The Enemy Inside Discussion Thread

[Deve]

Just bought the MP3 off the Canadian iTunes store. Holy cow, James is a lot more clear. In fact, everything is a lot more clear. You're able to hear everything really nicely.

[johncal]

Downloaded the iTunes version. Even though its not "CD" quality, its much, much better rhan the stream. Much easier to hear everything.

[ibosmiley]

Sounds like I need to get a better copy of this song!

The one on SoundCloud was a bit off sounding, but I expected that, and I figured that the album version would sound awesome.

As for the song... I dig it.  I anticipated a more standard sounding song for the single, but it's a good one.  The lil proggy elements tossed in are nice, and round out the metal edge of the song well.

In terms of album flow, this would fit nicely after False Awakening Suite if it's a bit of a proggy rip roar to some degree.  You'd have this wild proggy instrumental treat which would flow right into this heavy standard type of song... that flow would work nicely.  Similar-ish to Overture 1928 and Strange Deja Vu.  Then, if the Looking Glass is a bit more technical, melodic, and/or proggy, if you will, that would be a pretty nice flow of songs.

[theseoafs]

Picked up the single on iTunes because why the fuck not?   The sound is appreciably better.  I'll be happy with the mix if the whole album sounds like this, I think.  Also, Mangini is incredible.

[JonnyM93]

Wow what a difference! Everyone get the single off iTunes!

[PROGdrummer]

did anyone else notice that they are officially using Blob's edited version of the artwork for everything now?

[KevShmev]

I bought the single from amazon and it definitely sounds a lot better from a sonic and production standpoint.  This will be on my workout playlist tomorrow.

[Implode]

did anyone else notice that they are officially using Blob's edited version of the artwork for everything now?

I'm pretty sure it's their own edited version.

[TL]

At first I was bummed out because I don't have an iTunes account and Amazon doesn't sell music digitally in Canada.

As it turns out though, Blackberry has a music store, and TEI is available on it. Who knew? Bought.

While still a bit loud, it's definitely clearer than the stream, and James is definitely more audible.

[Tom Bombadil]

After some more listens I like the song even more. Maybe that's just due to listening to the Amazon version, but I'm really liking it. Petrucci is awesome throughout and although I'm not one who usually likes those Jordan breaks in a song, and while I admit it annoys me for the first 5 seconds here, once the guitar comes in underneath the keyboard it actually sounds really cool.

[LKap13]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed but do we know (for sure) who wrote the lyrics to The Enemy Inside? Probability would point to Petrucci but I get a Labrie feel from the lyrics...

[BelichickFan]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed but do we know (for sure) who wrote the lyrics to The Enemy Inside? Probability would point to Petrucci but I get a Labrie feel from the lyrics...

On the Amazon single I just bought Petrucci got the sole writing credit.  No clue if that's correct.

[Mosh]

Those lyrics are so Petrucci. Not his first time writing about internal struggles.

[Zydar]

I just listened to it on Spotify. Sounds great. I'll be getting the mp3 later.

[The Boomr]

Alrighty, just purchased and DL'ed the single on my phone. Finally!!

I need to say a couple things before I go to bed. While the sound is MUCH better than the streaming one, I feel like the clarity has actually brought even more attention to how bad the snare sounds. I'm sorry if you think I'm being bitchy, but seriously, it almost sounds like it's clipping with every hit! It's all distorted and not clean at all. Crossing my fingers that that was a desired effect for this track only.

second thing, does anyone else feel like JP's solo is a little, well....sloppy? *braces for flames* when he digs into those 32nd notes it doesn't feel smooth or clean the way he usually does, almost like he's rushing the whole thing. Hmm.

Other than those things it IS growing on me! Getting a feel for it now and feel like it's a decent rocker, to be sure. I absolutely LOVE when the keys come in during the beginning, it's like even if you listen for it, that underlying sound effect JR uses Still creeps up on you and I love it! I also adore MM's cymbal and hi hat work in the beginning, it's glorious.
that is all.

[TL]

While I usually like a snare with more snap to it, I can certainly see why Mike would choose to go for a looser, flatter snare sound on a song like this.

[wolven74]

I absolutely LOVE when the keys come in during the beginning, it's like even if you listen for it, that underlying sound effect JR uses Still creeps up on you and I love it!

I love that part too. Every time I hear it I get chills.

[eviljust]

While I usually like a snare with more snap to it, I can certainly see why Mike would choose to go for a looser, flatter snare sound on a song like this.

This. I'm pretty sure it won't be the same all over the album. Well, tbh, not sure of it...it's just a great hope I have 

I'll keep listening to it, but there's something on JP solo that disappointed me a bit, too much closer to the OTBOA one. Won't stop to say that MM is absolutely great at this song and JR with his breakdown completely drive the song to a great level.

[gentaishinigami]

second thing, does anyone else feel like JP's solo is a little, well....sloppy? *braces for flames* when he digs into those 32nd notes it doesn't feel smooth or clean the way he usually does, almost like he's rushing the whole thing. Hmm.

