Dream Theater: The Astonishing (now with moment of betrayal!)

[Moor]

Do you think they're going to go so far as to wear costumes on stage?

I mean....

Yes, JLB would be disguised as Lord Nafaryus and Mangini would act as a disabled Nomac.

[mikeyd23]

So 11 tracks in the first Act? Anyone else think a couple of those might be short transitional songs (like Through My Words) or speaking tracks (like Regression)...? Even so, I feel like there's going to be a lot to digest when this album drops 

[Kotowboy]

I'll take 22 tracks over 6.

[ToT-147]

So 11 tracks in the first Act? Anyone else think a couple of those might be short transitional songs (like Through My Words) or speaking tracks (like Regression)...? Even so, I feel like there's going to be a lot to digest when this album drops 

That made think of this: is confirmed that it will be a double album? Or there's the probability of two albums as some has speculated?..

I'll take 22 tracks over 6.

I'll take quality over quantity..

[BlobVanDam]

So 11 tracks in the first Act? Anyone else think a couple of those might be short transitional songs (like Through My Words) or speaking tracks (like Regression)...? Even so, I feel like there's going to be a lot to digest when this album drops 

That made think of this: is confirmed that it will be a double album? Or there's the probability of two albums as some has speculated?..

I'm not sure if it's technically confirmed by the band yet, but it's all but confirmed from other sources.

[Kotowboy]

So 11 tracks in the first Act? Anyone else think a couple of those might be short transitional songs (like Through My Words) or speaking tracks (like Regression)...? Even so, I feel like there's going to be a lot to digest when this album drops 

That made think of this: is confirmed that it will be a double album? Or there's the probability of two albums as some has speculated?..

I'll take 22 tracks over 6.

I'll take quality over quantity..

And Black Clouds was 6 tracks of absolute A-grade quality

[RoeDent]

I'm not sure if it's technically confirmed by the band yet, but it's all but confirmed from other sources.

It certainly seems to be heading that way, but I won't be fully satisfied until DT or RR confirm it through their official channels. I suppose the fact they haven't rushed to deny it is a pretty good sign.

[TAC]

Plus there are 11 titles on Act 1. Some of them may be short atmospheric transitions, but that's still a lot get on one CD.

[Zook]

So 11 tracks in the first Act? Anyone else think a couple of those might be short transitional songs (like Through My Words) or speaking tracks (like Regression)...? Even so, I feel like there's going to be a lot to digest when this album drops 

That made think of this: is confirmed that it will be a double album? Or there's the probability of two albums as some has speculated?..

I'll take 22 tracks over 6.

I'll take quality over quantity..

And Black Clouds was 6 tracks of absolute A-grade quality

[ResultsMayVary]

At this point, I would be very surprised for this to turn out to not be a double album. 11 tracks in Act I alone? I just don't see 11+ tracks on one disc.

[425]

And Black Clouds was 6 tracks of absolute A-grade quality

I know that you aren't being serious, but yes, yes it is. Their best six-song album.

[Evermind]

And Black Clouds was 6 tracks of absolute A-grade quality

I know that you aren't being serious, but yes, yes it is. Their best six-song album.

It wasn't an A-grade quality material, but yeah, I would say it's probably better than SDOIT by a slim margin. I know I'm in the minority with this opinion though.

[Kotowboy]

And Black Clouds was 6 tracks of absolute A-grade quality

I know that you aren't being serious, but yes, yes it is. Their best six-song album.

[Kotowboy]

" by the grace of god above - every1 survive - RUOORORORORORORORORORORORORORORORHUH !!! " < - - - this alone makes it at least worse than Six Degrees.

[Evermind]

" by the grace of god above - every1 survive - RUOORORORORORORORORORORORORORORORHUH !!! " < - - - this alone makes it at least worse than Six Degrees.

The ending of The Count of Tuscany is alone better than anything written on Six Degrees.

And in my opinion, this ANTR section isn't as cringeworthy as everyone paints it. Lyrics on TBOT, now, that's another story.

Anyway, I'm out of this thread before we can derail it comparing these two albums.

