*Official* The Astonishing discussion thread

[Kotowboy]

Not digging this yet. Where's the metal? I wasn't expecting a whole album full of slow to mid tempo ballads

They have 12 other albums for you to enjoy.

#HopeThisHelps !

[Enalya]

Btw, 'Begin Again', big Christmas vibe at the end lol

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Btw, 'Begin Again', big Christmas vibe at the end lol

That's the part a friend and me like to call 'the Disney theme'. It's amazing, and it puts a big big smile on my face.

[RoadTrain_of Thought]

Btw, 'Begin Again', big Christmas vibe at the end lol

So true!

[ariich]

Thoughts, everyone ?

1. Best album of the Mangini era.

2. Best album of the Road Runner era.

3. Both ?

Neither. For me this doesn't stack up to my top tier of DT albums (Six Degrees, I&W and ADTOE). Bit hard to tell at this stage, but I can see if settling in my second tier, along with Awake, FII and Black Clouds.

[Scorpion]

The moral of the story: if Faythe hadn't had her headphones in, then Nafaryus would still be a dickhole of a leader.

[Enalya]

Btw, 'Begin Again', big Christmas vibe at the end lol

That's the part a friend and me like to call 'the Disney theme'. It's amazing, and it puts a big big smile on my face.

That's funny, since I thought exactly that in Act I during 'The Answer'. Love it tho.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I think we can agree that there's lot of Disney in here, and makes sense given JP just told in his reddit answers that he's a sucker for Disney movies. 

[The Presence of Frenemies]

I'm probably more of a metalhead than...3/4 of the users here, and I don't really understand the "TA has no metal!" outcry (from the few with that viewpoint). JP has so many huge riffs, and MM's drums make much more of a metallic impact than they do on the previous two releases. Almost every song hits on metallic territory at some point, and it's always memorable when it goes there. I'll take that all day in comparison to the hit-or-miss riffing and oft-directionless soloing of the post-MP era.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

For any dystopian-based good ole fashioned riffage, you can check out Megadeth's 'Dystopia' album, just released as well.

[Jinx]

A neat little thing I thought was cool is how Daryus is envious of Nafaryus' better relationship with Faythe.

If you listen to the Nafaryus song, he doesn't even refer to Daryus by name!

[Kotowboy]

Mustaine - now there's someone who *IS* smothered in FX because his voice is shit...

[Shooters1221]

Btw, 'Begin Again', big Christmas vibe at the end lol

Like "Do they know it's Christmas?" From Band Aid.

[ariich]

I think we can agree that there's lot of Disney in here, and makes sense given JP just told in his reddit answers that he's a sucker for Disney movies. 

Yeah but the most Disney song is definitely The Answer.

[Onno]

Thoughts, everyone ?

1. Best album of the Mangini era.

2. Best album of the Road Runner era.

3. Both ?

Probably both, yes.

4. Best album of their career? 

NO WAY MAN SYSTEMATIC CHAOS HAD GROTESQUE CREATURES BATTLE

[TioJorge]

I'm probably more of a metalhead than...3/4 of the users here, and I don't really understand the "TA has no metal!" outcry (from the few with that viewpoint). JP has so many huge riffs, and MM's drums make much more of a metallic impact than they do on the previous two releases. Almost every song hits on metallic territory at some point, and it's always memorable when it goes there. I'll take that all day in comparison to the hit-or-miss riffing and oft-directionless soloing of the post-MP era.

I mean, there's metal sprinkled here and there but for the most part it's almost entirely absent. It's very orchestra based and light; you can have huge riffs and metal-oriented drums and still not be metal. I don't see the 'little-to-no-metal' thing as bad though. They've more than established themselves as being able to do both straight up metal along with prog-metal so I'm absolutely all for this kind of music. I don't think there is zero metal but I can't see how anyone would say it's not extremely light on metal.

[Kotowboy]

I *REALLY* like the "West Side Story" section of A New Beginning... 

