The Enemy Inside Discussion Thread

[JoeG]

If you're not good at judging a mix, does it matter so much whether it's considered bad or good? All that matters is whether it sounds fine to you.

Ninja'd by the Ninja

Sometimes with bad mixes, those of us without an ear for this kind of thing can't put our finger on what it is about the mix that's off-putting, but can tell that something is off with it. Having those who are able to identify the specific elements which make the mix sub-par can help us understand.

That said, the mix on The Enemy Inside sounds great to me.

[Joshin U]

Are you able to say how this track ranks on the album? And how heavy it is in relation to the rest.

Pretty sure I won't be killed if I say that it's my least fav track on the album. As to it's heaviness - can't reveal that yet.

To state the obvious, you now at least enjoy this song.

And yet it's your least favorite on the album.

There is no emote for the level of happiness that brings me.

[noxon]

Just for clarifications, the stream sounds way more "compressed" than the track I have - but I think people have a misunderstanding as to what that word means. There's compression with regards to making a filesize smaller, which can be lossy and lossless, and to make it lossy there are many psychoacoustic parameters that can be tuned and used to make the file sound as good as possible while still being small in size. However, this type of compression can create a fair share of artifacts in the sound (such as strange-sounding cymbals and other noise factors).

However, when talking about compression in the mix, what one usually is actually talking about is compressing the loudness. Meaning boosting the more silent parts and quieting the louder parts and thereby making the sound more even throughout. That means, you're reducing the dynamic range on the signal. Compressed sound looks like a square block on the sound wave diagram - and to me too much compression becomes noise. This, in addition to making the average sound as loud as possible is what's causing the loudness wars, and I think this track succumbs to this - maybe not by being as loud as possible, but by removing some dynamic range.

The song sounds worse on the stream, obviously, but not that different from the version I have. It's possible that it may change between the version I have and the final release, but it's never happened before with a DT album so I don't think that's very likely now either.

[Marion Crane]

Noxon....the way the song begins sounds like The False Awakening Suite leads right into it.  Can you atleast confirm this?

[BlobVanDam]

If you're not good at judging a mix, does it matter so much whether it's considered bad or good? All that matters is whether it sounds fine to you.

Ninja'd by the Ninja

Sometimes with bad mixes, those of us without an ear for this kind of thing can't put our finger on what it is about the mix that's off-putting, but can tell that something is off with it. Having those who are able to identify the specific elements which make the mix sub-par can help us understand.

That said, the mix on The Enemy Inside sounds great to me.

That makes sense. If it sounds fine to you, then it doesn't matter, but if it sounds "off" then I can see that you'd want to see someone else quantify it for your understanding.

[adamack]

only complaint. at 3.41 they are doing the same old melody from .... (can´t remember now  )

edit: well more like 3.36

I believe you are thinking of parts of Sacrificed Sons, or Nightmare To Remember

[emindead]

BORING.  Completely disappointed after the restrained atmosphere of ADTOE.  Hopefully the other songs are better......this is completely unmemorable.

This place never changes.

Very compressed drums. I have a somewhat a good vibe of what this album might be. I think I liked the song, but there's nothing really memorable. JR's carnival-esque riff is offputting. I like that LaBrie is singing in a more comfortable range. But yeah, nothing memorable.

[docsp76]

I love the song. If this is how the boys wanted the song to sound, minus any compression the stream made, then I'm happy with it. Not sure why people can't just listen to the song for what it is. As time goes on the amount of complaining and nitpicking just keeps growing. It's sad.  This is why I left the Portnoy boards. I guess I'm too thin-skinned. Oh well. I enjoy anything they put out really. Some things I like more than others but I always appreciate what they put out and never say "I would have preferred they do it this way". It's like everyone is disappointed when it doesn't sound exactly the way they personally wanted it. The song was great but because the kick was slightly low in the mix you're disappointed in the whole thing. I know most fans aren't that bad but whatever. It makes me not even want to release my own music because nobody cares about the "music" anymore. It's all technical stuff anymore.

[Jaffa]

BORING.  Completely disappointed after the restrained atmosphere of ADTOE.  Hopefully the other songs are better......this is completely unmemorable.

This place never changes.

