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

[Evermind]

I think there may have guest artists representing the characters, as Ayreon

Perhaps, supporting characters?

Is insane to think about it?

That would be fun. Russell Allen is probably the guest singer on The X Aspect. Perhaps Jorn Lande is voicing Lord Nafaryus (because apparently the obvious evil characters is his knack for the last few years). Any other suggestions?

[Nihil-Morari]

Daniel Gildenlow as the sister
Neal Morse as the faithful dog
Steven Wilson as the nagging englishman
Mike Patton as the NOMACS
Devin Townsend as Devin Townsend

[Kotowboy]

Nicky Spanjaards as The Chosen One.

[jsbru]

It's about time we get another character.  We already know Ahrys exists...he even has a twitter account.  Just put his picture up already.

[Evermind]

Nicky Spanjaards as The Chosen One.

His first appearance will obviously be on The Gift of Music.

[r3d86]

James LaBrie as... ohhh no... sorry.

[r3d86]

How about the female characters? How many there will be?

I like Floor Jansen from one of those characters
Maybe Sharon den Adel?

[Bertielee]

If I ever caught myself thing that 2-3 updates a week was too slow, I would hope I would have the self-awareness to have my ADD meds upped a notch.

You bet! Excatly what I was thinking.

B.Lee

[Kotowboy]

*insert Tool reference here*.

[taylorimpromptu]

*insert Tool reference here*.

Right? I'm going to both Texas shows.

[JediKnight1969]

It would be cool if they use Ronnie Romero, lead singer of Lords of Black and new singer for Rainbow's 2016 live dates.

[Bertielee]

It would be cool if they use Ronnie Romero, lead singer of Lords of Black and new singer for Rainbow's 2016 live dates.

Really good singer, this guy!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

It would be cool if they use Ronnie Romero, lead singer of Lords of Black and new singer for Rainbow's 2016 live dates.

Really good singer, this guy!

Ha! I needed to check I wasn't listening to Jørn Lande.  Great voice and interesting band, will check out them more.

[Bertielee]

It would be cool if they use Ronnie Romero, lead singer of Lords of Black and new singer for Rainbow's 2016 live dates.

Really good singer, this guy!

Ha! I needed to check I wasn't listening to Jørn Lande.  Great voice and interesting band, will check out them more.

Exactly what I was thinking too. He sounds like Jorn. Listen to Lords of Black track Lords of Black, it's obvious. Btw, the track sounds as if it was taken from a Masterplan album. No wonder here as roland Grapow produces.

B.Lee

[OsMosis2259]

I'm imagining Labrie singing "LORD NAFARYUSSSSSSSSSS"

[noxon]

Funny, that's my ringtone...

[jonny108]

Funny, that's my ringtone...

You are far too cryptic for my liking

[RMGadelha]

I don't wanna sound annoying or antiquated or whatever you call it, but... no guest artists please. Leave it to Ayreon (which I really like, btw)

[lucasembarbosa]

I don't wanna sound annoying or antiquated or whatever you call it, but... no guest artists please. Leave it to Ayreon (which I really like, btw)

This^6x10²³

[DreamerTV]

Funny, that's my ringtone...

So xmas has already arrived up there, i guess...

[BlackInk]

I don't wanna sound annoying or antiquated or whatever you call it, but... no guest artists please. Leave it to Ayreon (which I really like, btw)

This^6x10²³

Agreed. One or two short guest spots might be fine, but like 10 different often recurring characters played by other people? No thanks. This is still Dream Theater after all.

[noxon]

So xmas has already arrived up there, i guess...

Depending on your views, I guess. Some say it's like getting a curse.

[Fiery Winds]

Don't think I've posted yet in this thread.


I'm really excited for what DT has planned, especially since it's so out of the ordinary. Due to the number of tracks, I'm hopeful that the album will be diverse musically, each song(s) focusing more on a particular genre. More heavy metal here, more prog fusion there, etc.


Sitting in class for work today bored out of my mind, I pulled out a notebook and sketched this as the new album has been on my mind:

[The Curious Orange]

It still grates on me when James sings the female parts on SFAM - "I ran into Julian, he said we'd be together soon..." - I just wish they'd brought a femal vocalist in for those bits. I feel exactly the same way about Daltrey singing the female parts on Tommy, mind. So yeah, plus 1 for the guest vocalist idea, providing it's justthe odd verse and not overdone.

[ariich]

Just the odd section would be fine, but the problem with going full-on rock opera and using a full cast is how it makes it basically impossible to reproduce properly live, other than at the occasional special show. Ok they have this European theatre tour that could easily use guest musicians, but they'll want to be able to play the songs in future as well.

[BlobVanDam]

I agree with ariich. The odd section is fine, if it were something like LSFNY with Theresa, or the chorus on LITS, but I mostly want to hear JLB. I'm too fussy with vocalists to want to worry about other singers fouling it up.
I'm all for other guest musicians though.

[noxon]

If the story is descriptive, it would not make sense for them to have a lot of guest vocalists. If it's dialogue-driven they probably could, but it would just be jarring to hear those songs played outside of context with other inflections if James were going to try to emulate those other vocalists. No, I don't think there are any outside of the band doing main vocals.

[ariich]

If the story is descriptive, it would not make sense for them to have a lot of guest vocalists. If it's dialogue-driven they probably could, but it would just be jarring to hear those songs played outside of context with other inflections if James were going to try to emulate those other vocalists. No, I don't think there are any outside of the band doing main vocals.

Given all the "rock opera" descriptions and the cast of characters, I would guess that it will be dialogue based like with SFAM.

[Kotowboy]

[nikatapi]

I really don't care much about the concept, but i can appreciate all the extra effort. I just hope the music is good.
So hopefully a single will come as soon as possible to give us a first taste of what's to come. Hopefully with a decent production this time.

[Another_Won]

*snip*

um, dude . . you can get banned for posting leaked artwork.

JK, obviously. 

Nicely done!

[ErHaO]

Just the odd section would be fine, but the problem with going full-on rock opera and using a full cast is how it makes it basically impossible to reproduce properly live, other than at the occasional special show. Ok they have this European theatre tour that could easily use guest musicians, but they'll want to be able to play the songs in future as well.

Every Ayreon album still has at least a few tracks that (would) work well with one vocalist, be it alternate versions. Even Theory of Everything I'd argue. I do not see why having a few relatively prominent guests would detract from possible future Labrie-only performances. I don't want DT to go all Ayreon here, but having females do the female vocals (if present) would be nice.

[emtee]

If...big if, they do have guest vocalists I need to force myself to be open minded and give it an honest try. Previous albums I've owned
that had multiple vocalists have not fared well for me vs. the test of time. I spin George Lynch's solo album once in awhile but that
is the only one I can think of.

[Cyclopssss]

Personally, I'd love to hear Labrie do some multi-layered track harmonizing. Can't remember him doing much of that.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Personally, I'd love to hear Labrie do some multi-layered track harmonizing. Can't remember him doing much of that.

I think there's actually a fair amount of that in DT history, but it's rarely emphasized in the mix.