Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[jyoung320]

We're now four days into being able to hear the album, and not an hour has gone by while I've been awake in which I haven't been listening to this album.

Agreed. It was the same way for me though with ADTOE. I listened to it 150 times in the first week.

[Podaar]

We're now four days into being able to hear the album, and not an hour has gone by while I've been awake in which I haven't been listening to this album.

Agreed. It was the same way for me though with ADTOE. I listened to it 150 times in the first week.

I listened to my two favorite DT albums (6 Degrees and Scenes) this morning before starting up the stream again. It's fun to take a break from it. As of right now I don't think it will knock those two out of my favorite spot but it's real close. I will say this, it's certainly a whole different animal than those two albums!!

Six Degrees is so far out in left field--in a good way--that I don't know what JR & JP would need to do to get back into that headspace. I hope they do some day. I definitely think they have another Scenes in them though.

Anyway, DT12 is great. It's definitely blown my expectations away.

[wasteland]

I am aware that the album is great, but I still feel like I've got something really big and major to figure out about it. Wonder what that might be, but I hope it's not anything negative 

[ResultsMayVary]

I tried to take a break from listening for the day, but gave in at 2pm. 

I got an email from RR about my pre-order, so hopefully I'll get to hear the 5.1 mix soon when my pre-order is delivered.

[climberboy]

The link doesn't seem to be working anymore, can anybody confirm that it's not just me having trouble listening

[FourthHorseman]

So I'm loving every bit of the album up until IT.  Then the first section of IT plays, and I'm all    But then it comes to an abrupt end and I'm all like 

The symphonic part is amazing, but it all feels a little disjointed. Maybe I just need to give it more listens.

[RodrigoAltaf]

The link doesn't seem to be working anymore, can anybody confirm that it's not just me having trouble listening

I had trouble this morning, but it´s working fine now...listening to IT again and again and again!!! We seeeek...to understaaaaand...

[climberboy]

Ahh well I'll just have to sustain myself with ADTOE and the singles for a while until its all back up and running 

[eviljust]

All the album is growing more and more. Absolutely blown away by The Bigger Picture and IT. Liking more Enigma Machine as well, dat riff!!

[RodrigoAltaf]

All the album is growing more and more. Absolutely blown away by The Bigger Picture and IT. Liking more Enigma Machine as well, dat riff!!

  Same here...and hey, the "watershed" section on IT is awesome!!!! I love every second of this track!!!

[Kotowboy]

What happens when the CD is out ? Do we keep discussing the album here ?

[ResultsMayVary]

It should be free game after release to discuss the album anywhere on the DT part of the forum.

[Lucien]

It should be free game after release to discuss the album anywhere on the DT part of the forum.

[Ultimetalhead]

So far, it's getting better with every listen. The Bigger Picture seems to click with me on a whole new level every time I listen to it, and I've had the Restless Angels bit from STR in my head all day.

[cramx3]

Im s******* my pants listening to this album for the first time.  Half way through enigma. 

[PROGdrummer]

current ranking (yes i know this is early but whatever)

The Bigger Picture
Surrender to Reason
The Looking Glass
Enigma Machine
Along for the Ride
Behind the Veil
False Awakening
The Enemy Inside


I cant rank Illumination Theory among them, I usually dont count the epics anyway because its too much to compare.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Guys, I've got to say... A Dramatic Turn of Events is a really good album, but DT12 is on a different level. It's absolutely great, and I'm totally floored.

Oh, did I mention I haven't even tried listening to "Illumination Theory" yet?

[krands85]

I've had the Restless Angels bit from STR in my head all day.

Likewise!

Pleased to say the album's beginning to grow on me a bit after a few more spins. After my first couple of listens, nothing grabbed me at all other than FAS, TEI (which I'd already heard several times), STR and IT. Beginning to get to grips with TBP and BTV now - could barely recall anything from them at first. EM has potential, but will take a few more listens I think. TLG is just not my cup of tea at all, doesn't do anything for me. AFTR I thought was bland and unmemorable when I first heard it, but I'm even starting to enjoy that now too (though I can't unhear Jordan's solo coming in 'late' after someone pointed it out!).

Unfortunately though, I don't see this album ever being a favourite of mine. I just miss the longer songs too much. I know a lot of people can be critical of DT writing long songs for the sake of it and I agree with this on Systematic Chaos and especially on Black Clouds - there was a lot of fat there that should have been trimmed. Otherwise, longer songs are what they do best for me - aside from IT, I don't see anything from this album that will get in to my top 20.

Seems like that's not a common opinion though and I'm pleased for the band at the positive reaction it's getting from most of the members here.

[Dream_Theater01]

The album seems to get better each time I listen to it.

[Saxman]

After listening a few times since Monday, I really think The Bigger Picture is my favorite tune. The last part, from ~6:00 on is just amazing.  I keep going back to this track over and over. Perfect balance of JLB and heavy chords from JP.

[BlobVanDam]

We're now four days into being able to hear the album, and not an hour has gone by while I've been awake in which I haven't been listening to this album.

Agreed. It was the same way for me though with ADTOE. I listened to it 150 times in the first week.

I've been like that for every new DT album up until ADTOE. For both ADTOE and DT12, I just never got that feeling.

[chrisbDTM]

haven't heard it in a couple days but TLG is still stuck in my head. definitely disagree with anyone who said the hooks aren't memorable

[aurorablind]

It's out on Spotify here in Norway today! The quality is defenitely better than on the stream, thats for sure.

I've been listening to this album once every day this week, and i think im able to give some thoughts now.

