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

[dodido253]

Far in the distant future, beyond the pages of our time.
Cold blooded wicked tyrants, threaten the freedom of mankind.
Corruption, lust, and greed, defy the new nobility -
Changing the course of history.

Across the vast North Empire,
most people struggle to survive.
Living a meek existence, where they're secludedly oppressed.

We are living day to day.
Forced to bear the lions share.
People just don't have the time for music any more.
No one seems to care...
My friends have seen the chosen one,
a quest for freedom has begun!
He will be the answer to our prayers.

There walks a god among us whose seen the writing on the wall.
He is the revolution, he'll be the one to save us all!
My brother Gabriel, is all the hope we need. (Hope we need)
Shining like a beacon in the night. (In the night)
Should give Ravenskill a reason to believe -
Music is the gift he brings, the sun bursts isolation when he sings.

Credit: Dream Theater Argentina FB page

[lucasembarbosa]

Shining like a bacon in the night

[Lucien]

Well, that's wrong.

"the sun bursts isolation when he sings" 

"the songbird stops to listen when he sings" 

[TioJorge]

Wow! I really like that track. I don't know if it's where I'm at in my life and needing some music like this or just being open to DT after so long or that the music is actually that good and I'm unbiased due to having zero expectations or hopes but I enjoyed that a lot. SO much SFAM oozing from the undertone of the song and I love that. I must confess I have zero fucking clue what any of you are talking about with the voice manipulation...like, at all, and I actively listened for it too. So that's cool. I dunno if it's just my ears or if some of you are full of it but I thought James sounded fantastic and didn't think anything sounded manipulated aside from any everyday, normal album production. Funny because I've been listening to the antithesis of this music a lot lately...A lot of Periphery, old-school Devin Townsend and Mastodon. But maybe that's precisely why I like it.

Another thing that hit me out of left field is Mangini, his part in the moments leading up to and including the actual solo section are fantastic and really pop; he does a lot more than just 'make the beat' and I hope this is a trend that continues throughout the album.

Well hotdamn. Even though I'm nowhere near levels of insanity like some of you mofos, color me officially intrigued and excited for this album.

[r3d86]

Corruption, lust, and greed, defy the new nobility -

I hear "define" not defy

a quest for freedom has begun!

I hear "our quest"

[ariich]

Just to clear something up about pitch correction for people who are not into music engineering and recording...

Assuming we're talking about musicians and techs who know and care about what they are doing, pitch correction tools in the studio are not an evil thing at all. After all studio time is limited and ends at a certain point, no matter how many days and nights you spend there. But the creativity doesn't end once tracking is done, there are many important decisions to make during the mixing process and beyond.

Due to the imperfection of human beings (excluding precision like Mike Mangini's, that's just alien) there will always be a little more vocal vibrato, a fraction less string bending on guitars and basses, or differences in synth mod/pitch wheel use on track A than on track B. Going back to recording just wouldn't make any sense for a tiny issue with the quarter of a second of an otherwise awesome astonishing track.

That's what studio software is great for. Balancing out minuscule discrepancies. Making sure everything is the best it can be. It's not about getting singers derailed by a third back on track, it's about getting the most of the valuable studio time and material and being able to adapt and improve details long after the sessions are over.

Greetings...
Nef

I don't think anyone is complaining about the using of tuning in the studio, are they? Some people were simply pointing out what seemed to be an error in the process that was causing an aural glitch. We've subsequently had it confirmed that it wasn't that, but it was still a valid thing to raise.

[thosava]

I have listened to this song many times since it was released yesterday. I have to say that this song, aside from epics, is the best they have written since the SOIT album. There is some kind of unexplainable magic in their earlier albums. Now i feel like that magic is back.

Also, how do you guys think it will flow into the next song? The song ends about ten seconds before the youtube video finishes. Will that "space" be there on the album, or will it flow more into the next song?

[jdprsaga]

Is that a Tuba I hear in the lower end starting around 3:40 to the end?? definitely some brass in the lower registry..

btw.. that chorus, with the choir and everything.. hope it revisited later in other songs and segments.

[r3d86]

Is that a Tuba I hear in the lower end starting around 3:40 to the end??

I don't know if it's a Tuba, but something it is. When i first listened to the song, i thinked that was something wrong on my earphones but it's an instrument on the song. 

[noxon]

There is brass, yes.

[Tomislav95]

I love how The Gift of Music has Dream Theater signature sound all over it but I can't tell it reminds me of any song they ever did If whole album is this unique, I will be very satisfied.

[hefdaddy42]

So, the overall reaction here seems to be overwhelmingly positive.  Good to hear.

[r3d86]

I just love the song! I don't have anything to describe my feelings about it. 

Hurry 29th January hurry please! 

Now that i heard 15+ times the song, i want to see another character, maybe Faythe or Arabelle (some female side)

[AboutToCrash]

The break riff after the guitar solo followed by the double kicks and orchestra section is incredible

[ResultsMayVary]

A new character was revealed today, encircled by NOMACS.

Tom cruise has a part in The Astonishing?

I think your funny meter is not working.

You didn't know they revealed a character named Jack?

[Voices]

The break riff after the guitar solo followed by the double kicks and orchestra section is incredible

Hellyeah, I loved that part too.

[DreamTension]

Extra blurry and not much new info, but this from the pre order page.  Can see the full map and the left/right arms of 2 new characters!

[rab7]

Living a meek existence, where they're secludedly oppressed.


Music is the gift he brings, the sun bursts isolation when he sings.

