The Enemy Inside Discussion Thread

[hefdaddy42]

OK, after a few more listens, the excitement for the song has worn off slightly.  But it's really good, better than other songs to which I would compare it (Constant Motion, Panic Attack, As I Am).

And I LOVE the snare sound. 

[Sycsa]

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

Why are we not counting strings in the background?  I think the song would have benefited greatly by JR staying in the background like that the whole song.  Similar to how Kevin Moore did for almost all of The Mirror (which is another fairly straight-forward metal song, albeit a slower one in regards to pace).

I disagree. Without Jordan's parts, the song would go way overboard with the heaviness. I really liked all his sounds too, less digital feel to them than ever before. Looks like that keyboard park really payed off.

[Zydar]

First listen to the iTunes download I just purchased, and the sound quality is so much better. Now I can finally appreciate the overall sound and mix.

[DT_Aus]

I'm definitely noticing a difference in the mix on the YouTube video (for the better)

[BlobVanDam]

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

Why are we not counting strings in the background?  I think the song would have benefited greatly by JR staying in the background like that the whole song.  Similar to how Kevin Moore did for almost all of The Mirror (which is another fairly straight-forward metal song, albeit a slower one in regards to pace).

I disagree. Without Jordan's parts, the song would go way overboard with the heaviness. I really liked all his sounds too, less digital feel to them than ever before. Looks like that keyboard park really payed off.

Agreed. JR is the element that elevates these songs from good but average straight-forward metal song to a Dream Theater song. The song would not be anywhere near as distinctive or enjoyable to me without JR's unique contributions.

[Octawakeimages]

Loving the new single!   Can't wait for the album!

[Whatsername]

OK, after a few more listens, the excitement for the song has worn off slightly.  But it's really good, better than other songs to which I would compare it (Constant Motion, Panic Attack, As I Am).

And I LOVE the snare sound. 

This.

[Podaar]

And I LOVE the snare sound.

Me too. 

[MoraWintersoul]

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

Why are we not counting strings in the background?  I think the song would have benefited greatly by JR staying in the background like that the whole song.  Similar to how Kevin Moore did for almost all of The Mirror (which is another fairly straight-forward metal song, albeit a slower one in regards to pace).

I disagree. Without Jordan's parts, the song would go way overboard with the heaviness. I really liked all his sounds too, less digital feel to them than ever before. Looks like that keyboard park really payed off.

Agreed. JR is the element that elevates these songs from good but average straight-forward metal song to a Dream Theater song. The song would not be anywhere near as distinctive or enjoyable to me without JR's unique contributions.

^ yup, when he "fully" comes in, it's such a great twist and his work here reminds me a lot of Scenes/SDoIT.

[The Stray Seed]

First listen to the iTunes download I just purchased, and the sound quality is so much better. Now I can finally appreciate the overall sound and mix.

Does the bass sound good in the original mix?

[Zydar]

First listen to the iTunes download I just purchased, and the sound quality is so much better. Now I can finally appreciate the overall sound and mix.

Does the bass sound good in the original mix?

Yeah, I think it sounds good. It's fairly audible.

[wasteland]

Is there a difference between youtube 720p and iTunes? I purchased the latter, and found it vastly better soundwise than the soundcloud stream, as nearly everybody reported.

[BlobVanDam]

First listen to the iTunes download I just purchased, and the sound quality is so much better. Now I can finally appreciate the overall sound and mix.

Does the bass sound good in the original mix?

Yeah, I think it sounds good. It's fairly audible.

Bass sounds good to me too. It only blends in places because it's doubling the guitar, but I can still clearly hear the bass when it's deviating.

[jingle.boy]

OK, after a few more listens, the excitement for the song has worn off slightly.  But it's really good, better than other songs to which I would compare it (Constant Motion, Panic Attack, As I Am).

Agreed.  Too many elements feel recycled from other tunes (overall, Fatal Tragedy; intro, BITS; drums, LNF).  I like it well enough, but still expect more/better on the rest of the album. 

[dedSurroun]

The snare sounds great, nothing wrong with it whatsoever.

I like the single — much, much better than previous singles (with the exception of On The Back Of Angels). It feels a lot more cohesive and well-written than the usual pot luck of ideas.

