The Great Northern Empire or the Ravenskill Rebel Militia?

[Bertielee]

That's not true, we also know that according to the 'and so it begins...' FB post of JP we can see that there's an acoustic guitar featured on the album, so there's that.

We also know there is piano.

B.Lee

And singing.

I didn't see it on any photo. As far as I know, there might be no singing on the new album.

B.Lee

[chaossystem]

For lack of a better way of saying it, I am a huge "conspiracy geek," and I think the new album, whatever it's length, weather it's a double or not, is going to be a concept based on the belief that the North American / global government has become to big and oppressive, and the Militia-as outlined in the United States Constitution-will mount a revolution against the "globalists."

But I also see possible inspiration from Rush's Hemispheres, in which both sides will present compelling arguments for their way of doing things, until a third party hopefully steps in and resolves the conflict.

[Tomislav95]

For lack of a better way of saying it, I am a huge "conspiracy geek," and I think the new album, whatever it's length, weather it's a double or not, is going to be a concept based on the belief that the North American / global government has become to big and oppressive, and the Militia-as outlined in the United States Constitution-will mount a revolution against the "globalists."

But I also see possible inspiration from Rush's Hemispheres, in which both sides will present compelling arguments for their way of doing things, until a third party hopefully steps in and resolves the conflict.

Maybe Nomac is Deus Ex Machina.

[Prog Snob]

The Great Northern Empire = 22
Ravenskill Rebel Militia = 22

twenty two = 9

13 + 9 = 22

22 will be the name of the LP

And 13=5+8

8-5=3

The square root of 9 is 3.

A square has 4 sides.

The Root of All Evil is the fourth song in the AA suite.

The Root of All Evil is the first song on Octavarium.

An octavarium has 8 sides.

8 divided by 4 is 2.

One last thing, 5+8=13

Octavarium part two confirmed!

Octavarium Part 2: Octaquarium, Tales of Wobbly-Legs LaBrie and His Pirateers

[Cedar redaC]

58/10 would buy

[MirrorMask]

For lack of a better way of saying it, I am a huge "conspiracy geek," and I think the new album, whatever it's length, weather it's a double or not, is going to be a concept based on the belief that the North American / global government has become to big and oppressive, and the Militia-as outlined in the United States Constitution-will mount a revolution against the "globalists."

But I also see possible inspiration from Rush's Hemispheres, in which both sides will present compelling arguments for their way of doing things, until a third party hopefully steps in and resolves the conflict.

Some code geek figured out from the DT website that the Empire was labeled as "good side" and the Militia as "bad side". Maybe after the cliché of the evil empire being overthrown by the rebellion, they turn the thing around and the Empire is trying to resist against the evil rebellion that would want to bring chaos all over the world.

[Train of Naught]

Well it could be the Robin Hood kind of 'bad'. I mean it's a protagonist, but you can't deny he's a thief and therefore a crook.

[chaossystem]

Voted for the Empire as I'm from the North, but apart from that I have no idea what I've done! How long will we have to wait to discover the meaning of this 'random' poll...?

I didn't know it was a poll!

I picked BOTH because I was hoping they would send me INFORMATION about both!!

[RaiseTheKnife]

I have not signed up for either because I read the privacy policy and found it wanting.  A little too open ended to the benefit of the data mining industry for my taste.

[Another_Won]

I have not signed up for either because I read the privacy policy and found it wanting.  A little too open ended to the benefit of the data mining industry for my taste.

Sure, that's true for every policy imo.  I just look at like making a decision on who I let do the data mining.  What's the worst that can happen, they find out my favorite DT song?

[King Postwhore]

Myung is all knowing.

He lurks behind the hair, silently.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I have not signed up for either because I read the privacy policy and found it wanting.  A little too open ended to the benefit of the data mining industry for my taste.

Nice

[TioJorge]

First time in years even coming into the DT side! I still get DT updates for the hell of it, theyre not too bothersome, but i got this as well and...to say the least, was intrigued. Its been mentioned but i really thought they got hacked at first by some mobile game of online game third rate company, thats what the names reminded me of right off the bat. Im very confused, honestly. 

Especially if it turns out to be album related; those names are very weird but more so if it turns out to be album related... Very MMORPG/Dungeons and Dragons-esque. Im just interested in seeing what comes of this. I didnt sign up because im obviously not all that into current DT, but hey this marketing clearly worked cause im interested in this at least! Very odd names... Especially "Ravenskill"...what in the fuck is that?  The skill of ravens. KA-KAW!!  Ill be keeping an eye on this and will check out the new album no matter what though.

[CoT67]

Went Ravenskill for the whole "Star Wars" rebels against empire thing.

Now that I think about them possibly making a double concept album with a proggier side (empire) and a more metal side (rebels), I feel quite conflicted. If they actually deliver an ambiguous story, I expect great things.