[Enalya]

I mean, there's metal sprinkled here and there but for the most part it's almost entirely absent. It's very orchestra based and light; you can have huge riffs and metal-oriented drums and still not be metal. I don't see the 'little-to-no-metal' thing as bad though. They've more than established themselves as being able to do both straight up metal along with prog-metal so I'm absolutely all for this kind of music. I don't think there is zero metal but I can't see how anyone would say it's not extremely light on metal.

I agree. I also think it's okay and fitting for this album. But hey, more chance for the next album to be heavy all over

[ariich]

I'm probably more of a metalhead than...3/4 of the users here, and I don't really understand the "TA has no metal!" outcry (from the few with that viewpoint). JP has so many huge riffs, and MM's drums make much more of a metallic impact than they do on the previous two releases. Almost every song hits on metallic territory at some point, and it's always memorable when it goes there. I'll take that all day in comparison to the hit-or-miss riffing and oft-directionless soloing of the post-MP era.

I mean, there's metal sprinkled here and there but for the most part it's almost entirely absent. It's very orchestra based and light; you can have huge riffs and metal-oriented drums and still not be metal. I don't see the 'little-to-no-metal' thing as bad though. They've more than established themselves as being able to do both straight up metal along with prog-metal so I'm absolutely all for this kind of music. I don't think there is zero metal but I can't see how anyone would say it's not extremely light on metal.

I really don't agree that the metal is absent... at all. I'm completely with Frenemies on this one. To me there's at least as much "metal" as there is "ballad", yet a small number of people have been bemoaning there being too little of the former and too much of the latter. I don't get it.

[RoeDent]

29th January, 2016. The day our forum's namesake band releases brand new music. A special day, that's for sure! These days don't come round very often, so it's worth savouring.

If you're planning an evening listen to the new album over in the Americas, I hope you all enjoy it.

[Nomaniac]

Hey guys, long time since posting here . . . had to come back to see what y'all were saying about The Astonishing

I've listened to it twice already. It took some time to adjust to DT's new stylistic choice, but the more I listen to it the better it gets! I went from "What is this" to "hmm. interesting" to "OMG I'm gonna listen to this over and over and over again!!!"

Any of you guys have a similar experience?

[mike099]

4. Best album of their career? 

NO WAY MAN SYSTEMATIC CHAOS HAD GROTESQUE CREATURES BATTLE

When I first heard that song I thought of the LOTR -  Two Towers

[escruting]

The drums that go with JP's solo in the ending of "A New Beginning" could be a bit more varied, and when i say a bit i mean A LOT. They drums are so simple on that part, good drumming on that solo would elevate the song to the next level.

[Pragmaticcircus]

Well it's been fun guys, now everything is out in the open, everything is unlocked, we've heard the album, we've got a story to analyse, been a great few months here on DTF, I'm not leaving but thanks guys!! 

[Kotowboy]

The drums that go with JP's solo in the ending of "A New Beginning" could be a bit more varied, and when i say a bit i mean A LOT. They drums are so simple on that part, good drumming on that solo would elevate the song to the next level.

Are you joking ? They work BECAUSE they're so simple.

[TJPNET]

The drums that go with JP's solo in the ending of "A New Beginning" could be a bit more varied, and when i say a bit i mean A LOT. They drums are so simple on that part, good drumming on that solo would elevate the song to the next level.

Are you joking ? They work BECAUSE they're so simple.

I agree. I know the solo is incredible but the simple drum beat driving that section was my favorite part.

[54_diplomats]

The drums that go with JP's solo in the ending of "A New Beginning" could be a bit more varied, and when i say a bit i mean A LOT. They drums are so simple on that part, good drumming on that solo would elevate the song to the next level.

Are you joking ? They work BECAUSE they're so simple.

Yeah definitely agree with you here. The simplicity really stuck out and I thought it was very well done.

[matthewmatt]

I have already written this elsewhere, but my current first thoughts (yeah, late to the party, but still):

So, me and my wife we finished it. It was pretty exhausting. Some notes:

- The story's okay. Nothing exceptional and you definitely don't have to worry about spoilers or whatever, but it didn't offend me the slightest (that was my main concern beforehand)

- For a band lke Dream Theater (whatever that might mean to you), releasing an album like this is a ballsy move.

- There might be a tad too much ballads (especially in the first act), but I think repeated listens will help.