The only thing "wrong" with it is the (incessant) re-appearance of circus and carnival music (usually from Jordan). It has, very unfortunately, become a recurring motif in a lot of Dream Theater songs. There's got to be other things they can play to musically signify any kind of emotional distress. Much like the overused and tired-sounding string patches of prog music, the clown music has to stop. 

[sueño]

The only thing "wrong" with it is the (incessant) re-appearance of circus and carnival music (usually from Jordan). It has, very unfortunately, become a recurring motif in a lot of Dream Theater songs. There's got to be other things they can play to musically signify any kind of emotional distress. Much like the overused and tired-sounding string patches of prog music, the clown music has to stop.

I think it sounds fun.   

[aprilethereal]

The video is a bit underwhelming, but the song kicks ass just like before

[The Boomr]

The snare sounds great, nothing wrong with it whatsoever.

I like the single — much, much better than previous singles (with the exception of On The Back Of Angels). It feels a lot more cohesive and well-written than the usual pot luck of ideas.

The only thing "wrong" with it is the (incessant) re-appearance of circus and carnival music (usually from Jordan). It has, very unfortunately, become a recurring motif in a lot of Dream Theater songs. There's got to be other things they can play to musically signify any kind of emotional distress. Much like the overused and tired-sounding string patches of prog music, the clown music has to stop.

String patches and "carnival" patches are what make DT special for me.  So Shush.

[shredding]

Who else thought Lost Not forgotten's  solo could fit this song's solo perfectly, with the proper key change.

[Kotowboy]

Is there a difference between youtube 720p and iTunes? I purchased the latter, and found it vastly better soundwise than the soundcloud stream, as nearly everybody reported.

Youtube is horrendous whatever the quality.

My bro uploaded a 5GB video to YouTube once and when he re-downloaded it  as a test - it wasnt even in GB. That's how compressed it was.

[adamack]

The snare sounds great, nothing wrong with it whatsoever.

I like the single — much, much better than previous singles (with the exception of On The Back Of Angels). It feels a lot more cohesive and well-written than the usual pot luck of ideas.

The only thing "wrong" with it is the (incessant) re-appearance of circus and carnival music (usually from Jordan). It has, very unfortunately, become a recurring motif in a lot of Dream Theater songs. There's got to be other things they can play to musically signify any kind of emotional distress. Much like the overused and tired-sounding string patches of prog music, the clown music has to stop.

As much as I enjoy the song and as much as I like to focus on the positive attributes of it as much as possible, I definitely agree that the JR circus style is getting a bit excessive.

Don't get me wrong...there definitely is a place for it, especially since it seems to be a unique signature of JR.

But with his access of literally an infinite amount of sound patches (when taking into account JR's extensive patch library, the ability to layer patches to create an unlimited amount of fresh ones, and patch creation from scratch with sine/square/triangle waveforms), I wish he'd maybe explore just a bit more into some fresh sounds at times.

When he goes off on the circus tangent, it just feels like I've heard the exact same patches playing very similar melodies in the past, namely from songs off of Octavarium, Chaos, BCaSL, and ADToE in particular.

Okay I'm definitely nitpicking here haha, but someone said it best earlier on this thread: The only reason I am analytical at times toward DT is because I am such a fan, that it causes me to pay extreme attention to the detail of their music.

Regardless of anything negative I've ever said about them, if there are just one or two minor things I don't particularly care for in any of their songs, it is almost irrelevant because almost every one of their songs have way more than enough good qualities to override the not-as-good.

[DT_Aus]

The only thing "wrong" with it is the (incessant) re-appearance of circus and carnival music (usually from Jordan). It has, very unfortunately, become a recurring motif in a lot of Dream Theater songs. There's got to be other things they can play to musically signify any kind of emotional distress. Much like the overused and tired-sounding string patches of prog music, the clown music has to stop.

String patches and "carnival" patches are what make DT special for me.  So Shush.

This.

Everyone is, of course, entitled to their opinion but I just don't understand people critisising the DT elements of DT songs. It's what makes DT, DT.

