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

[Kix]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

[Kotowboy]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

HAVE YOU NAILED THE PRODUCTION THIS TIME ?!

[wolven74]

BTW i don't think that the music of new Megadeth's album compares to the beautiful cover....

I wonder why it is that with DT in particular it is so easy to judge the music by the cover? I mean, honestly I wouldn't have been able to say from the cover of I&W that it would be as epic as it is. If I hadn't heard PMU before I bought it, I probably would have not picked it up. Similarly, I don't think the cover of SFAM is indicative of the quality of the music therein.

I think we as fans have gotten used to DT producing awesome music and their covers have become more iconic to us, so we hope for amazing covers that would reflect the awesomeness of the music.

That being said.... I don't know what to expect from TA's cover, since I have no idea, really, of what the NOMACS represent in the story.

[Nomaniac]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

Good question! (Welcome to the forums btw  )

I'm not sure really what I'd ask at this point (since I know they're going to slowly be revealing new stuff). Perhaps I'd ask them which direction they feel like they're gravitating towards in terms of genre and style and what influences they'll be incorporating into this album.

But most importantly . . .

Are there lyrics by Myung??? (Those are always my favorite songs  )

[Kotowboy]

I'm just anxious to hear the first snippet / single.

[bosk1]

Are there lyrics by Myung??? (Those are always my favorite songs  )

I do not have inside info on that and want to make it clear that I am just speculating when I say this:  Given how many tracks there are and the fact that he has been contributing again, I would say it is almost a certainty.

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

HAVE YOU NAILED THE PRODUCTION THIS TIME ?!

I sort of asked JP that in connection with DT12 and BTFW (although more tactfully and indirect), and the response both times was along the lines of "I think it sounds great!"  So... 

[Nomaniac]

I'm just anxious to hear the first snippet / single.

to that . . . We need a single!!!

[Kotowboy]

I'm just anxious to hear the first snippet / single.

to that . . . We need a single!!!

They ended recording late Sep and began mixing Oct 13.

I don't think a teaser or snippet is too far away.

[noxon]

To be fair, they also thought DT12 sounded great...

[Kotowboy]

I sort of asked JP that in connection with DT12 and BTFW (although more tactfully and indirect), and the response both times was along the lines of "I think it sounds great!"  So... 

Apart from Noel Gallagher *** - i don't think i've seen any artist belittle their latest album after it's just come out.

[Kotowboy]

*** - Standing on The Shoulder of Giants had just come out and someone asked him what it was like and he said :

" i'd give it 8 out of 10. There's two shit songs on it ".

gotta love Noel.

[GandL]

Will there be any violin in ''Whispers on the Wind'' ?

[Nomaniac]

Will there be any violin in ''Whispers on the Wind'' ?

idk . . . sounds like a cool idea for the title though!

I don't think we know anything about the music yet . . .

[Kotowboy]

I'll be happy if it sounds like SFAM musically.

I'm dreading a lot of medieval sounding music with lutes and flutes and shit.

[Nomaniac]

*** - Standing on The Shoulder of Giants had just come out and someone asked him what it was like and he said :

" i'd give it 8 out of 10. There's two shit songs on it ".

gotta love Noel.

That's just too awesome! 

Yep, definitely got to love that level of honesty xD

[Nomaniac]

I'll be happy if it sounds like SFAM musically.

I'm dreading a lot of medieval sounding music with lutes and flutes and shit.

If they try that a few times here and there I wouldn't mind, but all over the place . . . yeah wouldn't want that either!

[The Presence of Frenemies]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

Probably either how many songs over 8 minutes there are, or how continuous the tracks are.

[V_R11]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

Probably either how many songs over 8 minutes there are, or how continuous the tracks are.

This

[bosk1]

I sort of asked JP that in connection with DT12 and BTFW (although more tactfully and indirect), and the response both times was along the lines of "I think it sounds great!"  So... 

Apart from Noel Gallagher *** - i don't think i've seen any artist belittle their latest album after it's just come out.

  I hear you.  I wouldn't expect that either.  But on the other hand, if John wasn't happy with the production, given that those were just private conversations between he and I, I would think he would say something along the lines of, "We are really happy with the songs, but hearing the final version, the final sound isn't 100% to where I would like it."  But he seemed genuinely happy with it.  That isn't to say he is wrong.  I'm just saying that, going back to the original question, I think if we were to ask the band whether they nailed the production this time, they would just say "yes" because it seems that they have been happy with where the production has been in the past, regardless what some of us might think.

[Kotowboy]

Mangini at least has been very vocal about his dissatisfaction with his drum sounds.

[CDrice]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

How did you discover Jie Ma and why did you chose to have him do the artwork for the new album instead of going with Hugh Syme?

Yes I care more about the artwork than the content of the album 

[Kotowboy]

I don't think we could have taken another go around of " What has Hugh fucked up / half-assed this time ? "

[Voices]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

Did JP used his baritone this time?

[noxon]

Where has Mangini talked about the drum sound on dt12? I'm curious. 'Cause that mechanical triggered snare... It's not by mistake.

[Kotowboy]

I've seen snippets of interviews where he says he didn't like the snare sound on DT12 and he was too quiet on ADTOE.

[CodyWanKenobi]

Also he replied to my comment.

[bosk1]

Nice.

[SuperTaco]

That comment/reply was from months ago, but yeah, cool.

[MirrorMask]

If you could ask the band one question at this stage about the new record, what would it be?

Tracks length!

[noxon]

Well, my problem with the snare isn't the sound itself, it's the fact that it's so mechanical sounding - every hit is identical. So if he's still using a triggered snare sound, I'm not too hopeful.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Well, my problem with the snare isn't the sound itself, it's the fact that it's so mechanical sounding - every hit is identical. So if he's still using a triggered snare sound, I'm not too hopeful.

That's a Mangini thing, not a triggered snare thing. He's far too precise with every snare hit, and that was kind of annoying for me in songs like The Bigger Picture.

[Voices]

He's the damn trigger.

[Octavarious]

One thing I would like to know if with the last updates that's it for the European Tour, i.e. no Eastern Europe at all (and no South-West) or if this is just the 1st (bigger) pre-Easter go, and a second shorter will follow early April.
I secured a perfect central seat for Sat 19 in Milan, but wanted to be sure I wouldn't eventually sell it to buy a ticket in Rome in case they will come here as well later on - with same show. This leads to the doubt if it's not the case to buy NOW a discounted train ticket to Milan saving a lot of money...
Yeah you couldn't care less I know , but just wanted to get your advise.

[Frankgate]

My question would be: are you sure you got enough good songs to fill 2 CDs? Hope so.

[Paintbox]

One thing I would like to know if with the last updates that's it for the European Tour, i.e. no Eastern Europe at all (and no South-West) or if this is just the 1st (bigger) pre-Easter go, and a second shorter will follow early April.
I secured a perfect central seat for Sat 19 in Milan, but wanted to be sure I wouldn't eventually sell it to buy a ticket in Rome in case they will come here as well later on - with same show. This leads to the doubt if it's not the case to buy NOW a discounted train ticket to Milan saving a lot of money...
Yeah you couldn't care less I know , but just wanted to get your advise.

They were in Milano in 2014 and came in Rome this year so I think they'll skip 2016. But since they're probably going to play only songs from The Astonishing maybe they'll add some dates