[p-we]

I just joined this site. DT obsessed since 1995:

I personally hope that DT will be releasing a concept album ala: "Six degrees of Inner Turbulence" or "Metropolis: Scenes from a Memory" with an album long continuous storyline in it. The words "Empire" and "Rebel" on respective sides of the choice give it away I believe. I am hoping for an epic musical story of an oppressive stalemated empire whose public trust is being undermined by some kind of rebel movement. If this turns out to be somewhat on the mark, then there will be a parallel drawn to make us think about what democracy is becoming in the 21st century.

Throw in some DT history as a predictor, it will hopefully be a double CD release like the 6 degrees album and feature the aforementioned 74 minute "Empire vs Rebels" saga full with instrumental DT soundscapes between some powerful lyrics. Then pop in the 2nd CD to get an hour of some masterful singular numbers ala DT's most recent self titled gem.

[BlobVanDam]

Why are people jumping to the conclusion it would be a double album? A concept album looks likely, since we've seen hints of that concept, but I don't see any reason for it to be a double. I actually really hope it's not.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Why are people jumping to the conclusion it would be a double album? A concept album looks likely, since we've seen hints of that concept, but I don't see any reason for it to be a double. I actually really hope it's not.

I've been wondering this too. Best I can tell, there are two things: First, the whole "this is something we haven't done before" got people thinking double concept earlier, so confirmation bias. And second, the whole idea of signing up for different sides, getting different info, suggests different physical products to people. But yeah, I mean...it could be a double, but there isn't really any more reason to think that than we had before the GNE/RRM reveal.

Even more baffling is the suggestions that these are two separate unrelated albums; gonna go out on a limb and say the rebels are, y'know, rebelling against the empire. If it was, I dunno, The Great Northern Bakery and The Ravenskill Chess Club, then maybe. But empire and rebels? Gotta be integrated. Which of course makes me wonder what's going to be exclusive about the signup thing, even if it is just different email info. Hopefully the band wouldn't do the whole suspense/misdirect teaser thing if the ultimate reveal was going to be stupidly trivial and silly.




...calling it now, they'll announce tomorrow that it's two unrelated albums. Just because.

[Lowdz]

I guess the comment from JP? That we would see why writing and recording took so long would suggest maybe a double.

[BlobVanDam]

Oh yeah, it could be a double, but nothing to me has been evidence towards it being more likely than usual. I think it is a case of confirmation bias, with the evidence towards it being the lack of evidence.
There's already been plenty of indication as to how this album is different to usual and why it has taken longer, without being a double album on top of that.

[Progmetty]

I think they couldn't have written a double album that is also a concept album in a year.. at least not with a good outcome. I'm excited nevertheless!

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

So, how does this medieval warfare subject relate to 'The Astonishing'?

Discuss.

[jdprsaga]

Maybe the great northern empire and revenskill rebel militia are just referenced in One song (the first single for thy hype they are giving to it) and It's just a little part of a larger concept in the new album.

[AboutToCrash]

I think they couldn't have written a double album that is also a concept album in a year.. at least not with a good outcome. I'm excited nevertheless!

I fully agree, which is why I believe this has been planned for a while

[Lowdz]

Let's face it, to be a double album would only need 15 more minutes of music that DT albums generally have. Once they go over 80 minutes it's a double album.

[TAC]

Let's face it, to be a double album would only need 15 more minutes of music that DT albums generally have. Once they go over 80 minutes it's a double album.

Like The Book Of Souls, which is 92 minutes. Problem with that is the filler that could be removed to easily fit on one disc. If DT makes a double CD, I sure hope it's longer than 92 minutes.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

I think they couldn't have written a double album that is also a concept album in a year.. at least not with a good outcome. I'm excited nevertheless!

Haven't they said the ideas started up on the previous tour? So over a year. We don't know how much of the pre-February stuff made it to the final product, but if it's substantial, that changes the picture.

[cramx3]

Let's face it, to be a double album would only need 15 more minutes of music that DT albums generally have. Once they go over 80 minutes it's a double album.

Like The Book Of Souls, which is 92 minutes. Problem with that is the filler that could be removed to easily fit on one disc. If DT makes a double CD, I sure hope it's longer than 92 minutes.

Filler on Book of Souls?!?!

[BelichickFan]

Let's face it, to be a double album would only need 15 more minutes of music that DT albums generally have. Once they go over 80 minutes it's a double album.

Like The Book Of Souls, which is 92 minutes. Problem with that is the filler that could be removed to easily fit on one disc. If DT makes a double CD, I sure hope it's longer than 92 minutes.

Filler on Book of Souls?!?!

No, none for me.  Speed of Light is the closest.  There's nothing I would like removed - unlike most of the reunion Maiden CDs which generally have 25% filler IMO.