- I now definitely want to name my firstborn "Jordan".

- The Andrew L. Webber - especially Jesus Christ Superstar - influence is very strong, especially on tracks like Lord Nafaryus or Three Days.

- You can dislike the album (and I can imagine many people who will), but that's your (or my) problem, not the album's - the effort, the energy and the craft put into this monster is undeniable. I would have nothing but respect for the guys even if I didn't beforehand.

- I will need about twenty more listens to even make an opinion - if I said about any album it's a lot to take in at once, I really didn't know what I was talking about. This is just... massive. Like, I tried to concentrate on in, read the lyrics and glide through the accompanying materials... and I have a solid headache, even if the story's not that complex (as I've already written above)

- James overdid himself, true, but I really don't know how does he want to sing this on the whole tour. I think he will be dead by the seventh date, and that's not a put down - most singers would be.

- I don't know what you people are smoking, Mike was totally cool (as usual), in fact, much more decent than on any of the previous two albums, IMHO.

- However, JMyung disappeared somewhere.

- Now, when I've already had the "experience", I can finally listen to the album on repeat and dissect it some more and I'm really looking forward to it. Maybe not tomorrow, though.

- And yes, it's a musical. Yet, it's very DT. I couldn't image how that would be even possible, but it is.

- Also, if anyone tried out the album based on the two "singles", he's in for a bitter disappointment. Both songs sound great in the context of the album, however.

Highlights after the 1st listen:

Dystopian Overture, Lord Nafarius, Act of Faythe (I think), Three Days, Brother Can You Hear Me, A New Beginning, 2285 Entr'acte, Moment of Betrayal, The Path That Divides and the title track.


Also - this is anything but your standard DT. Whether it's good or bad, I don't know yet, but whatever aspect of the band you like, there's nothing really that similar, I give them that. In fact, I believe this is as far from typical DT as possible for it to be still considered "their" album.

P.S. - excuse any typos or whatever, please, I'm a regular zombie right now.

[Podaar]

The moral of the story: if Faythe hadn't had her headphones in, then Nafaryus would still be a dickhole of a leader.

I love you so much right now, Scorp! 

Finished my first complete run through...albeit while working. I'm really looking forward to an uninterupted spin tonight!

What a fun experience.

[escruting]

The drums that go with JP's solo in the ending of "A New Beginning" could be a bit more varied, and when i say a bit i mean A LOT. They drums are so simple on that part, good drumming on that solo would elevate the song to the next level.

Are you joking ? They work BECAUSE they're so simple.

Yeah definitely agree with you here. The simplicity really stuck out and I thought it was very well done.

I agree that it works, but i do miss a bit more variety, not necessarily meaning more complexity. Just my opinion.

[RoeDent]

Agree with all the above. There's plenty of other passages for MM to show off (to great effect). His simplicity there is just perfect for that passage.

JR's comparative restraint also makes for a refreshing change. It doesn't feel like he overwhelms you with notes, playing million-note flourishes every couple of bars.

[Kotowboy]

2nd complete listen through and more songs are starting to stand out now

[escruting]

The drums that go with JP's solo in the ending of "A New Beginning" could be a bit more varied, and when i say a bit i mean A LOT. They drums are so simple on that part, good drumming on that solo would elevate the song to the next level.

Are you joking ? They work BECAUSE they're so simple.

Yeah definitely agree with you here. The simplicity really stuck out and I thought it was very well done.

I agree that it works, but i do miss a bit more variety, not necessarily meaning more complexity. Just one more beat (or something like that, i'm not a drummer) every time X part is repeated 3 times in a row exactly the same, for example. Just my opinion.

[mike099]

I still do not have the cd, but should by tomorrow.  Seems like a love it or hate it crowd.  Will be interesting how the 'old farts' (myself included) will respond.  Hef, lone star, etc.

[Pragmaticcircus]

So last night I listened to Act one (around 1-2 am) now I'm listening to Act two (this is the fourth playthrough) on my stereo full fucking volume and the stand out tracks REALLY BLOW ME AWAY!!!     

I haven't enjoyed a modern DT album this much in a long time, still not a fan of the ballads though..