Very compressed drums. I have a somewhat a good vibe of what this album might be. I think I liked the song, but there's nothing really memorable. JR's carnival-esque riff is offputting. I like that LaBrie is singing in a more comfortable range. But yeah, nothing memorable.

Nice to see you, emindead.  I saw your name on the active users list and wondered if you'd post.   

[Marion Crane]

I just really wish James would stop doubling his vocals in the choruses.  Lead vocal, straight up the middle.  Any harmonies can be split left and right.  When you go from a center vocal to a doubled/split vocal, especially with his voice, the phase cancellation is just too intense IMO. 

[wasteland]

Ok, the song is just great, the right kind of heavy, which is what DT had been unfrtunately somewhat lacking in the past. The song really grew on me throught the first 5 listenings, and now it's definitely bound to be an highlight, unless the album is more mindblowing than I expect it to be.

My only quirks are the vocals, which are IMO mixed more than a bit too low. Hopefully that's not an all-around album trend.

Very satisfied with this one, bring on the album now! 

[BlobVanDam]

Outcrier, as that's not an official link, I suggest you take it down before the mods do it for you.

[deadtotheworld]

Love the song - its got to be time to get rid of Jordan though, i just hate his style the more I listen to him these days.

[Kotowboy]

I always loved JR's wacky keyboard sounds.

I went off them around Black Clouds era but i'm glad they're back !

[mikeyd23]

Just for clarifications, the stream sounds way more "compressed" than the track I have.....

Well that's a good sign, I don't think the track on the stream was terribly compressed, but I was assuming and hoping it would have a bit more breathing room on the final album.

[BlobVanDam]

Love the song - its got to be time to get rid of Jordan though, i just hate his style the more I listen to him these days.

No.

[Scorpion]

Short version: I like it. Not sure how much yet, but it's definitely pretty awesome. If this is the worst song on the album, like Noxon suggested, then we're in for a treat. The guitar solo is all kinds of awesome - hell, the whole instrumental section is - and I love the chorus melody.

[wasteland]

Outcrier, as that's not an official link, I suggest you take it down before the mods do it for you.

Couch-Mod! Couch-Mod! Couch-Mod!

Just for clarifications, the stream sounds way more "compressed" than the track I have.....

Well that's a good sign, I don't think the track on the stream was terribly compressed, but I was assuming and hoping it would have a bit more breathing room on the final album.

Thank god! That's awesome news! 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Love the song - its got to be time to get rid of Jordan though, i just hate his style the more I listen to him these days.

No.

I haven't even heard the song and I agree with this. Jordan is amazing.

[mikeyd23]

Love the song - its got to be time to get rid of Jordan though, i just hate his style the more I listen to him these days.

Umm... I respectfully disagree!!

[bosk1]

Love the song - its got to be time to get rid of Jordan though, i just hate his style the more I listen to him these days.

Sounds like a personal problem to me.  I am glad it is one that is not shared by the band and the majority of the fanbase.  But let's keep the discussion constructive.  This isn't the place to be saying you "hate" a member and want him to be replaced.

[nikatapi]

Ι think it got better after the 3rd time listening to it. I think the overall heaviness becomes a little tiring at one point, but this is probably the heaviest track on the album so it won't be a problem.

I wonder how the snare sounds on the softer tracks, here it almost sounds like a triggered one.

[Ħ]

Guitars too crunchy. They should get a new guitar player.

[bosk1]

2 things about the song:

With the False Awaking Suite being described as a good concert-opening instrumental bit, I'm guessing there is a pretty good segue from that into The Enemy Inside that will make this a BEAST of a live opening song to kick things off.  During my last listen, I was picturing an instrumental flowing into this song, and the guys just lighting the place up with this song.  Can't wait to see it live.

Also, if this is what "chocolate cake" sounds like, I'm going to be diabetic within a month after this album comes out.

[Ben_Jamin]

I love the song. If this is how the boys wanted the song to sound, minus any compression the stream made, then I'm happy with it. Not sure why people can't just listen to the song for what it is. As time goes on the amount of complaining and nitpicking just keeps growing. It's sad.  This is why I left the Portnoy boards. I guess I'm too thin-skinned. Oh well. I enjoy anything they put out really. Some things I like more than others but I always appreciate what they put out and never say "I would have preferred they do it this way". It's like everyone is disappointed when it doesn't sound exactly the way they personally wanted it. The song was great but because the kick was slightly low in the mix you're disappointed in the whole thing. I know most fans aren't that bad but whatever. It makes me not even want to release my own music because nobody cares about the "music" anymore. It's all technical stuff anymore.

