What kind of album would you like DT14 to be?

[DragonAttack]

^
I don't know if it was 'didn't allow', 'there wasn't room', 'gotta get all of the lyrics/story in', or whatever......

I'm still astonishhhhh.......surprised that there's nothing in those 2+ hours where there is ZERO focus on the rhythm section (be it a moody or heavy section, solo or tag team).

[Evai]

The problem with TA was that it was way too good for a band of their age. Seriously, aren't you supposed to release your best work within your first 3 albums?

[IdoSC]

I'd love to see a wild run of about 70 minutes, 8-12 songs with most being on the shorter side for DT and some being on the average/longer side, consisting of crazy "experiments" like Lord Nafaryus. I want to hear some amazing mixes of their own style with other genres, letting James have a field day with his vocals, just having a good old time taking their own style in all sorts of directions.

Also, don't let JP write lyrics for more than 1/3rd of the album. I like the plot for The Astonishing, I like the general idea of many of his songs, but at this point I can hardly count how many *executions* and full on lyrics of his I've truly appreciated since BCSL. Illumination Theory being a highly notable exception.

[ToT-147]

^
I don't know if it was 'didn't allow', 'there wasn't room', 'gotta get all of the lyrics/story in', or whatever......

I'm still astonishhhhh.......surprised that there's nothing in those 2+ hours where there is ZERO focus on the rhythm section (be it a moody or heavy section, solo or tag team).

Yes, I'm kinda too, only now that you're mentioning it. But anyways, there are some moments... two that come to mind right now: the pre-JP solo on A New Beginning, and the (precisely, moody/heavy section) on The Walking Shadow..

But yeah, it's true.. Not that is a bad thing for me, but it's kind of surprising... well, only on one side; on the other side, you have the fact that MM is not, like Portnoy was, a composer drummer, so this counts for the no-so-many-rhythm-sections nowadays..

[gzarruk]

But yeah, it's true.. Not that is a bad thing for me, but it's kind of surprising... well, only on one side; on the other side, you have the fact that MM is not, like Portnoy was, a composer drummer, so this counts for the no-so-many-rhythm-sections nowadays..

He is, he just hasn't been too involved in the writing for the DT albums he's been on. (You can hear GREAT drums/bass moments on DT12, for example)

[ToT-147]

But yeah, it's true.. Not that is a bad thing for me, but it's kind of surprising... well, only on one side; on the other side, you have the fact that MM is not, like Portnoy was, a composer drummer, so this counts for the no-so-many-rhythm-sections nowadays..

He is, he just hasn't been too involved in the writing for the DT albums he's been on. (You can hear GREAT drums/bass moments on DT12, for example)

I mean that he doesn't create music (chord progressions, melodies) like the rest does, excepting JLB.. Portnoy wasn't/isn't on the level of Virgil Donati, Minnemann or Thomas Lang in composing melodies and that stuff but he was always there directing the songs -at least most of them- and structuring parts, adding rhythms and changing the time signatures, etc, etc.. I'm sure Mangini does some of these things, but his level of collaboration seems to be very far from MP's..

[rumborak]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/james-labrie-discusses-timeline-for-new-dream-theater-album-announces-solo-appearance-at-progpower-usa/

Saw this today. James says new album late '18/early '19.

[gzarruk]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/james-labrie-discusses-timeline-for-new-dream-theater-album-announces-solo-appearance-at-progpower-usa/

Saw this today. James says new album late '18/early '19.

Well, he said album in late 2018 and tour in early 2019, but, man, it's gonna be a long wait 
Maybe we can finally get that 2nd Petrucci album before that? 

[rumborak]

Don't tease me, bro. I would love for that to finally come out.

[gzarruk]

Don't tease me, bro. I would love for that to finally come out.

Mangini is practicing the songs they played at G3 2012 for the JP guitar camp, so I hope John decides it's time to finally record them and get that album out by next year 

[Architeuthis]

I really don't see the need to be impatient for a JP solo album. Everything he does in DT is so killer and hard to top.. 

[gzarruk]

I really don't see the need to be impatient for a JP solo album. Everything he does in DT is so killer and hard to top.. 

It's that he's been talking about it since 2010 

[Architeuthis]

Isn't TA a JP solo album?  JK,  The Astonishing rocks!

[ToT-147]

Isn't TA a JP solo album?  JK,  The Astonishing rocks!

Jokes aside, it'd be something like a solo album if he would've made the music on his own, but Rudess happen to exist... luckily..

[rumborak]

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/dream_theaters_rudess_the_biggest_mistake_prog_musicians_make_these_days.html

This quote caught my eye:

Right now there's that whole djent style of music that people listen to

There was a discussion a while ago about whether JP playing an 8-string might mean djent; this could be another hint that it will.

[Mosh]

They talked about djent a bit around the time of DT12 too, I don't expect anything out of that.

[gzarruk]

I'm not a big djent fan, but this could mean they might take a more modern (and heavier) direction for this album.

[Mladen]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but djent was a big thing, like, five years ago.

I remember when The Enemy inside came out, the first minute had some djent influences, but then it goes into a more familiar territory. If they decide to go that way again, they could dig deeper and make that influence more prominent in their sound.

[JayOctavarium]

I would be game for at least one song having a slight Djent influence. Like a really heavy song (yet still melodic... because I can't stand just rhythmic chugging).

[mikeyd23]

I think the djent thing is like most other styles with DT, it's all about the mixture of elements. If they mix a little of that style into songs in certain spots, it could be cool. If they try to do it too much, it might be not so cool. DT has always been about the mixture of metal, prog, melody, etc... for me, so djent would just be an extension of that.

Basically, DT are at their best when they incorporate more than a few elements, djent can certainly be one of them if done right.

