DT12 v. WDAWAIISOIT8V&CSTOE pt. XII

[wasteland]

Very interesting, Madman. Thanks for sharing again this information. I'm adding it to the OP 

[TheGreatPretender]

I asked Mike about this about a year ago at a drum clinic and I broke it down in detail in some post on this forum.  I dont have time to find it now but he essentially said he will still finding his groove with the band so he was mostly taking a back seat but as they were jamming at soundcheck and trying out new stuff, they might ask him to play a certain beat or he might say, "well what about this?" but for the most part he would just sit back and let them do their thing and only interject occasionally. 

In typically Mangini style, he was overexcited while talking about it, saying that John Myung was FLOURISHING (something my gf immitates quite often) and if James was backstage and heard something he liked, he would come out to check it out.

All in all, it really sounds like they are functioning as a band with Jordan and JP taking the reins as usual, but JM and JLB adding input and MM slowly becoming a bigger part of the process.

But of course, that was a year ago, right? In a recent interview, JP said that they do intend to have Mangini in the studio and contributing when they go in to write the album.

[MoraWintersoul]

In typically Mangini style, he was overexcited while talking about it, saying that John Myung was FLOURISHING

All in all, it really sounds like they are functioning as a band with Jordan and JP taking the reins as usual, but JM and JLB adding input and MM slowly becoming a bigger part of the process.

The bolded part - I CAN HEAR HIS VOICE.
And yes, that was what we expected.

[SeRoX]

This is getting exciting with the new news.

[1neeto]

Concept Album. Nicholas comes back as a blood-sucking zombie.

[wasteland]

Concept Album. Nicholas comes back as a blood-sucking zombie.

I thing this was the metaphorical reading of The Dark Eternal Night 

[SomeoneLikeHim]

Concept Album. Nicholas comes back as a blood-sucking zombie.

I thing this was the metaphorical reading of The Dark Eternal Night 

or Forsaken

[wasteland]

 I was about to write that too, but the vampire of Forsaken is a she. Victoria, mayhaps? 


Anyway, I seem to have read that there is the wish of not seeing acoustic ballads anymore. Can I ask why?

[SomeoneLikeHim]

I was about to write that too, but the vampire of Forsaken is a she. Victoria, mayhaps? 

They could be just like the couple in "A Little Piece of Heaven" by Avenged Sevenfold

[Madman Shepherd]

I asked Mike about this about a year ago at a drum clinic and I broke it down in detail in some post on this forum.  I dont have time to find it now but he essentially said he will still finding his groove with the band so he was mostly taking a back seat but as they were jamming at soundcheck and trying out new stuff, they might ask him to play a certain beat or he might say, "well what about this?" but for the most part he would just sit back and let them do their thing and only interject occasionally. 

In typically Mangini style, he was overexcited while talking about it, saying that John Myung was FLOURISHING (something my gf immitates quite often) and if James was backstage and heard something he liked, he would come out to check it out.

All in all, it really sounds like they are functioning as a band with Jordan and JP taking the reins as usual, but JM and JLB adding input and MM slowly becoming a bigger part of the process.

But of course, that was a year ago, right? In a recent interview, JP said that they do intend to have Mangini in the studio and contributing when they go in to write the album.

Yes, I read that interview and JP hyped up MM's contributions a lot.  I had a feeling MM was being pretty humble since he is a pretty humble guy.  The truth is probably in the middle.  I think the benefit of having MM around isn't so much that he becomes a main contributor but that they can have someone pick up a beat fast so they can test it out with a full band as opposed to just writing and having to program a drum machine later.  I also think there will be a few times where if they really broke down the album and who contributed what, there would be specific parts where Mike instigated a section.  Sort of like in Scenes From a Memory, in the commentary on the DVD MP pointed out a riff that John Myung contributed in Strange Deja Vu.  Obviously JM isn't a "main" writer but had valuable input nonetheless. 

[MoraWintersoul]

In a recent interview, JP said that they do intend to have Mangini in the studio and contributing when they go in to write the album.

Yes, I read that interview and JP hyped up MM's contributions a lot.  I had a feeling MM was being pretty humble since he is a pretty humble guy.  The truth is probably in the middle.  I think the benefit of having MM around isn't so much that he becomes a main contributor but that they can have someone pick up a beat fast so they can test it out with a full band as opposed to just writing and having to program a drum machine later.  I also think there will be a few times where if they really broke down the album and who contributed what, there would be specific parts where Mike instigated a section.  Sort of like in Scenes From a Memory, in the commentary on the DVD MP pointed out a riff that John Myung contributed in Strange Deja Vu.  Obviously JM isn't a "main" writer but had valuable input nonetheless.

JMX wrote all the coolest rocking riffs on that album, from what I gathered from the commentary

[Ruba]

Anyway, I seem to have read that there is the wish of not seeing acoustic ballads anymore. Can I ask why?

I wouldn't mind. A song having just JP's acoustic guitar and JLB is on my wishlist.

[1neeto]

Concept Album. Nicholas comes back as a blood-sucking zombie.

I thing this was the metaphorical reading of The Dark Eternal Night 

or Forsaken

Ding ding ding. I was thinking of Forsaken.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Sry no news but has anyone realized it may be less than a week or two before DT enters the holy sanctum!

[wasteland]

Sry no news but has anyone realized it may be less than a week or two before DT enters the holy sanctum!

Realized it this evening. We are days away from the beginning of a new era.

Oh, and

FOR NEW DTF EMOTICON

[Scorpion]

bosk, :bcbanana:?

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

 

[CodyWanKenobi]

I wonder where they'll record it... hopefully Westlake studios in Hollywood... mainly cause my company just installed the new SSL console in studio D, and I was all over that board. haha.