[TAC]

For me, I'd remove Eternity and DoG. Bam..one cd!

My point is if it's going to be a double CD, let's make it worth the space and time allotted.

[BelichickFan]

For me, I'd remove Eternity and DoG. Bam..one cd!

Yeah, but they're both really good tracks.  So no thanks.

[MirrorMask]

A filler is a song that is written for the purpouse of making an album longer... nevermind if the song happens to become successful, like Sabbath's Paranoid or Priest's You've got another thing comin'... so a double album has the total opposite of fillers, by definition 

[Progmetty]

I think they couldn't have written a double album that is also a concept album in a year.. at least not with a good outcome. I'm excited nevertheless!

Haven't they said the ideas started up on the previous tour? So over a year. We don't know how much of the pre-February stuff made it to the final product, but if it's substantial, that changes the picture.

Maybe, I hope so but I've always had the impression that when JP says "ideas" he means interesting melodies or guitar riffs that he stores on his computer and brings out in the studio, same for Rudess. In my opinion for a good long tightly written concept album that is also great musically; you need at least 4 years of exclusively going through the process of writing, trying and tweaking things. But DT might surprise us after all.

[BelichickFan]

I think they couldn't have written a double album that is also a concept album in a year.. at least not with a good outcome. I'm excited nevertheless!

Haven't they said the ideas started up on the previous tour? So over a year. We don't know how much of the pre-February stuff made it to the final product, but if it's substantial, that changes the picture.

Maybe, I hope so but I've always had the impression that when JP says "ideas" he means interesting melodies or guitar riffs that he stores on his computer and brings out in the studio, same for Rudess. In my opinion for a good long tightly written concept album that is also great musically; you need at least 4 years of exclusively going through the process of writing, trying and tweaking things. But DT might surprise us after all.

JP was quoted a while back saying the idea for the CD happened during rehearsals for either the Along for the Ride tour or the short tour before that (I think it was the mini tour).  So it's been 2+ years that they've known what they were going to do.

[Metro]

Just received this email from DT(I chose both but this is from the Great Northern Empire)

IT IS WITH THE GREAT STRENGTH born from the blood of Our Most Noble ancestral heritage, and otherworldly comfort forged by millennia of custom and tradition, in which We extend warmest of well wishes and greetings to you, Our Most Loyal Subjects, Our Beloved Citizens, O’ ye the divinely appointed tributaries flooding the lake of prosperity manifested as Our thriving metropolis, Our beacon of freedom from struggle through freedom to struggle that is The Great Northern Empire Of The Americas. It is I, Lord Nafaryus, Emperor and Head of the Realm, Heir to the Mantle of Makers, Supplier of sustenance, Giver of purpose and reason, who hereby directly addresses you, Our blessed engines of productivity, you keepers of harmony, and collective responsibility, with the loving guidance We enduringly provide through the firm hand of Royal might.

As the NOMACS who tirelessly serve and protect you transmit Our message ever so wondrously across the Realm, utilizing the arcane technology embedded deeply into the flesh during the Forbidden Ages memorialized in the electronic tablets protected by Our Grace in Our Palatial Residence, We command you to exercise the utmost caution. From the perch of protective power of New Maineland, which freed you from the terror and tyranny of surrounding barbarism so many generations ago, We have learned there are those among you harvesting seeds of dissent, designed to undermine your very way of life. Do you not stride with confidence, secure in your collaboration toward the greater good defined in your servitude to the collective? Are you not given purpose by your powerlessness, freed from the burdens of choice and reason, blessed by Our decrees?

Do not be deceived by those who speak of new wonders born of “sound,” as this is the work of devilish malcontents whose search for wisdom will result only in ignorance. The NOMACS have secured you just as your daily work has defined you. FEAR and BEWARE the destabilization of our most hallowed traditions that have kept you safe and serene.

Rest assured, in Our ceaseless task of providing for your happiness as you provide for Our sustenance, Our subjects of this Realm, and the dominions thereunto belonging, are bound by law to observe and report all traitorous conspiracies against Our crown, as aiding and abetting sedition will result in the swift and severe punishment any such threat to Our gracious rule demands. We command you to free your mind, unburden your spirit through the meditative emptiness of work. The Empire toils for you so that you may toil for the Empire.

THE EMPIRE IS OBEDIENT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE OBEDIENT TO THE EMPIRE.
The Empire protects you because you protect the Empire.

This Noble Proclamation of G.N.E.A. Given at Our Court at the Palatial Residence of New Maineland, Great Northern Empire of The Americas, in this, the twenty-seventh year of the reign of your Sovereign, Lord Nafaryus, Emperor and Head of the Realm, two hundredth fifty seven A.C., two thousandth two hundredth eighty-five, A.D.

[425]

It's looking like the Empire are the bad guys, then... I may have to defect...