DT15: A View From The Top Of The World (Timeline for DT15)

[DTiwbwMP]

A View From The Top Of The World is a first rate album. Definitely NO NEW GROUND broken here, but IMO, it's the best Mangini era album. Speaking of MM, this is the first album where we really get to hear the power of his drumming! This is NOT a "throwback" album at all. It fits squarely in with the sound of everything since ADTOE, just definitely better produced and with crystal clear sound. The two songs already released are certainly the weakest on the record, especially "Invisible Monster". This is a solid 9/10 for me and my album of the year (just edging out SENJUTSO & MARCHING IN TIME). 

Highlights:
JP & MM
Minor Complaints:
Lyrics & melodies for many of the songs

[AVFTTOTW]

My favorite tracks are Sleeping Giant, Awaken the Master and the title track (best epic since ITPOE). The Alien is ok but like most of the first singles, I got bored of it quickly (also sounding like a DOT out-take heavily influenced by Systematic Chaos). Invisible Monster is a great track that grew on me even though I didn't like it at first.

The only track I don't like is Transcending Time.

It's a pretty good follow-up to Distance Over Time. It feels like a better album overall (which I never expected to say) and is the exact kind of jump forward I hoped they'd have following up ADTOE.

[wolfking]

A View From The Top Of The World is a first rate album. Definitely NO NEW GROUND broken here, but IMO, it's the best Mangini era album. Speaking of MM, this is the first album where we really get to hear the power of his drumming! This is NOT a "throwback" album at all. It fits squarely in with the sound of everything since ADTOE, just definitely better produced and with crystal clear sound. The two songs already released are certainly the weakest on the record, especially "Invisible Monster". This is a solid 9/10 for me and my album of the year (just edging out SENJUTSO & MARCHING IN TIME). 

Highlights:
JP & MM
Minor Complaints:
Lyrics & melodies for many of the songs

This is great to read.

[Architeuthis]

Whoa, he's my age.  Class of 1990
I was 21 years old when I first got into DT, when I&W came out. 

n00b

I'm the same age and got into them the summer before my senior year!   

So you gotta be talking about your senior year in college?  I was talking about High school class 90.   

[CirclesSquared]

A great album. Very exciting and fun. There is a definite return to a more adventurous DT in terms of technicality, that DoT started to bring back to some extent. Some of the most intense and best instrumental passages since SDOIT/TOT, but there is also a prevalent sense of melody.

It's a heavy album and it also isn't. I don't know how to explain it. When it gets heavy, it is menacing, but the impression of each song is that it wasn't all about heaviness, which is something I personally like as I am more into the proggy side of DT. And that's another thing. I think there is definitely more variety here.

For the record, I loved DoT and I am one of the fans of The Astonishing. I didn't think much of self-titled and ADToE is a mixed bag.

Myung is so wonderfully present. Rudess is trying out all sorts of new stuff which was way overdue, including some very Jon Lord-esque passages on SG. The sound is absolutely pristine.

Favorite songs:
Sleeping Giant
Awaken the Master
Answering the Call/The title track

IM is easily the worst song on the album.

[Kotowboy]

People calling A View From The Top... the best epic since Illumination Theory or In The Presence... is a bit underwhelming for me.

• Illumination was literally their most recent EPIC

• In The Presence of Enemies... Is one of my least favourites...

If you were calling it their best Epic since Octavarium i'd be more optimistic .

[Kotowboy]

It's a heavy album and it also isn't. I don't know how to explain it. When it gets heavy, it is menacing, but the impression of each song is that it wasn't all about heaviness, which is something I personally like as I am more into the proggy side of DT. And that's another thing. I think there is definitely more variety here.

This is why I love Octavarium. The heavy stuff is super heavy but the whole album is quite light and airy and varied sounding.

[Wim Kruithof]

I've recieved a mail that the vinyl left the building, so it should be delivered tomorrow. Which means, when I've played the whole on iTunes this night when it's coming out, I can spin the album tomorrow. I am looking badass forward to it, unbelievable.

[CirclesSquared]

It's a heavy album and it also isn't. I don't know how to explain it. When it gets heavy, it is menacing, but the impression of each song is that it wasn't all about heaviness, which is something I personally like as I am more into the proggy side of DT. And that's another thing. I think there is definitely more variety here.

This is why I love Octavarium. The heavy stuff is super heavy but the whole album is quite light and airy and varied sounding.

I hear you. Although not my favorite, Octavarium is the last Portnoy-era album that, for me, had some magic in it. And I think it's down to how airy it felt throughout.

[Fritzinger]

IM is easily the worst song on the album.

I don't really get why IM was so poorly received. I actually like its Pull Me Under-like vibe a lot.

For me, the weakest song on the album is easily Transcending Time.

[CirclesSquared]

IM is easily the worst song on the album.

I don't really get why IM was so poorly received. I actually like its Pull Me Under-like vibe a lot.

That's a bit far-fetched. I don't hear PMU there at all.

I like TT. If anything, it has more of I&W's late 80s early 90s feel than IM.