[Kotowboy]

Lets not compare one Top tier album with *another* lower tier album 



I'm all for The Astonishing having 22 "tracks". How many songs that is I don't care. If i've got more choice - it means the album won't get boring so quickly.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

" by the grace of god above - every1 survive - RUOORORORORORORORORORORORORORORORHUH !!! " < - - - this alone makes it at least worse than Six Degrees.

The ending of The Count of Tuscany is alone better than anything written on Six Degrees.

And in my opinion, this ANTR section isn't as cringeworthy as everyone paints it. Lyrics on TBOT, now, that's another story.

Anyway, I'm out of this thread before we can derail it comparing these two albums.

Sorry, had to chime in.

The Glass Prison - Amazing
Blind Faith - Amazing
Misunderstood - Pretty good
The Great Debate - Amazing
Disappear - One of their best ballads
Six Degrees - Majestic

A Nightmare to Remember - Would be amazing if it were 4 minutes shorter.
A Rite of Passage - Meh
Wither - Nice/Meh
The Shattered Fortress - Nice
The Best of Times - Mixed feelings on this one
The Count of Tuscany - Amazing

I don't think Black Clouds is that bad of an album as most folks in here put it, but it can't hold a candle against Six Degrees. Six Degrees is amazingly consistent, wheras Black Clouds isn't.

I'm throwing something in so this post doesn't derail too much from the new album.

Lord Nafaryus.

[BlackInk]

And in my opinion, this ANTR section isn't as cringeworthy as everyone paints it. Lyrics on TBOT, now, that's another story.

It's not really cringeworthy, it's just laughably bad. That section is the best and worst joke of their entire discography. It's to DT's music what Batman & Robin or The Room is to movies.

[Kotowboy]

LETS HOPE THE NEW ALBUM IS A NAFARYUS TO REMEMBER

[The Presence of Frenemies]

And in my opinion, this ANTR section isn't as cringeworthy as everyone paints it. Lyrics on TBOT, now, that's another story.

It's not really cringeworthy, it's just laughably bad. That section is the best and worst joke of their entire discography. It's to DT's music what Batman & Robin or The Room is to movies.

See, as averse as I am to harsh vocals, I actually enjoy the section musically. But it's the single section of the DT discography where I just can't get past the lyrics. Like, those words? That delivery? Why? Neither is problematic on its own, but they make no sense together.

[mikeyd23]

" by the grace of god above - every1 survive - RUOORORORORORORORORORORORORORORORHUH !!! " < - - - this alone makes it at least worse than Six Degrees.

The ending of The Count of Tuscany is alone better than anything written on Six Degrees.

And in my opinion, this ANTR section isn't as cringeworthy as everyone paints it. Lyrics on TBOT, now, that's another story.

Anyway, I'm out of this thread before we can derail it comparing these two albums.

Sorry, had to chime in.

The Glass Prison - Amazing
Blind Faith - Amazing
Misunderstood - Pretty good
The Great Debate - Amazing
Disappear - One of their best ballads
Six Degrees - Majestic

A Nightmare to Remember - Would be amazing if it were 4 minutes shorter.
A Rite of Passage - Meh
Wither - Nice/Meh
The Shattered Fortress - Nice
The Best of Times - Mixed feelings on this one
The Count of Tuscany - Amazing

I don't think Black Clouds is that bad of an album as most folks in here put it, but it can't hold a candle against Six Degrees. Six Degrees is amazingly consistent, wheras Black Clouds isn't.

I'm throwing something in so this post doesn't derail too much from the new album.

Lord Nafaryus.

Spot on

[Evermind]

I don't agree on 9/12 from these, but yeah, Lord Nafaryus.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

DT should use this thread as a barometer for when to release the next segment of info. When the last page of the thread has nothing to do with the album, time to drop the next bit!

[The Paddies]

I like BC&SL. But that aside: Roger Waters The Wall 2015 edition has 16 songs/tracks on disc 1 alone. Just to point out that quality versus quantity discussion is rather pointless until we've heard the music and know the context of the whole product. I'm excited about the whole approach. Never expected something like this to happen at this point. I just hope the music is good.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

I will say I like the high-quantity aspect here. To me, DT is a band that will have more misses (to my very subjective taste) than, say, a really good power metal band, because they jump around so much. But when they hit, nobody can top them. To me, the great DT albums are where they hit that mark for more than, say, 30 minutes. The more music there is, the better chance they have of clearing that threshold. It would be one thing in the pre-digital era when listening to the album meant hauling the actual physical product around and having to skip through disliked tracks, but in the modern age, you take what you like and assemble things yourself, so the idea of the "bloated" double album isn't as much of a worry anymore.

