JP: "When people hear the drumming [...], they’re gonna be pretty freaked out"

[Lynxo]

A lot of bands have weird drum mixes. But I've always felt that the drum sound in DT were MORE than excellent! I very much like how punchy they always were. So the drum mix of ADTOE were a big disapointment to me, I hope they sound better this time around.

[Aythesryche]

the drums are plenty loud enough on ADTOE.

We're just used to Portnoy's super-loud and super sharp Tama cutting thru everything.

No, the drums were too low. It's not like the only albums anyone listens to are DT, so this has always been an ignorant argument imo.

And unfortunately the metal side of the album suffered for it, because the energy doesn't come through, and it falls flat.

It's not an ignorant statement, man. It's a statement that's based on ones own ear for such things. Too low or too high is a relative thing based on a standard that each person sets for themselves. What sounds good to one might sound bad to another, etc. if you're basing this on the sound production of other bands and albums, then sure, you can make a comparison. But making blanket statements like the one you made serves little purpose at all. If you think it's too low and want to make an argument or statement, then you need to back up your opinion with some relevant info that substantiates your claims/point of view. That is, if you care about making people understand where you're coming from.

Same thing can be said about your opinion about how the metal side suffers because the energy just isn't there. Some people find plenty of energy within the music because their ears are tuned to process that music in such a way that invigorates them differently than it does for you. This isn't a battery were talking about here. It's all relative, man.

Btw, I'm not even mad or anything.

[BlobVanDam]

I didn't mean to imply that it's ignorant to say that the drums were too low, so I apologize if it was interpreted that way by anyone. That is of course subjective, and if people think the drum volume is fine, that's a valid opinion they're entitled to.

What I meant is that it's an ignorant defense against the opinion to say people are just comparing it to previous DT albums, because that's not the case at all. I hadn't listened to any DT for over a year before hearing ADTOE, and I mostly listen to other metal and rock (mostly softer stuff focused on melody, and not balls to the wall heavy stuff with pounding drums), and personally I was instantly hit with how unbalanced the mix was in regards to the drums. For the genre, I think the drums are definitely lower than most others, and not just compared to previous DT albums where the drums were so upfront.

[reneranucci]

So it has been confirmed we will be able to HEAR the drums on the next album, excellent !

I hope they don't forget the cymbals mics this time.

[Chino]

[TheGreatPretender]

Oh man, I'm so psyched after reading that interview! Is it September yet?

[PixelDream]

Cool to hear Jordan's musical interests. Deftones are great, and their last album is no exception (record of the year for me), Aphex Twin is a pioneer in electronic music, and Gentle Giant is great as well. Funny to hear so many musicians citing Gentle Giant as an influence. Even Flying Lotus lists the band as an influence. For those of you who don't know, he's a producer making jazz-influenced 'dubstep' music.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Just from JP's comment it's safe to say that I am already pretty freaked by the drums on this album.

[Sycsa]

[Kotowboy]

Dream Theater ?

Dubstep ?

Oh no no no no.

Please No.

[Fiery Winds]

Maybe MM is going to play in a 66/6 time signature.   

[GasparXR]

Maybe MM is going to play in a 66/6 time signature.   

Aka a 44/4 time signaure. Which can be interpreted as 4 bars of 11/4, or 11 bars of 4/4, or 44 bars of 1/4.

[Lynxo]