The Astonishing (Story and Concept analysis)

[shredd]

Thought I'd would create our inevitable story and concept analysis page, lets start discussing the ins and outs of this ASTONISHING new album and what we think it all means, as well as real world parallels and messages.
There is also a thread for a musical analysis if you wanna check that out.
Personally I will listen to the album more before analyzing either but go for your life people! 

[MirrorMask]

Was looking forward to a thread like this... gonna come back to this many times once I will have fully digested the album!

[pcs90]

Glad someone created this now. should be interesting

[noxon]

https://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks/#cnt1


READ THIS!

[phospheneSOI]

https://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks/#cnt1


READ THIS!

Perfect.

Although I'm reading the description for the "The Gift of Music" and thinking "well that's what the world is like now, in real life..." :z

[thosava]

Posted this in the other thread but it fits better here:
Interesting part in the end:
"Peace has at last been restored to The Empire and the people now pledge their allegiance to a new way of life; A better life where art and creative individualism are celebrated and the astonishing power of music made by humans is treasured and enjoyed by all once again, and so it shall be forever."

So The Astonishing refers to the astonishing power of music!

[phospheneSOI]

Posted this in the other thread but it fits better here:
Interesting part in the end:
"Peace has at last been restored to The Empire and the people now pledge their allegiance to a new way of life; A better life where art and creative individualism are celebrated and the astonishing power of music made by humans is treasured and enjoyed by all once again, and so it shall be forever."

So The Astonishing refers to the astonishing power of music!

If you read the post noxon shared, you'll find out lots of things are... astonishing!

All those "... astonishing!" parts are laughable, BUT I'm actually digging the story a lot.

[kirksnosehair]

Wow, it's really quite....astonishing....how much thought and detail went into this story.  I have to be honest, when I first saw the artwork I was pretty skeptical.  But this is not only deep and intricately detailed, but it's also a cool story that almost comes across as a "reboot" (and huge expansion) of Rush's "2112."  I know John has cited that album and Rush in general as a huge influence.  I'm really impressed with all of it and after one listen through the album I definitely have to give Dream Theater HUGE credit for trying something new.

[thosava]

So Daryus went deaf from Gabriels scream. I didn't notice any reference to that in the album, did i miss it?

[mikeyd23]

https://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks/#cnt1


READ THIS!

I am absolutely blown away after reading that.... The level of detail and care is fantastic!

JP 

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

So Daryus went deaf from Gabriels scream. I didn't notice any reference to that in the album, did i miss it?

I also didn't know that until I read it.

That's pretty br00tal, bro.

[kirksnosehair]

https://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks/#cnt1


READ THIS!

I am absolutely blown away after reading that.... The level of detail and care is fantastic!

JP 

That's what won me over as well.  That and the fact that the music sounded very good on the first listen. 


The thing I noticed most right off the bat was the strong emphasis on melody and chord progressions.  This is in stark contrast to their most recent few albums which have all been much heavier and way more riff-oriented.

[V_R11]

"At that moment the overwhelming, soul crushing feeling of grief and pain become more than any man could be expected to handle, and while covering X's ears, Gabriel unleashes a blood curdling scream straight from the darkest depths of the abyss at a level unsustainable to the human ear. Faythe is unaffected due to the protection of her earphones but Daryus is not so lucky. The scream shatters the prince's eardrums causing irreversible nerve damage and rendering him hearing-less. He is now doomed to live inside of his own soundless prison with the rest of his lifetime left to lament in a barren wasteland of silence over his despicable actions"

Oh my God 

[ariich]

Wow. But, like, he kinda deserves it. Dick.

[thosava]

That's what Arabelle means by "In light of this new burden that you face, you are forgiven on this day!"
It's kind of weird it wasn't more clear in the actual album 

[RaasMah]

I love JP to death, but he could have used some writer to help him transcribe his ideas to prose form. There are some cringe worthy stuff there

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

That's what Arabelle means by "In light of this new burden that you face, you are forgiven on this day!"
It's kind of weird it wasn't more clear in the actual album 

I can totally picture Daryus going like: I'm not interested in forgiveness, just pay for my ear surgery bitch.

[Shadow2222]

That's what Arabelle means by "In light of this new burden that you face, you are forgiven on this day!"
It's kind of weird it wasn't more clear in the actual album 

I can totally picture Daryus going like: I'm not interested in forgiveness, just pay for my ear surgery bitch.

Well it's not like he even heard what she said 

[RoeDent]

It's interesting to note that, while in the booklet it says that Arabelle grants forgiveness to Daryus, in the descriptions on TA website, it says that Gabriel and Faythe grant forgiveness and "accept him into the family".

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

That's what Arabelle means by "In light of this new burden that you face, you are forgiven on this day!"
It's kind of weird it wasn't more clear in the actual album 

I can totally picture Daryus going like: I'm not interested in forgiveness, just pay for my ear surgery bitch.

