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

[Zydar]

Faythe Labrie

This

[Thematt202]

My only hope for this album is that there will be moments of epicness.  I don't mean epic as in a long song, I mean the emotional, building, crescendos found in Grand Finale/Losing Time, Finally Free and at the end of Octavarium and Illumination Theory.

This is what Dream Theater do better than any other band on the planet (IMHO).

After a few listens I got that 'epic' feeling with the choir section of TGOM, and I think there will be lots of moments that I would consider epic from the things I've read. Don't agree that DT are the absolute best at this but they sure are up there.

I can't think of another band that writes the epic building payoffs that I mentioned above.  I'm familiar with Symphony X, Rush, etc, but I'm struggling to think of anything from those bands that's anywhere near what DT do towards the end of an album.

[lightbug]

Oh, you'll hear it when James switches characters in songs...

Oh really? 

Evangebrie!!

[TH1RT3EN]

Oh, you'll hear it when James switches characters in songs...

Maybe something similar to what we hear in The Test That Stumped Them All? Probably not as exaggerated as that, but is it a valid comparison?

[volwrath]

I can't think of another band that writes the epic building payoffs that I mentioned above.  I'm familiar with Symphony X, Rush, etc, but I'm struggling to think of anything from those bands that's anywhere near what DT do towards the end of an album.

I thought Call of Ktulu was a pretty epic way to end ride the lightning. Also there was Orion/damage inc as the end  to mop

[Train of Naught]

I can't think of another band that writes the epic building payoffs that I mentioned above.  I'm familiar with Symphony X, Rush, etc, but I'm struggling to think of anything from those bands that's anywhere near what DT do towards the end of an album.

I thought Call of Ktulu was a pretty epic way to end ride the lightning. Also there was Orion/damage inc as the end  to mop

Yeah forgot to mention the classics, Call of Ktulu is one of the best. Personally I'd add Hallowed Be Thy Name and maaybe Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The Outlaw Torn is my 2nd favorite Metallica album closer and IMO pretty epic aswell.

[chego_voice]

Oh, you'll hear it when James switches characters in songs...

Oh really? 

Evangebrie!!

Faythe looks like a devil bitch!

[Randaran]

My only hope for this album is that there will be moments of epicness.  I don't mean epic as in a long song, I mean the emotional, building, crescendos found in Grand Finale/Losing Time, Finally Free and at the end of Octavarium and Illumination Theory.

This is what Dream Theater do better than any other band on the planet (IMHO).

After a few listens I got that 'epic' feeling with the choir section of TGOM, and I think there will be lots of moments that I would consider epic from the things I've read. Don't agree that DT are the absolute best at this but they sure are up there.

I can't think of another band that writes the epic building payoffs that I mentioned above.  I'm familiar with Symphony X, Rush, etc, but I'm struggling to think of anything from those bands that's anywhere near what DT do towards the end of an album.

For Symphony X, my favorite example of 'epic' is in The Divine Wings of Tragedy. Everything from the piano break in the main instrumental section to the end of the song is very powerful, and comes very close, if not surpasses, the sections of DT's music you brought up.

[Pax]

The speechless character is probably the clock guy (that would make him even more mysterious)

There's only one thing about TA that makes me sad, and that's the fact we'll probably not hear that ''tension building'' DT did in Octavarium and ITPOE pt 2 (especially the latter one, building up the tension for like 9 mins, and then culminating with The Reckoning - the best 2 mins in DT's whole fuckin' career)
I mean, it could happen in TA, but I don't think it's possible if all songs are that short, and each one is ''a song for itself''

I'm ok with not much metal, ok with no long instrumental sections, even ok with the lack of the amount of melody development we get in 10+ min songs, but the thing I mentioned really makes me disappointed
still I hope it will be a great album

[noxon]

I don't see why you think you won't get tension buildup? It's a complete story. Each song builds on the events that occured in the songs preceding, so even if they're seperate songs, it's still retains the emotions from the previous.

[King Postwhore]

How do people come up with these preconceptions of the music from hearing nothing? 

Has anybody been reading what Noxon has written?   People ruin the enjoyment of a first listen before the hear the first listen.

[thosava]

Noxon, how do you feel about the individual songs? Do you think many songs will rank very high among fans (and for you)? Or do you think the album works better as a whole?

[Enigmachine]

Noxon, how do you feel about the individual songs? Do you think many songs will rank very high among fans (and for you)? Or do you think the album works better as a whole?

This will be interesting to see, given that TA will most likely be shorter songs, which are mostly ignored in favour of epics.

[Train of Naught]

I don't know where we divide DT songs into short and long, but if 7 minutes counts as short, This is the Life is in my top 10 DT songs, Another Day is pretty close too.

[Thematt202]

This is the Life is pretty awesome by any standard.

[KevShmev]

My only hope for this album is that there will be moments of epicness.  I don't mean epic as in a long song, I mean the emotional, building, crescendos found in Grand Finale/Losing Time, Finally Free and at the end of Octavarium and Illumination Theory.

This is what Dream Theater do better than any other band on the planet (IMHO).

After a few listens I got that 'epic' feeling with the choir section of TGOM, and I think there will be lots of moments that I would consider epic from the things I've read. Don't agree that DT are the absolute best at this but they sure are up there.