[goo-goo]

I would like to hear more hi-hat/cymbal work like MP did. Thats about the only thing I miss from MP in DT. And better vocal melodies.

[Cedar redaC]

bosk, :bcbanana:?

I think that :dttwelve: would be better

[Sketchy]

This is where that appears in the background of the album cover as well.

[Fisi]

Things I'd like to hear:
-Sounds similar to A Dramatic Turn of Events. I somehow loved how the album sounded, fresh feeling and no forced heaviness at all, but definitely heavy enough to rock hard.  I think Jordan's atmospheric pads and James' great backing vocals were a big part of creating the great 'airy' feeling on the album.
-JR using more of his iPad apps, Harpejji etc...
-A long epic
-Awesome piano moments
-Maybe some electronic sounding stuff
-No more than one ballad (I have nothing against them, but the ballads on ADTOE were so good that I don't think it's necessary to make many of them this time)
-No unneeded heaviness

Many people have been hoping for James to use his higher register more than he did on ADTOE. Personally I loved the vocals on ADTOE so much that I'm perfectly happy if he continues like that. I do like high male vocals, but I don't consider them mandatory. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's going to be an awesome album. 

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Many people have been hoping for James to use his higher register more than he did on ADTOE. Personally I loved the vocals on ADTOE so much that I'm perfectly happy if he continues like that. I do like high male vocals, but I don't consider them mandatory. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's going to be an awesome album. 

As much of a high vocals nut as I am, I agree with this. The vocals on ADTOE were really strong and well-executed even though they were often fairly...plain, for lack of a better word. And the nice thing about them is that James can be consistent with them live--they didn't force him into the upper range where he tends to get pitchy and wobbly live (though he was better with that this tour than in the past anyway). I'd like to see a couple of bigtime super-high type things, kind of like the BMUBMD chorus except more melodic and not just in a backing part, but other than that I think DT would be wise to keep James in the same registers as ADTOE had him.

[Madman Shepherd]

Many people have been hoping for James to use his higher register more than he did on ADTOE. Personally I loved the vocals on ADTOE so much that I'm perfectly happy if he continues like that. I do like high male vocals, but I don't consider them mandatory. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's going to be an awesome album. 

As much of a high vocals nut as I am, I agree with this. The vocals on ADTOE were really strong and well-executed even though they were often fairly...plain, for lack of a better word. And the nice thing about them is that James can be consistent with them live--they didn't force him into the upper range where he tends to get pitchy and wobbly live (though he was better with that this tour than in the past anyway). I'd like to see a couple of bigtime super-high type things, kind of like the BMUBMD chorus except more melodic and not just in a backing part, but other than that I think DT would be wise to keep James in the same registers as ADTOE had him.

You summed it up perfectly.  Its strange because I was 100% happy with the vocals on ADTOE but there was a small part of me that thought, "ya know, it would have been kinda cool if there was just one song with the old school high notes."  This in no way made me disappointed in what I got, it was just something I thought would have been an extra cool addition to what I thought was a near flawless album. 

Well that and more lyrics from James LaBrie which is probably my biggest complaint about the whole thing, which I told him when I met him.  I wanted to say that to JP too but I thought it might be tactless so I praised him for his lyrics, which I did think were among his best. 

[MoraWintersoul]

Well that and more lyrics from James LaBrie which is probably my biggest complaint about the whole thing, which I told him when I met him.  I wanted to say that to JP too but I thought it might be tactless so I praised him for his lyrics, which I did think were among his best.

I really liked this part of your post, and I went a bit back through your posts and saw there's always some parts I especially like and that you're a nice person so I'm just letting you know

[Lynxo]

I really, really hope the drums sounds a lot better this time around, that was the big disappointment for me.

Other than that, keep it going! I liked most of the album and consider the two-way ear gang rape that is Far From Heaven/Breaking All Illusions to be among their very best.

[BlackInk]

I thought the drums sounded fine, didn't fully like the way they were played at all times though. Especially when the hi-hat is used.

[Kotowboy]

It just want it to be natural .

They shouldn't try to sound like any older version of themselves or whats current.

They should just write music and keep all the best ideas regardless of genre etc.

[Madman Shepherd]

Well that and more lyrics from James LaBrie which is probably my biggest complaint about the whole thing, which I told him when I met him.  I wanted to say that to JP too but I thought it might be tactless so I praised him for his lyrics, which I did think were among his best.

I really liked this part of your post, and I went a bit back through your posts and saw there's always some parts I especially like and that you're a nice person so I'm just letting you know

Thanks!  Mad props back to you!  I always like your contributions as well. 

[Filipe_metalhead]

So, aside from the interview in the beginning and speculations from the fans prespectives, is there any update on the new album?? I mean, I know that the album starts to being recorded in january, but, is there an interview or comment from any of teh band members??

[MoraWintersoul]

Just the new piece of info that MM will accompany them during the writing process (but this has been repeated a lot of times and therefore isn't really new). Apart from that, it's just, in short, "we have decided upon the direction and I ain't tellin' ya just yet" from JP

[Cedar redaC]

Other than what's been posted here, I don't think that too much has officially been said yet.

[wasteland]

So, do you think they will enter the studio Jan 2nd like they did last time or they will wait a couple of days/weeks more? Also, let's cast our bets about the studio. I say Cove City again, unless they need a somewhat larger space for the drum kit.

[philmcson]

So, do you think they will enter the studio Jan 2nd like they did last time or they will wait a couple of days/weeks more? Also, let's cast our bets about the studio. I say Cove City again, unless they need a somewhat larger space for the drum kit.

If it's for the drumkit, they should maybe consider recording it in some bigger space. Hiro Ballroom? 

[Cedar redaC]

Skywalker Studios?