Credit: Dream Theater Argentina FB page

Should be "While their secluded leader thrives"

and

"The songbirds stop to listen when he sings"

Sun bursts isolation doesn't make any sense

[r3d86]

Extra blurry and not much new info, but this from the pre order page.  Can see the full map and the left/right arms of 2 new characters!

It's the clock guy/girl!

[Ben_Jamin]

I got an About to Crash style, Don't Look Past Me vibe.

I love how it flows from Dystopian Overture and ends on an instrumental into the next song.

Its like Descent of the NOMACS will be the opening credits, with Dystopian Overture being the music that plays after which leads us into TGoM being the bombastic opening where the sunrise opens up and we see the entire empire in an overview then we're spooked by a NOMAC randomly popping up out of nowhere, like the video.

[SchecterShredder]

What I find amazing is this track is less than a day old and there's already a ton of cover videos lol. That's true dedication there

[MajorBoobage]

Clock guy!!

[thosava]

I'm trying to order the deluxe box set. When i click on proceed to checkout, nothing happens. Does this happen to any of you too?

[Train of Naught]

Wow, we now have the numbers 1-2-3 and what looks like a 4, what could these numbers on the clock mean?

[RoeDent]

Living a meek existence, where they're secludedly oppressed.


Music is the gift he brings, the sun bursts isolation when he sings.

Credit: Dream Theater Argentina FB page

Should be "While their secluded leader thrives"

and

"The songbirds stop to listen when he sings"

Sun bursts isolation doesn't make any sense

I think you're right, rab7, but to be fair, certain other DT lyrics don't make sense either. "Sharing flesh like envy in cages"? "Like the angel's share, the end is near"?

[Smartiejj]

Just ordered The Deluxe Boxset, I just couldn't resist! Bring on 22 feb. Amsterdam!

[DragonAttack]

I'm trying to order the deluxe box set. When i click on proceed to checkout, nothing happens. Does this happen to any of you too?

Just ordered the standard 2CD package.  My order was 'spinning and spinning' until I put a fake phone number into that required field.  Hope that helps.

[ResultsMayVary]

I got an About to Crash style, Don't Look Past Me vibe.

I love how it flows from Dystopian Overture and ends on an instrumental into the next song.

Its like Descent of the NOMACS will be the opening credits, with Dystopian Overture being the music that plays after which leads us into TGoM being the bombastic opening where the sunrise opens up and we see the entire empire in an overview then we're spooked by a NOMAC randomly popping up out of nowhere, like the video.

Don't Look Past Me got stuck in my head several times yesterday because of listening to this song. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of that.

[As I Am]

Good song...nothing special. May be better in the context of the whole album.

[Gappie]

Just ordered the Deluxe boxset, I just couldn't resist! Bring on 22 feb. Amsterdam!

I will be there too! very excited!

[Nomaniac]

Across the vast North Empire
Most people struggle to survive
Living a meek existence
While their secluded leader thrives

STOP TALKING ABOUT ME AS IF I'M NOT STANDING RIGHT HERE!

classic!

[thosava]

I'm trying to order the deluxe box set. When i click on proceed to checkout, nothing happens. Does this happen to any of you too?

Just ordered the standard 2CD package.  My order was 'spinning and spinning' until I put a fake phone number into that required field.  Hope that helps.

I'm unable to get further than the shopping cart page. I tried a different browser and it happened there too. I'll wait and see if works later. It's very expensive though. I've never bought a box set before. But i have a feeling that if i'll ever, this album is the time to do it.

[Nomaniac]

Far in the distant future, beyond the pages of our time.
Cold blooded wicked tyrants, threaten the freedom of mankind.
Corruption, lust, and greed, defy the new nobility -
Changing the course of history.

Across the vast North Empire,
most people struggle to survive.
Living a meek existence, where they're secludedly oppressed.

We are living day to day.
Forced to bear the lions share.
People just don't have the time for music any more.
No one seems to care...
My friends have seen the chosen one,
a quest for freedom has begun!
He will be the answer to our prayers.

There walks a god among us whose seen the writing on the wall.
He is the revolution, he'll be the one to save us all!
My brother Gabriel, is all the hope we need. (Hope we need)
Shining like a beacon in the night. (In the night)
Should give Ravenskill a reason to believe -
Music is the gift he brings, the sun bursts isolation when he sings.

Credit: Dream Theater Argentina FB page

Well, that's wrong.

"the sun bursts isolation when he sings" 

"the songbird stops to listen when he sings" 

I think we're gonna have to wait till the lyrics officially come out . . . everyone is obviously hearing them a bit different

[Shadow2222]

I'm sure many people were already starting to come to this conclusion, but we now have what I consider to be definitive proof that all lyrics are by JP this time around.

On the deluxe boxset picture for the screenplay lyric book, it says "The Astonishing - Written by John Petrucci."

[Frank]

Also going by the blurry images in the product previews, I'm happy it appears that Faythe is wearing respectable armor (as opposed to being scantily clad). All feminist critiques aside, from a narratology point of view, I just can't take many female characters in science fiction and fantasy seriously because they're less characters and moreso walking set pieces for the male gaze, which feels artificially constructed to me and partially takes me out of the immersion from otherwise great stories. Even if scantily clad female characters aren't deliberately constructed with that intention, they often appear as a result of disseminated and unthought of cultural standards that pass from media/cultural creators to fans who become creators themselves (Petrucci would be this in this example).

Now, I do hope that Faythe and other female characters are defined by things more than just their feminity or typically feminine qualities. I have very high hopes for The Astonishing in this regard - after Ayreon's The Theory of Everything unfortunately fell short in this area.