I can't think of another band that writes the epic building payoffs that I mentioned above.  I'm familiar with Symphony X, Rush, etc, but I'm struggling to think of anything from those bands that's anywhere near what DT do towards the end of an album.

Neal Morse, and by extension, Spock's Beard and Transatlantic.  In fact, I think the end of 6DOIT (the song) and Octavarium were heavily influenced by Mike Portnoy having worked with Neal Morse.

[MirrorMask]

I wonder what would've happened if the same type of PR-scheme was used for SFAM.


Picture of "The Hypnotherapist" released:  "More like the rapist, amiright?" - "Well, it's in his title, innit?".

Picture of "Victoria" released: "Wow, she looks... wait, is that a 1920s hairstyle? Wtf is this, some kind of mafia/prohibition story? I don't get it."

Picture of "Edward" released: "Huh, whats up with the suit? He looks like straight out of the godfather. This IS a mafia story. DT has lost it. I mean, I know MP is a movie buff, but ripping of the godfather? I don't even like mafia movies!"

Location revealed - Echo's Hill: "What does that even mean?? It's like they have no knowledge of stuff that's not sound related. "echo". Geddit.

Ahahaha, it would have ACTUALLY went down that way. I'm sure of it.

Noxon, how do you feel about the individual songs? Do you think many songs will rank very high among fans (and for you)? Or do you think the album works better as a whole?

Well, given the nature of the tracks, I think on the other hand the Nomacs tracks will be considered the worst ever they've done 


And about the build-up to a grandiose finale that Dream Theater do in their epics... yeah, that's something pretty unique to them, regardless of how other excellent epic songs from other bands develop.

I've seen mentioned Iced Earth in the comparison list, I'd suggest to check out A Question of Heaven and Come What May for songs that build up to a very strong and intense ending.

[Train of Naught]

I've seen mentioned Iced Earth in the comparison list, I'd suggest to check out A Question of Heaven and Come What May for songs that build up to a very strong and intense ending.

YES, great songs.

Also, I'd add Dante's Inferno

[Pax]

I don't see why you think you won't get tension buildup? It's a complete story. Each song builds on the events that occured in the songs preceding, so even if they're seperate songs, it's still retains the emotions from the previous.

If I just asked you if there will be those buildups, you probably wouldn't answer, so I tried this way

[noxon]

Well, in less than two weeks I will be able to tell you all the details you need/want. I'm guessing my review will be up then too - depending if i can get my website done by that date.

[MirrorMask]

I've seen mentioned Iced Earth in the comparison list, I'd suggest to check out A Question of Heaven and Come What May for songs that build up to a very strong and intense ending.

YES, great songs.

Also, I'd add Dante's Inferno

Dante's Inferno is a wonderful song, and yes it has that "Lucifer!!!" part at the end, but I don't think it has that kind of "Here it comes, the bombastic glorious ending the whole song has been building up to" vibe that you get from Octavarium, Illumination Theory or Six Degrees....

[GasparXR]

Well, in less than two weeks I will be able to tell you all the details you need/want. I'm guessing my review will be up then too - depending if i can get my website done by that date.

[Bertielee]

Well, in less than two weeks I will be able to tell you all the details you need/want. I'm guessing my review will be up then too - depending if i can get my website done by that date.

[RoeDent]

I'm excited in particular to hear the recurring themes and how they're developed/interact with each other. I wonder if we've heard any motifs already in The Gift of Music?

[Thematt202]

I'm excited in particular to hear the recurring themes and how they're developed/interact with each other. I wonder if we've heard any motifs already in The Gift of Music?

I think the Gabriel choir part will be his theme...

[noxon]

Yes, we've already heard something that will reoccur.

[thosava]

Are there some themes that are played many times throughout the whole album, or are the recurring parts only played a couple of times?

[Pax]

Are there some themes that are played many times throughout the whole album, or are the recurring parts only played a couple of times?

It will have a motif for every major character I guess
And it will go throughout the whole song

[Darkstarshades]

The best buildup I've ever heard in a song is probably Rhapsody of Fire's "The Ancient Fires of Har-Kuun" 14-minute epic, easily the best song in their discography.

[SystematicThought]

Well, in less than two weeks I will be able to tell you all the details you need/want. I'm guessing my review will be up then too - depending if i can get my website done by that date.

Tell you what, you work on your site and I'll work on the review for you. Deal?

[Gpals71]

Well, in less than two weeks I will be able to tell you all the details you need/want. I'm guessing my review will be up then too - depending if i can get my website done by that date.

Tell you what, you work on your site and I'll work on the review for you. Deal?

I was just thinking the same 

[noxon]

Oh, the review is done. It's the site that's not.

[SystematicThought]

I'll proofread I guess. But I'll need to hear the album to see what you're trying to convey with writing.

I'll stop now

[Nearmyth]

Yes, we've already heard something that will reoccur.

Yesss.

[Moor]

My only hope for this album is that there will be moments of epicness.  I don't mean epic as in a long song, I mean the emotional, building, crescendos found in Grand Finale/Losing Time, Finally Free and at the end of Octavarium and Illumination Theory.

This is what Dream Theater do better than any other band on the planet (IMHO).

Absolutely this.