I don't care what others think.  If I enjoy it I'll enjoy it, I love PoW their most hated on SC so that saya something.

As for your music, just do it and don't mind what others say because in the end as long as its what you want to do, don't let anyone hold you back from your freedom to do you.


I do know now that this album will cause a rift between fans.

[Dark Castle]

@H: He got an early copy of the album.

I sure hope not, based on his complaints about the mix.

It's his opinion, and even if I disagree with his opinion, I'd rather hear his honest opinion as opposed to him fluffing his opinion for other people's sake.

[deadtotheworld]

I dont hate Jordan and I LOVE a lot of his past work, i just feel these days like ive heard it all before and dont enjoy his direction of using lots of (what i believe) to be cheap sounding horrible patches, at first it was fun but now it grates on me. Sorry guys thats just my opinion.

[Freko]

Also, if this is what "chocolate cake" sounds like, I'm going to be diabetic within a month after this album comes out.

Well I´m already a diabetic but I´m sure I´ll kick it up a notch and get into some serious ketoacidosis

[emindead]

BORING.  Completely disappointed after the restrained atmosphere of ADTOE.  Hopefully the other songs are better......this is completely unmemorable.

This place never changes.

Very compressed drums. I have a somewhat a good vibe of what this album might be. I think I liked the song, but there's nothing really memorable. JR's carnival-esque riff is offputting. I like that LaBrie is singing in a more comfortable range. But yeah, nothing memorable.

Nice to see you, emindead.  I saw your name on the active users list and wondered if you'd post.   

Nice to see you, too! It's been almost a year since I last posted on the DT side of these forums.

[LTE3]

Mr Boom
"I don't know why people care about the production so much, as long as the song is good I usually don't care about stuff like that , unless it's something completly fucked up of course. If JLB is a little low or MMs snare sounds muffy or what ever I could not care less because in the end that's all about taste and preference and a million other reasons that I don't know about".
Really dude, have you ever listened to music on a good system? My guess you a strictly and mp3 guy not theres anything wrong with that. Do yourself a favor and listen to DT on a decent system and then you will give a shit about production, or maybe not. Whatever DT rules and so does Symphony X.

[jonny108]

With the False Awaking Suite being described as a good concert-opening instrumental bit, I'm guessing there is a pretty good segue from that into The Enemy Inside that will make this a BEAST of a live opening song to kick things off.  During my last listen, I was picturing an instrumental flowing into this song, and the guys just lighting the place up with this song.  Can't wait to see it live.

When you put it like that, it's made me even more excited for the tour. Oh man! 

[Outcrier]

Outcrier, as that's not an official link, I suggest you take it down before the mods do it for you.

Sorry, totally forgot !

Hey Blob, this is not the time and have nothing to do with anything but that S&K 3D video you made years ago...

[DTrox84]

This is like Dream Theater meets Symphony X... which is outstanding!  The only DT song that came to mind to try to compare it to is sections of The Shattered Fortress, especially the first verse rhythm.

I'm loving what i'm hearing!! I do hope the mix on the actual album is tweaked about. James needs to be louder, but no biggie.

[mikeyd23]

With the False Awaking Suite being described as a good concert-opening instrumental bit, I'm guessing there is a pretty good segue from that into The Enemy Inside that will make this a BEAST of a live opening song to kick things off.  During my last listen, I was picturing an instrumental flowing into this song, and the guys just lighting the place up with this song.  Can't wait to see it live.

When you put it like that, it's made me even more excited for the tour. Oh man! 

Agreed, this track would make a great opener following the FAS!! 

[JPX]

This is like Dream Theater meets Symphony X... which is outstanding!  The only DT song that came to mind to try to compare it to is sections of The Shattered Fortress, especially the first verse rhythm.

I'm loving what i'm hearing!! I do hope the mix on the actual album is tweaked about. James needs to be louder, but no biggie.

I can honestly say that I didn't hear SX in the track at all. Was there a section in particular that you got this from?