Well it's not like he even heard what she said 

OMG this is amazing.

Empress: Daryus, you are forgiven this day.
Daryus: What did you just say?
Empress: I just said that I forgive you, Daryus.
Daryus: I can't hear squat.
Empress: Oh well.

[DragonGuitar]

Love this story, although its a bit sappy and some parts are pretty cheesy (I like cheese tho  ). Its like, 2112 meets Romeo and Juliet, I guess. But I like the message, the setting and premise is very well thought out, and overall it is just cool and I like the focus of music within the story, somehow it seems to make the adaptation as a concept album more appropriate... if that makes sense.

The only part I have a problem with is them just forgiving Daryus so easily. F that guy.

[Zydar]

That's what Arabelle means by "In light of this new burden that you face, you are forgiven on this day!"
It's kind of weird it wasn't more clear in the actual album 

I can totally picture Daryus going like: I'm not interested in forgiveness, just pay for my ear surgery bitch.

Well it's not like he even heard what she said 

OMG this is amazing.

Empress: Daryus, you are forgiven this day.
Daryus: What did you just say?
Empress: I just said that I forgive you, Daryus.
Daryus: I can't hear squat.
Empress: Oh well.

[RoeDent]

Arabelle: Chocolate!
Daryus: WHAT?! What are they selling?!
Arabelle: THEY'RE SELLIN' CHAWCLATE!!!

[ariich]

Its like, 2112 meets Romeo and Juliet, I guess.

Yeah, I was thinking there was a bit of a West Side Story vibe to the plot, which of course is basically the same as R&J.

[Progmetty]

"At that moment the overwhelming, soul crushing feeling of grief and pain become more than any man could be expected to handle, and while covering X's ears, Gabriel unleashes a blood curdling scream straight from the darkest depths of the abyss at a level unsustainable to the human ear. Faythe is unaffected due to the protection of her earphones but Daryus is not so lucky. The scream shatters the prince's eardrums causing irreversible nerve damage and rendering him hearing-less. He is now doomed to live inside of his own soundless prison with the rest of his lifetime left to lament in a barren wasteland of silence over his despicable actions"

Oh my God 

The lyrics failed to convey any idea about Daryus being hurt, I thought she was talking about his burden of guilt and regret.

[thosava]

I listened to it again. James does sing a high note, and we can hear a scream after it. I guess thats what is meant to represent that part.

[The Curious Orange]

https://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks/#cnt1


READ THIS!

That should have been in the CD booklet.

[Zydar]

https://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks/#cnt1


READ THIS!

I read that last night, and now I have a bigger picture (pun intended) of the story than I would have if I was only reading the lyrics.

[porcacultor]

After listening to the album and reading the full story... I really wish the band comes back to this "world". Doesn't have to be in the next album or with any urgency, I just think they really created something cool with this universe. Maybe an EP focusing on Nafaryus' perspective, from his days as Bug to his later more benign ruler days.

[DragonAttack]

Let me be the first here to wish Daryus a Happy Easter

[fischermasamune]

So according to the story notes, Daryus never kidnapped Xander? So how did he get leverage to make Arhys, son of Marhys, betray his brother? Just a promise of wealth?

[Progmetty]

Really? I haven't read the story notes yet, kinda happy I went through the album with only the lyrics, it was a unique experience.
Yeah the promise of wealth seem to be a stupid reason for the commander of a militia that is intent on overthrowing the emperor and win absolute power and wealth if successful, to betray his brother and main weapon.

[Enigmachine]

"At that moment the overwhelming, soul crushing feeling of grief and pain become more than any man could be expected to handle, and while covering X's ears, Gabriel unleashes a blood curdling scream straight from the darkest depths of the abyss at a level unsustainable to the human ear. Faythe is unaffected due to the protection of her earphones but Daryus is not so lucky. The scream shatters the prince's eardrums causing irreversible nerve damage and rendering him hearing-less. He is now doomed to live inside of his own soundless prison with the rest of his lifetime left to lament in a barren wasteland of silence over his despicable actions"

Oh my God 

Hearing-less?

[V_R11]

So according to the story notes, Daryus never kidnapped Xander? So how did he get leverage to make Arhys, son of Marhys, betray his brother? Just a promise of wealth?

He also threatened to kill Xander if Arhys doesn't give him Gabriel in return

[fischermasamune]

So according to the story notes, Daryus never kidnapped Xander? So how did he get leverage to make Arhys, son of Marhys, betray his brother? Just a promise of wealth?

He also threatened to kill Xander if Arhys doesn't give him Gabriel in return

Well, if Arhys (supported by the Ravenskill militia) is already hiding Gabriel, they could hide Xander as well.