Your favorite of the 12SS, sans TGP

[Sycsa]

Pretty straightforward, I decided to exclude The Glass Prison because I strongly suspect it would be a runaway leader again (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=40528.35).

I went with TROA, as it's one of my favorite DT album openers. JLB comes out of the gates slaying, with one of his best performances and most rocking timbre ever. "Driven blindly by our sins" is the pivotal moment of the song, but the subsequent "I can feel my body breaking" part comes out a hell of a lot better than it did in TDS, both vocally and instrumentally.

I'll also have to commend JP on his overtone-y, more natural, hard rock sounding tone, coupled with MP's more classical drum sound approach (kick drum almost stripped of that click-y attack that was always typical before and since). The whole production of Octavarium was a nice change of pace and it would be a breath of fresh air to hear something like that again.

Also gotta mention what a kickass live moment that was when this song kicked off their show in RCMH (Score), with that overwhelming, sweeping energy. RAAARRRRGGHHH

[Zydar]

The Root Of All Evil

It's actually the only song I really like in the whole suite.

[Dellers]

It used to be This Dying Soul, but I have to say The Root Of All Evil now. It's catchy, and one of the very few DT songs I can actually play on bass (I have slow fingers).

[Bolsters]

This Dying Soul without question

[Mosh]

The Root Of All Evil. Incidentally this is also the song that feels most out of place in the context of the entire suite.

[wasteland]

Sans TGP: The Root Of All Evil
With TGP: The Root Of All Evil

I don't like TGP, yeah.

[BlackInk]

The Glas Prison is my favorite, but out of these ones I went with This Dying Soul. Great track. Although I really really enjoy both The Root of All Evil and Repentance as well. The Shattered Fortress can disappear from existance for all I care.

[Prog Snob]

I have come to really love Repentance, especially the guitar solo.  It's one of JP's best.  Otherwise, it would have been The Glass Prison.   

[Eldomm]

I always had a soft spot for This Dying Soul

[BlobVanDam]

TGP is by far the best of them, but excluding that it's a tough call between TDS and TROAE. I have to be in the mood for TDS though, whereas TROAE I can always listen to, so I guess TROAE.

Repentance would be great if it was 6 minutes, but it drags on for too long, and TSF is just a copy/paste medley.

[erwinrafael]

The Shattered Fortress. I can listen to just that song instead of the whole 12SS.

[Prog Snob]

The Shattered Fortress. I can listen to just that song instead of the whole 12SS.

That was my first choice but then remembered how much I love Repentance.  I love the flashback moments throughout TSF. 

[RoeDent]

Hmm. Last time I tried to do something like this (run a poll eliminating what I assumed would be the runaway winner), I got a lot of people moaning at me. Oh well.

Repentance, even if TGP was included.

[Prog Snob]

Hmm. Last time I tried to do something like this (run a poll eliminating what I assumed would be the runaway winner), I got a lot of people moaning at me. Oh well.

Repentance, even if TGP was included.

I'm glad I'm not alone. 

[BlackInk]

The Shattered Fortress. I can listen to just that song instead of the whole 12SS.

Yeah, it's like only watching the 'previously on...' bits of a TV show instead of the actual episodes.

[BlobVanDam]

The Shattered Fortress. I can listen to just that song instead of the whole 12SS.

Yeah, it's like only watching the 'previously on...' bits of a TV show instead of the actual episodes.

Or the clip shows.

[krands85]

TGP is by far the best of them, but excluding that it's a tough call between TDS and TROAE.

Similar thoughts here, I'm actually finding it quite tricky to choose between them. I'm leaning towards TDS right now.

TGP has always been my favourite, though my enjoyment of it seems to be waning recently. I've never been keen on Reptenance, so it sits at the bottom. TSF was disappointing at first, but has grown on me and was pretty cool live - though it's nowhere near as good as TGP/TDS/TROAE.

[Scorpion]

Repentance is the best them, and it would be there if we included TGP too.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

Toss-up between TDS and TROAE. I'm leaning more towards TROAE though.

[Evermind]

Sans TGP: The Root Of All Evil
With TGP: The Root Of All Evil

This.

[CharlesPL]

Root

[TheGreatPretender]

Sans TGP: The Shattered Fortress
With TGP: The Shattered Fortress

FTFM

[hefdaddy42]

Root of All Evil

[bosk1]

I have to go with TROAE, but TSF is not far behind.

Repentance would be great if it was 6 minutes, but it drags on for too long, and TSF is just a copy/paste medley.

Yeah, this.  TDS overstays its welcome a bit too and meanders all over the place, but I put it slightly ahead of Repentance.

[Crow]

for me it's TROAE > TGP > Repentance > TDS > TSF

so even without excluding TGP I'd still pick TROAE

[TheCountOfNYC]

The Shattered Fortress is my favorite part even if The Glass Prison IS included.

[Jaq]

TDS is my favorite even with TGP included.

[chaossystem]

I like all of them, but the Root of All Evil gets my vote either way.

I would put This Dying soul at the bottom, but only because the lyrics/vocals are almost impossible to follow.

The other three I would have to rank depending on my mood at the time.

[RoeDent]

Sans TGP: The Root Of All Evil
With TGP: The Root Of All Evil

I don't like TGP, yeah.

TGP is alright, but 14 minutes of non-stop BWOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRR!!!!!! in-your-face is a bit too much to take.

[TAC]

....Repentance, especially the guitar solo.  It's one of JP's best. 

Agreed.

For me it's This Dying Soul, with or without TGP.

[wolfking]

TDS.

[Outcrier]

This Dying Soul, but TROAE is pretty good too.

[Nearmyth]

This Dying Soul

Followed by Repentance

[Nick]

This Dying Soul, followed closely by Shattered Fortress. Root is easily my least favorite of the series.

[Madman Shepherd]

Sans TGP: The Root Of All Evil
With TGP: The Root Of All Evil

This.

Same here..and for me it isn't even close. 

Then again, I would probably put Repentance second or third so maybe I have no credibility