I think DT never will top 6DOIT, Scenes or Awake for me. However, i am a guy who likes all of their albums, even though some are ranked a lot lower than the top ones.
My ranking as of today will probably be:
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Scenes from a Memory
Awake
Octavarium
Images and Words
Dream Theater
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Falling into Infinity
Black Clouds and Silver Linings
Train of Thought
Systematic Chaos
When Dream and Day unite

A really solid effort, that is up there with the best. Its pretty much tied with ADTOE as of now, but i really liked that album.

The only song that haven't really clicked with me yet is Surrender to Reason, but its not bad by any means. After Behind The Veil i just feel like jumping into Illumination Theory, because it's fucking immense!

My first impressions was very varied. I instantly loved False Awakening, Enemy Inside and The Looking Glass. The other songs needed more sinking into, and i wasn't sure about Illumination Theory because there's so much going on.

My ranking of the album itself right now is like this:

Illumination Theory - I love this song now. The riffs are really clicking, and the vocal delivery is just fantastic!
The Bigger Picture - That outro 
The Enemy Inside - I love this song. So metal 
False Awakening - Will be insane as a concert opener!
The Looking Glass - Love the vocal melodies and riffing on this one.
Behind The Veil - I love the chorus
Enigma Machine - Wasn't sure of this one at first, but its defenitely a cool piece!
Along for the ride - Nice ballad, i even like the solo
Surrender to reason - A good song, but havent really clicked yet.

This is defenitely a very solid effort, with no weak tracks - and i feel like every album since Scenes have had some weak tracks on it.
Probably their most overall solid effort since Scenes From A Memory, and their best since Octavarium.

4.5/5 

[sylvinception]

Seriously, the sound mix of the album is a real problem.

The album actually sound better on my computer - through the link -  than the mp3 cd that I burned!!

Let's hope the sound of the cd will really be better...
If not, then I will have to replace my hifi material. 

I need the opinion of a specialist!!

[aurorablind]

I agree that the mix is a bit bothersome at times.
Atleast on the softer parts. The intro on The Bigger Picture gets a bit ruined for me because of the gated snare drum.
The mix works very well on some of the heavier parts. Illumination Theory sounds great IMO!
However, they could have mixed up the snare-sound on some tracks. On False Awakening you get a couple of seconds of a drum roll with a better (more organic) snare-sound, but thats it.

However, i've been listening to this album so much that im starting to get used to the mix and can focus more on the actual songs.

[Viking of the Sagas]

The mix is awesome, it's just your personal preferences that get in the way. Those people doing the mix are professionals, not amateurs (like you).

[BlobVanDam]

The mix is awesome, it's just your personal preferences that get in the way. Those people doing the mix are professionals, not amateurs (like you).

You do not need to be a professional mixer to judge a mix, just as you don't need to be a professional musician to judge the music.

[Kotowboy]

The mix is awesome, it's just your personal preferences that get in the way. Those people doing the mix are professionals, not amateurs (like you).

You do not need to be a professional mixer to judge a mix, just as you don't need to be a professional musician to judge the music.

[Kotowboy]

We're now four days into being able to hear the album, and not an hour has gone by while I've been awake in which I haven't been listening to this album.

Agreed. It was the same way for me though with ADTOE. I listened to it 150 times in the first week.

I've been like that for every new DT album up until ADTOE. For both ADTOE and DT12, I just never got that feeling.

That's the worst...Hearing a new CD by your favourite band and not getting any reaction from it.

[Moor]

Now that I have digested this album I can say the following:

DT12 is a strong, balanced and beautiful album. The guys are the best musicians in the world.
The bass, the drumming, the lyrics, the melodies, the vocals and the creativity side were all lifted to a higher level in this album.
What a perfect way to end this summer, thank you DT 

[metrojam]

We're now four days into being able to hear the album, and not an hour has gone by while I've been awake in which I haven't been listening to this album.

Agreed. It was the same way for me though with ADTOE. I listened to it 150 times in the first week.

I've been like that for every new DT album up until ADTOE. For both ADTOE and DT12, I just never got that feeling.

That's the worst...Hearing a new CD by your favourite band and not getting any reaction from it.

I agree with this and unfortunately that's EXACTLY the "reaction" I get with this new CD. It just leaves me totally cold and without any desires to hear it again!. I listened to it 6 times on Mon and Tues to see if I could digest it and find that "missing link" but I haven't listened to it again since and don't miss it. I will give it another go next week when the proper CD arrives but I have no belief that the "missing link" for me will appear then either   SOOOO disappointed and upset that I feel like this about the group I have loved for 24 years

[hefdaddy42]

Guys, I've got to say... A Dramatic Turn of Events is a really good album, but DT12 is on a different level. It's absolutely great, and I'm totally floored.

I'm with you.  I loved ADTOE, but this one, thus far, is just BEYOND

[Moor]

With all my respect to all those who do not connect with this album (after all it is a matter of tastes), but are you sure your problem is not with the genre itself? I do not see how a person expecting a DT prog metal album is not liking this one? What were you expecting, what else can they do?
You go to the best 5 stars italian restaurant in town, they serve you the best pasta ever, and you don't like it ! Are you sure you like pasta in general?  Just my thoughts.

[Viking of the Sagas]

You do not need to be a professional mixer to judge a mix, just as you don't need to be a professional musician to judge the music.

It's an opinion, not a judgement. Everyone can judge others, but it doesn't make it right.

[Podaar]

Guys, I've got to say... A Dramatic Turn of Events is a really good album, but DT12 is on a different level. It's absolutely great, and I'm totally floored.

I'm with you.  I loved ADTOE, but this one, thus far, is just BEYOND

I'm on a schedule to listen to all my favorite DT albums followed by listening to DT12. Alternating back and forth. I'm presently listening to ADTOE and it really is a great album, yet I must agree with the above. DT12 really is on a plateau far above!