That said, because it's a concept album, it's an open question as to how easy it will be to enjoy isolated tracks. Perhaps, as some have suggested, the whole thing will be one continuous piece of music. It could certainly be a gapless album even if it isn't fully continuous. Or maybe the lyrics will be odd out of the concept context. So as nice as the increased quantity might be, this album could potentially prove to be an exception--listening to the few "standout tracks" may not be feasible. But time will tell.

[Calvin6s]

DT should use this thread as a barometer for when to release the next segment of info. When the last page of the thread has nothing to do with the album, time to drop the next bit!

So how's the weather?

[Dublagent66]

DT should use this thread as a barometer for when to release the next segment of info. When the last page of the thread has nothing to do with the album, time to drop the next bit!

So how's the weather?

Cloudy with a chance of goofballs.

[RMGadelha]

DT should use this thread as a barometer for when to release the next segment of info. When the last page of the thread has nothing to do with the album, time to drop the next bit!

Considering this, what was the waiting time between the first bit of info on the Act I tracks and the reveal of the complete Act I list?

[mikemangioy]

" by the grace of god above - every1 survive - RUOORORORORORORORORORORORORORORORHUH !!! " < - - - this alone makes it at least worse than Six Degrees.

The ending of The Count of Tuscany is alone better than anything written on Six Degrees.

And in my opinion, this ANTR section isn't as cringeworthy as everyone paints it. Lyrics on TBOT, now, that's another story.

Anyway, I'm out of this thread before we can derail it comparing these two albums.

Sorry, had to chime in.

The Glass Prison - Amazing
Blind Faith - Amazing
Misunderstood - Pretty good
The Great Debate - Amazing
Disappear - One of their best ballads
Six Degrees - Majestic

A Nightmare to Remember - Would be amazing if it were 4 minutes shorter.
A Rite of Passage - Meh
Wither - Nice/Meh
The Shattered Fortress - Nice
The Best of Times - Mixed feelings on this one
The Count of Tuscany - Amazing

I don't think Black Clouds is that bad of an album as most folks in here put it, but it can't hold a candle against Six Degrees. Six Degrees is amazingly consistent, wheras Black Clouds isn't.

I'm throwing something in so this post doesn't derail too much from the new album.

Lord Nafaryus.

[Enigmachine]

DT should use this thread as a barometer for when to release the next segment of info. When the last page of the thread has nothing to do with the album, time to drop the next bit!

Considering this, what was the waiting time between the first bit of info on the Act I tracks and the reveal of the complete Act I list?

Four days (from Nov 5th to 9th). We should get something on Friday if they carry on with that pattern, followed by a complete tracklist (with artwork maybe) on next Tuesday.

I wonder how many songs DT will release pre-stream and release for this album. We could get about three or four given the increased runtime of the album but then again, this is a concept album so they may want to keep the amount of plot revealed to a minimum.

[Train of Naught]

I think it's only logical by now that if they decide to release audio they will do it in some kind of clever way, avoiding the obvious "single release", not exactly sure how but I bet it has something to do with the video placeholders, and maybe with the NOMAC clickable red dots.

[hefdaddy42]

a really good power metal band

I am not sure that I have encountered this phrase before.

[MirrorMask]

So 11 tracks in the first Act? Anyone else think a couple of those might be short transitional songs (like Through My Words) or speaking tracks (like Regression)...? Even so, I feel like there's going to be a lot to digest when this album drops 

The more variety, the better! as said earlier I'm all for songs with weirdass structures where the music has to adapt itself to the story, rather than the usual Write a song / sneak in a jam as solo section / write lyrics 'cause James is in the band as well and he must have something to do approach they have for most of their songs. I long for an album where after 10 days I don't even remember half of the things going on 

[hadi-persian]

the background of char8 can help us to some secret about the album. the act ll:1.The Astonishing with 11 or 12 part. have u any idea?

[Kotowboy]

ITS A FUCKING CLOCK