He's just playing with more feeling and soul now.









But no it sounds very clean and on-time to me.  He just has a more cunchy distortion on this song rather than his more typical flow-y distortion.

[TheGreatPretender]

But no it sounds very clean and on-time to me.  He just has a more cunchy distortion on this song rather than his more typical flow-y distortion.

Which is so much better. I felt like the distortion on ADTOE was one of its worst aspects. It just sounded so wet and soggy, for lack of a better word. It pretty much just sounded like weak overdrive, to me. I like my distortion the way I like my cookies: Crunchy. Sometimes, moist and chewy is nice, like on most DT records between SFAM and BCASL, but definitely not soggy.

[aprilethereal]

   



Trapped inside this Soon-avarium !!

Post of the year. No contest

[jsem]

So, just listened to this and beats most other single releases of DT. It wasn't my favorite though, not a fan of the mix nor of the entire song really. It's good, but DT can do better. Let's hope this is one of the weaker tracks of this album.

[CodyWanKenobi]

I love James' last note.

[wasteland]

I just downloaded the song from iTunes. Hopefully I'll find that I can see the difference! (pun intended)

[YtseJamittaja]

The interesting thing is that JR really comes along not until 2:14 (if not counting strings on the background) and I like it.

[Onno]

The Spotify version sounds better than the USAToday stream version. Now, can anyone tell me if the iTunes version sounds better than the Spotify version or not?

[Blackfield]

This song is a little bit Panic Attack, a little bit of Octavarium and Prophets of war, a little bit Megadeth and so on.

We're hearing the same bits over and over again. Nothing new here.

[Aythesryche]

The Spotify version sounds better than the USAToday stream version. Now, can anyone tell me if the iTunes version sounds better than the Spotify version or not?

Just played a snippet of both versions back to back a few times and noticed the Android Play Store version I bought and downloaded is a bit crisper and more defined sounding than the spotify version. Not a drastic difference but it is s bit noticeable. Hope that helps somewhat, man!

[Onno]

The Spotify version sounds better than the USAToday stream version. Now, can anyone tell me if the iTunes version sounds better than the Spotify version or not?

Just played a snippet of both versions back to back a few times and noticed the Android Play Store version I bought and downloaded is a bit crisper and more defined sounding than the spotify version. Not a drastic difference but it is s bit noticeable. Hope that helps somewhat, man!

Thanks for the info, I might be getting that one then 

[puppyonacid]

I've listened to it and will probably get the download.

I think it's a solid effort but I don't think it's their strongest from a melodic standpoint. It's a very aggressive track.

I think the drumming is brilliant. The bass drum pattern along with the riff is just so tight. The fact that I've only heard it on crappy headphones on my iPhone means I could hear JM quite well. I do also like the sound of the drums and the snare doesn't bother me at all.

But, I hate to say this, it did all feel like going through the motions with DT. It doesn't feel very inspired and I think that harks back to the argument for them nurturing new material rather than recording it all. I would imagine that 99% of half decent sounding riffs, melodies, chord progressions etc. probably get used as they write in the studio. It often feels with their newer material that there is always an amazing song bursting to get out of their more mundane efforts.

And whoever said about the guitar solo sounding not quite as clean.....I picked up on that as well. I felt it was a tone thing as much as anything as his lead tone sounded a bit glassier here; but that could be the medium I was listening on. I did feel that it's about as close to JP sounding like Malmsteen as we're likely to get though!

The upshot is that by DT standards I think it's pretty average. However, that also means that the song still rocks like a bada$$ by any other standards. It hasn't made me worry about the new album. I think placed in context with other songs it'll probably work better as part of a whole.

I wouldn't cheat on Scenes from a Memory with this song.

[gentaishinigami]

The opening bits remind me of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhkGzrS1x_g

[cyberdrummer]

Just listened to it on Spotify - I can hear both JM and JLB much better.

[DT_Aus]

Full cover already on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-FDLyW-iQs

[aprilethereal]

Great cover

Once again I wish I had a seven string

[serrano]

Took a few listens, my first impression was "What a sonic onslaught". Not really a DT highlight for me but for sure a solid metal song without being plagued by cliches. I understand why people here want this song in the workout playlist, 3 seconds into the intro and my pulse goes up to 180 

James sounds great, feels like the verses were sung with restrained aggression and he's also fabulous on the lower register.

Jordan is not so prominent as in ADTOE but i liked his breaks.

JMX is barely audible and mostly only doubling JP, well this is a metal track, not surprised.

JP riffing is awesome but i'm a little let down by the solo, well it's technically great, but not memorable, on the other side while listening to the song i was not expecting a great solo, there is no outstanding melody to drive it. The rhythm guitar sound is great, aggressive, it has crunch, volume and it doesn't get muddy on the lower notes 

And MM, now we are talking! Great, he is the one who gives this song the extra amount of energy. Actually there is not so much room in this song for stellar drumming, so i'm thrilled to hear what he delivers in the instrumental and the epic!

Wow, great single, i didn't expect it to be so good, now i'm really hyped for the rest of the record.