It's like asking Metallica to stop doing pentatonic solos with a wah effect or asking Dave Mustaine to cut his hair and dye it. They wouldn't be the same bands without those elements and it's the same with DT and JR's carnival-esque interludes.

[The Boomr]

Okay I'm definitely nitpicking here haha, but someone said it best earlier on this thread: The only reason I am analytical at times toward DT is because I am such a fan, that it causes me to pay extreme attention to the detail of their music.

Regardless of anything negative I've ever said about them, if there are just one or two minor things I don't particularly care for in any of their songs, it is almost irrelevant because almost every one of their songs have way more than enough good qualities to override the not-as-good.

That was me, that was me!!

[ZKX-2099]

I love that guitar under the keys at about 5 minutes in.

Best song of 2013 so far. And it's been a good year as well.

[adamack]

Okay I'm definitely nitpicking here haha, but someone said it best earlier on this thread: The only reason I am analytical at times toward DT is because I am such a fan, that it causes me to pay extreme attention to the detail of their music.

Regardless of anything negative I've ever said about them, if there are just one or two minor things I don't particularly care for in any of their songs, it is almost irrelevant because almost every one of their songs have way more than enough good qualities to override the not-as-good.

That was me, that was me!!

Yeahhh there you are! I wanted to look for your post so I could quote you to give you props, but the thread has grown so large and it would've taken awhile to find.

It is a great point you brought up....I actually didn't even realize that I felt that way until you described it, and I was like...I do that! 

[adamack]

The only thing "wrong" with it is the (incessant) re-appearance of circus and carnival music (usually from Jordan). It has, very unfortunately, become a recurring motif in a lot of Dream Theater songs. There's got to be other things they can play to musically signify any kind of emotional distress. Much like the overused and tired-sounding string patches of prog music, the clown music has to stop.

String patches and "carnival" patches are what make DT special for me.  So Shush.

This.

Everyone is, of course, entitled to their opinion but I just don't understand people critisising the DT elements of DT songs. It's what makes DT, DT.

It's like asking Metallica to stop doing pentatonic solos with a wah effect or asking Dave Mustaine to cut his hair and dye it. They wouldn't be the same bands without those elements and it's the same with DT and JR's carnival-esque interludes.

Well played, sir

[The Boomr]

Yeahhh there you are! I wanted to look for your post so I could quote you to give you props, but the thread has grown so large and it would've taken awhile to find.

It is a great point you brought up....I actually didn't even realize that I felt that way until you described it, and I was like...I do that! 

Haha I'm just an attention hog

But Yeah, I think it's pretty common that we start to nitpick over the tiniest things when we truly love and adore something. Sorta makes sense in a way, because it's like human nature to refuse the possibility that anything could actually be perfect, so we just Have to find some tiny little thing so that our subconscious goes "There! I complained! Yay!" hahaha 

[rush-signals]

Some great comments on Blabbermouth! https://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=193353

[aprilethereal]

"great" and "Blabbermouth" in the same sentence?

[MarkFitDT]

just downloaded it from Amazon and listening thru headphones - sounds so much better quality!!

Song is amazing.

[?]

Some great comments on Blabbermouth! https://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=193353

I'm shocked at the lack of trolling and bashing

[The Boomr]

Some great comments on Blabbermouth! https://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=193353

I'm shocked at the lack of trolling and bashing

Seriously, I was reading those comments thinking to myself, "Huh? Is this still Blabbermouth??"

[emtee]

At some point will there just be one sanctioned thread for all things new album...i.e. songs, videos, ordering info, etc?

[KevShmev]

At some point will there just be one sanctioned thread for all things new album...i.e. songs, videos, ordering info, etc?

Probably for the album itself, but I don't recall there being officially sanctioned threads for all of the songs once the album is out, although each song will likely gets its own thread for discussion the day of the release (or shortly thereafter), but those are usually started by regular users and not really "officially sanctioned threads."

[The Boomr]

At some point will there just be one sanctioned thread for all things new album...i.e. songs, videos, ordering info, etc?

Well there is a thread called "self-titled album discussion". That pretty much warrants discussion of anything related to the new album...but we have these individual threads for people who want to talk about one specific thing. Like the single, of course.

Myung'd, by Kev!
Btw, happy 13000 posts!!