[Renzo]

I think the djent thing is like most other styles with DT, it's all about the mixture of elements. If they mix a little of that style into songs in certain spots, it could be cool. If they try to do it too much, it might be not so cool. DT has always been about the mixture of metal, prog, melody, etc... for me, so djent would just be an extension of that.

Basically, DT are at their best when they incorporate more than a few elements, djent can certainly be one of them if done right.

I agree! Recently I've been quite into Architects, and I like how they sort of blend heavy 8-string guitar riff with more melodic moments. With this I don't mean that DT should completely turn full-Architects mode but instead having a fine balance between heaviness and melody.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but djent was a big thing, like, five years ago.

I remember when The Enemy inside came out, the first minute had some djent influences, but then it goes into a more familiar territory. If they decide to go that way again, they could dig deeper and make that influence more prominent in their sound.

'The Enemy Inside' is an example of what I mean. 

[Herrick]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but djent was a big thing, like, five years ago.

I remember when The Enemy inside came out, the first minute had some djent influences, but then it goes into a more familiar territory. If they decide to go that way again, they could dig deeper and make that influence more prominent in their sound.

I thought people were comparing that song to Nevermore. I'm not a huge Djent fan. I like Meshuggah and Gojira and that's it. I'd rather not hear that type of stuff in Dream Theater but like any genre, Djent isn't just...djent. So there's the possibility that Petrucci could utilize that style in a unique & cool way.

Edit: Yeah Mikeyd23 pretty much made this point. Sorry.

[Dream Team]

Come on James, get out in the sun a little. Aging rock stars with thinning hair, etc, would look a lot better if they weren't pasty white. Anyway, would strongly prefer a JP album to another JLB one. The first Mullmuzzler is still my favorite so his current style isn't exactly wowing me.

[WheyWaffles]

Ok, I'm here to shut down the djent talk right now.

If JP djents on the next album, it will be an "Oh, Grandpa..." moment the likes of which he will never recover from. He might as well just cut his hair and forget about the glorious skullet he was destined to wear in his golden years.

[Pragmaticcircus]

Didn't James already do Djent on a solo album? 


#oldnews


I'd like DT to try playing different instruments for once, now THAT would get me interested in a new album! 

[jjfumbly]

I want DT14 to be heavy--a new kind of heavy. With John Petrucci mentioning his interest in the incorporation of 8-Stringed guitars into new DT material, the chances are better than ever. Not necessarily "djenty" but innovative low F# riffing. A sharp contrast to everything The Astonishing was, DT would come back with a new face and sound. Of course they would never forget to bring the prog too...

[gzarruk]

JP has been confirmed for G3 in Europe untill May 1st of next year, so this probably means DT won't enter the studio untill mid 2018, maybe for an early 2019 release 

[Renzo]

JP has been confirmed for G3 in Europe untill May 1st of next year, so this probably means DT won't enter the studio untill mid 2018, maybe for an early 2019 release 

At least we Europeans can see the G3 too. 
But yeah, this means the album will probably be slated to early 2019. By the way, I'm waiting to hear SoA's debut on 20th of October (which happens to be my birthday),  despite all the DS vs JR discussion.

BTW Derek is great and all but Jordan is the man, in my humble opinion. 

[theshatteredfortress]

First of all, Hello to all since it's been a long while since I've been here.  I have read a lot of comments in this section as I am REALLY INTERESTED (like all of us) to know where they're gonna go next musically.

My answer to the original question would be: a really heavy album with full of surprises  

For years I've really liked the heaviness of Dream Theater.  Right now I really dig the PROGRESSIVE metal thing (like Images & Words, A Dramatic Turn Of Events, DT & The Astonishing).  BUT, I think the next album would be awesome with more heaviness to it.  After that new album, they could do any type of music they want because they would have produced 4 really diverse albums in a row!!!!

Tx

[Renzo]

First of all, Hello to all since it's been a long while since I've been here.  I have read a lot of comments in this section as I am REALLY INTERESTED (like all of us) to know where they're gonna go next musically.

My answer to the original question would be: a really heavy album with full of surprises  

For years I've really liked the heaviness of Dream Theater.  Right now I really dig the PROGRESSIVE metal thing (like Images & Words, A Dramatic Turn Of Events, DT & The Astonishing).  BUT, I think the next album would be awesome with more heaviness to it.  After that new album, they could do any type of music they want because they would have produced 4 really diverse albums in a row!!!!

Tx

Diversity between albums is something that makes this band really unique, even though I'm not a big fan of FII I'll give it the credit of diverseness (pardon if this term does not exist haha). By the way we are pretty sure DT14 will indeed be heavier than TA (even though I like this album A LOT) as it was confirmed by JP in numerous interviews. I'm not really interested in having an album going necessarily in a Top 5 DT albums, if so, this will indeed be astonishing amazing but I'm more into having new music showing a new level of creativity.

[theshatteredfortress]

Yeah I agree.  Add some heaviness to a new level of creativity and I'm 100% in  

Kidding aside that was the main point of my post.  So when does this new album comes out?? 

[MirrorMask]

Late 2018, early 2019 probably. Just like Game of Thrones' final season.

[gzarruk]

Late 2018, early 2019 probably. Just like Game of Thrones' final season.

Such a long wait for both 

About the direction, a heavier album would be nice, but I don't want a TOT kind of album where everything is heavy just for the sake of it. I prefer albums that are balanced, and not just a heavy shred fest.

[MirrorMask]

I agree, I'd like a "naturally heavy" album, not a "forced heavy" album so to speak.

[Pettor]

An album in the sound of The Gift of Music, Ravenskill, A New Beginning and The Path that Divide ... that would be awesome. Mainly progressive and melodic with interesting song structures and heavy when needed.