his metaphors, which I don't mind, but I'm a little bored of. I think it's 'cause he does a lot of advertising posters and illustration - his default style is relatively overt. The images are so bizarre that it's hard to see 'em as anything but a winking "hey! what's this about, eh?"

That said! ADToE is way stronger than BCSL's, so it's still a step up.

[Guitalguy]

I must admit I'll be a little disappointed if this is the final cover. It's not that bad, but i think it's just a little too simple. I know that sometimes less is more and stuff, but still.

I liked the cover of BCSL, because it went back to the style of the two first albums, with elements of the songs visualised and mixed together. This way you can sit and look for details and metaphors for ages.

And also, I really don't like the clown.

[chrisbDTM]

I disagree. I think it's meant to say that something terrible happened along their road as a band, but even though the wire is cut, somehow they kept on going.

this is what i thought

[Unimatrix]

What's interesting is that in the post your fan-made artwork thread, someone created what would be on the other side of BC&SL's door. And on the other side there's a clown standing on a ball. The question is: How the hell did he know about the clown?

Maybe DT saw it, liked the idea and told their guy to put a clown on the cover 

[Super Dude]

I disagree. I think it's meant to say that something terrible happened along their road as a band, but even though the wire is cut, somehow they kept on going.

this is what i thought

I like that, very profound.

[emindead]

What's interesting is that in the post your fan-made artwork thread, someone created what would be on the other side of BC&SL's door. And on the other side there's a clown standing on a ball. The question is: How the hell did he know about the clown?

Maybe DT saw it, liked the idea and told their guy to put a clown on the cover 

If they would've chosen Stephen King's clown 'It', I would say that it was a good idea. But we have Mr. Unicycle...

[GuineaPig]

Bad.

[Unimatrix]

Apart from the pointless plane I think it's ok. Surely better than BC&SL.

[ElliottTamer]

Really lame cover. But as others have said, most of DT's covers aren't that great anyways, so whatever.

how are they not great?

Because almost every one is a bunch of items photoshopped (poorly at that, it often looks so fake) over some background that make no sense together.

Not making sense is part of what makes it great, in my opinion (though I respect your point of view as well). Take BC&SL as an example: I think it looks aesthetically pleasing and at the same time you could draw some parallels (even if some are somewhat far-fetched) between a few songs and a few elements in it. IMO that's much better than having some actual black clouds with silver linings.

[DarkEternalNight]

I don't like it.

[chrisbDTM]

posted this in the album discussion but here it is again


HQ album artwork: https://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/dreamtheater/DT_ADTOE.jpg

[GasparXR]

About the buys saying that the cover is related to the title, and thus, MP? Well remember when JP said the title and song names had nothing to do with MP? Why would the cover be related to that, then?

[EpicCookie]

I don't really like it... but hell as long as the music is good (which it will most probably be) I'm happy

[nikatapi]

I don't really like it... but hell as long as the music is good (which it will most probably be) I'm happy

Exactly my thoughts.

[KevShmev]

Really lame cover. But as others have said, most of DT's covers aren't that great anyways, so whatever.

how are they not great?

For every "great" DT album cover (Awake), there is a mediocre one (Octavarium).

[TheGreatPretender]

I think it's alright. Though that is to say most of their art work is awesome. This is just ehh... It's better than Change of Seasons or Six Degrees. But yeah, it's the music that matters.

[Obfuscation]

I just think it's a bit boring and don't think it's the album cover as well. At least it's better than WDADU.

[chrisbDTM]

confirmed by RR as the album cover. link in new drummer + album updates thread

[Lowdz]

It's not very metal and certainly not very Roadrunner. It's very 70s prog.

this is why alot of people like it

everything doesnt need to be 'metal'

This.

It's not very metal and certainly not very Roadrunner. It's very 70s prog.

this is why alot of people like it

everything doesnt need to be 'metal'

but it will be marketted at the Metal market. At least if they want to sell any.

So if an album cover isn't made to appeal to a certain market it's "piss-poor"? Well, then that's just, like, your opinion, man.

Well of course it is. Didn't claim to be speaking for all mankind. Everything I say or write is my opnion, didn't realise I needed a disclaimer.

But I didn't say it was piss-poor because it didn't appeal to a certain market. And surely it is the job of the cover to appeal to it's market.

[Mebert78]

The cover could be interpreted so many different ways.  I like it.  For example, what is the meaning of a clown, as opposed to using any other type of person?  Why is he above the clouds?  How did the rope start to break?  Who is in the plane?  And what is the plane doing -- is it innocentally traveling by, leaving the clown behind in a negative sense, or rescuing him in a positive sense?  

It's quite cool in a proggy way, IMO, and should make for some cool stage props or concert video footage.

[Lowdz]

The cover could be interpreted so many different ways.  I like it.  For example, what is the meaning of a clown, as opposed to using any other type of person?  Why is he above the clouds?  How did the rope start to break?  What is the intention of the plane -- is it innocentally traveling by, or leaving the clown behind in a negative sense, or is it there to rescue him in a positive sense?  

It's quite cool, IMO.

It looks like a shark's fin breaking the surface of the water to me. Maybe the critics waiting to eat the band alive if they fall? But if so,  why the Majesty logo on the plane? It seems to suggest the plane is DT. Unless the Majesty logo means Charlie is waiting to eat them (as he found the logo)... It's a great cover.

[TheGreatPretender]

The elements are cool. What I don't like is the overtall tone of it. The bright blue sky... I'm not a fan of really light colors on album art. It's why I wasn't a fan of Falling Into Infinity art, or Six Degrees. I dunno, I like darker, bolder backgrounds. Even something overcast like in Greatest Hit and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs, was good.

Maybe the clown is MP, and the plane is Dream Theater moving on without him? 

[chrisbDTM]

And surely it is the job of the cover to appeal to it's market.

it is?

i thought it was what the artist felt/wanted for the album.

[The Silent Cody]

I honestly doubt that this is the actual cd cover, but if it is I will be dissapointed a little because I was expecting a little more But, I like the idea of the rope, it's even cool.

[Gadough]

I honestly doubt that this is the actual cd cover, but if it is I will be dissapointed a little because I was expecting a little more But, I like the idea of the rope, it's even cool.

confirmed by RR as the album cover. link in new drummer + album updates thread

[Lowdz]

And surely it is the job of the cover to appeal to it's market.

it is?

i thought it was what the artist felt/wanted for the album.

But would they not want it to appeal to their audience? It's a form of advertising, surely. A good cover can grab the interest of passing trade. Fans will buy it anyway, whatever the cover.

[FretMuppet]

I don't think it has any "deep" meaning. I think that its simply a clown who's tightrope is about to snap which will result in a dramatic turn of events

[bloop]

Maybe the intent is to create the illusion that there's a deeper meaning.

[Mebert78]

It looks like a shark's fin breaking the surface of the water to me. Maybe the critics waiting to eat the band alive if they fall?

Really good point.  I'm sure the plane was purposely designed to look like a shark fin.  That's really clever.  

[Nefyn]

It looks like a shark's fin breaking the surface of the water to me. Maybe the critics waiting to eat the band alive if they fall?

Dream Theater are Beneath The Surface 

[Dream Team]

And surely it is the job of the cover to appeal to it's market.

it is?

i thought it was what the artist felt/wanted for the album.

But would they not want it to appeal to their audience? It's a form of advertising, surely. A good cover can grab the interest of passing trade. Fans will buy it anyway, whatever the cover.

But do kids these days even buy CDs anymore? I thought they downloaded everything.