Listening Parties for The Astonishing ***SPOILERS***

[noxon]

Well, this is where the piano and organ was recorded:

https://www.thesamuraihotel.com/about.html

[lucasembarbosa]

I just adore this new intro DT created for Trial of Tears live in 2014:

https://youtu.be/ey3tIypNSfE?t=78

I wonder if they used it on TA...

[erwinrafael]

For those who already heard the swing jazz blast beat section, would it be Mike Mangini channeling his first drum idol, Buddy Rich?

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeyyGmd5dvM&feature=youtu.be&t=5m30s]Buddy Rich is insane[/url]

Also, did you notice if the drum sound changed over the course of the album? I think it would be weird to hear a swing jazz section with the TGOM snare drum sound, but I guess I'll just have to wait and hear the results.

With the span of musical genres, would this sound like Dream Theater channeling Queen? Or is that too extreme of a comparison?

[SupermanJLU]

Question for anyone who has listened to the album. I generally listen to more metal then any other music. However I do not dismiss music because it is not heavy and I have not been disappointed with a Dream Theater Album to date. They are my favourite band.  So my question is if we use "The Gift of Music" (which I love) as a point to judge the level of heavy on the album. Would you say that the majority of the music is softer then this song or at least as heavy? and if you feel like answering I hope to hear more of the epic sound of the choir that sings with James on The Gift of Music. Are there more moments similar to this?

Thanks for taking the time to answer any of my questions.

[Wubbagubba]

Question for anyone who has listened to the album. I generally listen to more metal then any other music. However I do not dismiss music because it is not heavy and I have not been disappointed with a Dream Theater Album to date. They are my favourite band.  So my question is if we use "The Gift of Music" (which I love) as a point to judge the level of heavy on the album. Would you say that the majority of the music is softer then this song or at least as heavy? and if you feel like answering I hope to hear more of the epic sound of the choir that sings with James on The Gift of Music. Are there more moments similar to this?

Thanks for taking the time to answer any of my questions.

From what I've gathered (haven't heard the album), there are a handful of songs that are heavier/have heavier parts than TGOM but the majority of the album is mostly "softer" music with acoustic guitar and piano. I'm sure it won't be devoid of heavy riffs as the trailer indicates.

[BlobVanDam]

Also, did you notice if the drum sound changed over the course of the album? I think it would be weird to hear a swing jazz section with the TGOM snare drum sound, but I guess I'll just have to wait and hear the results.

It's the same.

Question for anyone who has listened to the album. I generally listen to more metal then any other music. However I do not dismiss music because it is not heavy and I have not been disappointed with a Dream Theater Album to date. They are my favourite band.  So my question is if we use "The Gift of Music" (which I love) as a point to judge the level of heavy on the album. Would you say that the majority of the music is softer then this song or at least as heavy? and if you feel like answering I hope to hear more of the epic sound of the choir that sings with James on The Gift of Music. Are there more moments similar to this?

TGOM is fairly middle. There are plenty of moments a bit heavier, and plenty of moments lighter, but I guess it's as representative as any other song. When it is heavier, it's not typically upfront metal as like Train of Thought. There are some cool riffs and heavier bits, but the album is much more focused on the story and the vocals.

[Estiui]

It's already Monday, noxon, can we read your review? 

[Train of Naught]

It's already Monday, noxon, can we read your review? 

It's already up! Click the right-left-left-right NOMAC eye (in that order) on the DT website.

[noxon]

Yes, you can read it right now!

[Estiui]

Yes, you can read it right now!

Where? 

Edit: just found it, sorry, and thanks! 

[lightbug]

Yes, you can read it right now!

Where? 

Edit: just found it, sorry, and thanks! 

link please 

[erciccio]

Thanks, Noxon, great review!
It was really a pleasure to read it.
Grazie mille!!!

(won't add any further comment to avoid super hype... )

[thosava]

Great review!

[mikemangioy]

So, today is the italian listening party. I don't know if somebody from the forums will go but I'll try to see if anyone from the facebook italian group will comment on anything, if you want to know.

[vazquez]

Great review, Noxon!

[DP_Gumby]

Great review, Noxon.

Love the new website btw! 

[SwedishGoose]

So where do you all find Noxon's review?

[thosava]

https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/

[Zydar]

https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/


Ninja'd.

[The Stray Seed]

Noxon, you said that the title track feels a little bit out of place since it'a another anthem after a very strong one (Our New World), but how do you rate it as stand alone? Can you describe it and tell us more about the "Astonishing" track? Thank you!

[RMGadelha]

And you said this is their best in a decade as a band. What about James' performance? Can you rank his performance?

[emtee]

Cool review. Sounds like an album I can really enjoy.

I'm slightly bummed about the drum sounds comment but I will have to see for myself how it impacts the overall experience.

I know they focused on it as a team and put a lot of effort and energy into trying to get the drums to sound as warm and full bodied
as all the other instruments.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Totally worth the wait! Awesome, noxon!

[mike099]

Great review.  As much as I am anticipating the cd release, I am probably anticipating most the fan response after the first concert in London.  This will be my first DT concert(Cincinnati) and I was a bit bummed that I was not going to see a varied set list, but I have a feeling I will get my wish for a varied set list somewhere down the road.

[Panar]

So today some lucky Italian friends will get to hear The Astonishing..

[Panar]

 

[DreamerTV]

So today some lucky Italian friends will get to hear The Astonishing..

That actually already has happened

[SwedishGoose]

So today some lucky Italian friends will get to hear The Astonishing..

That actually already has happened

Were you there? ??

[DreamerTV]

So today some lucky Italian friends will get to hear The Astonishing..

That actually already has happened

Were you there? ??

No, this time i was not there...
I'm actually waiting as you are for their comments (weird they've said nothing yet)

[Peter Mc]

Great review Noxon, really informative without spoiling too much. One thing I would comment on is your point about cool moments that come and go in an instant and are never heard again. They've done that on the last couple of albums as well and I sometimes find that irritating. Often I've thought in songs like Breaking All Illusions and Illumination Theory that I've heard an awesome riff and it's just used for about 10 seconds and then on to the next bit. I suppose it shows confidence that they have so many ideas that they can afford to just kind of throw away these things but often I wish they'd not done that and actually built another song around that riff. Even something as simple as Jordan's little whispery intro to Behind The Veil is an awesome little melody but doesn't appear at all in the rest of the song. It's kind of a crazy thing to complain about that they've got too many cool ideas but I sometimes wish these things could be fleshed out into their own thing rather than a throw away moment in a song.

[Laughing_man923]

Great review Noxon! Didn't spoil too much and was very fair in terms of how you rated the overall finished product. Looking forward to hearing the album even more now!

[Pragmaticcircus]

Awesome review Noxon, got me excited even more now! Can't wait for the tango and the swing jazz!!! 

[Bertie_Wooster]

anytime now Italian fan club.   

[Voices]

Where are the italians? 

[Zydar]

In Italy.