[KevShmev]

A View From The Top Of The World is a first rate album. Definitely NO NEW GROUND broken here, but IMO, it's the best Mangini era album. Speaking of MM, this is the first album where we really get to hear the power of his drumming! This is NOT a "throwback" album at all. It fits squarely in with the sound of everything since ADTOE, just definitely better produced and with crystal clear sound. The two songs already released are certainly the weakest on the record, especially "Invisible Monster". This is a solid 9/10 for me and my album of the year (just edging out SENJUTSO & MARCHING IN TIME). 

Highlights:
JP & MM
Minor Complaints:
Lyrics & melodies for many of the songs

This feels like a bad sign for me.  Going with the assumption that their playing will be terrific as always, I couldn't give two craps if the playing is better than normal (whatever that even means), the time sigs are more crazy, or any of that other technical nonsense. I want good songs with good, strong melodies.   

[Awaken]

My artbook showed up yesterday, been digesting all of the content here.  I overplayed The Alien and Invisible Monster when they were released, so I've been skipping them in my playthroughs.  Answering the Call and Transcending Time are both great, the longer songs will just take more time to fully grasp.  This is very much NOT DT by the numbers (to me), feels really fresh and inspired. 

Also if on the fence, get the artbook - the team (band and art team) did a great job on it.  I don't have a CD player anywhere, so I've been listening via the BluRay - the visuals are pretty cool.

*Edit - Also, JM wins the 'Digging for a spark' behind the scenes.  When you see, you'll know.

[convrge]

I'm glad to hear that people are talking about the dynamic range of the upcoming release. If anyone is interested, Apple Music does have the BluRay version of Distance Over Time, as well as the HDTracks version of A Dramatic Turn of Events and Systematic Chaos. These all have higher DR values than the standard masterings.

However, the versions of the self-titled and Black Clouds & Silver Linings on Apple Music are the standard CD versions (despite dynamic HDTracks versions of those also existing). It will be interesting to see what they publish on Apple Music (and other streaming services).

[dream416]

Glad people are getting what they ordered. My boxset still hasn't been shipped yet......

[lovethedrake]

I'm glad to hear that people are talking about the dynamic range of the upcoming release. If anyone is interested, Apple Music does have the BluRay version of Distance Over Time, as well as the HDTracks version of A Dramatic Turn of Events and Systematic Chaos. These all have higher DR values than the standard masterings.

However, the versions of the self-titled and Black Clouds & Silver Linings on Apple Music are the standard CD versions (despite dynamic HDTracks versions of those also existing). It will be interesting to see what they publish on Apple Music (and other streaming services).

How are you able to tell which version these are? Not questioning it, but I can't find on Apple Music where it distinguishes whether it's blue Ray or hd or neither.

[Kotowboy]

I'm looking forward to getting home from work tonight and listening to the whole thing at 00:00 on Spotify.

Yes i do plan to get the 2LP 1CD package when i can.

[ReaPsTA]

Thanks to Max/Marc for the info about the HDTracks version and the link to the loudness war db. Very helpful! Will probably purchase as time allows and will try to find the audio Blu-Ray for DoT.

[nikatapi]

How are you able to tell which version these are? Not questioning it, but I can't find on Apple Music where it distinguishes whether it's blue Ray or hd or neither.

In the mobile version at least, there's an "Apple Digital Master" indicator, which supposedly are better in terms of dynamic range. https://www.apple.com/apple-music/apple-digital-masters/

[nobloodyname]

[...]but unless you have an ear for dynamic range or own a very high-def stereo system to play music on, it might not matter to most listeners, especially if you stream or listen to music on less-than-professional audio equipment.

I think even the hardest of hearing using £0.99 earbuds would be able to hear the distortion caused by the brickwalling on Baroness's recent releases. The original releases of Vapor Trails and Death Magnetic are aural masterpieces compared to those.

[porcacultor]

A View From The Top Of The World is a first rate album. Definitely NO NEW GROUND broken here, but IMO, it's the best Mangini era album. Speaking of MM, this is the first album where we really get to hear the power of his drumming! This is NOT a "throwback" album at all. It fits squarely in with the sound of everything since ADTOE, just definitely better produced and with crystal clear sound. The two songs already released are certainly the weakest on the record, especially "Invisible Monster". This is a solid 9/10 for me and my album of the year (just edging out SENJUTSO & MARCHING IN TIME). 

Highlights:
JP & MM
Minor Complaints:
Lyrics & melodies for many of the songs

This feels like a bad sign for me.  Going with the assumption that their playing will be terrific as always, I couldn't give two craps if the playing is better than normal (whatever that even means), the time sigs are more crazy, or any of that other technical nonsense. I want good songs with good, strong melodies.

For what it's worth, I'd strongly dispute the opinion on melodies – strong vocal hooks and melodies have been yielding many repeated listenings for me. Just felt like throwing in another opinion!

[nikatapi]

[...]but unless you have an ear for dynamic range or own a very high-def stereo system to play music on, it might not matter to most listeners, especially if you stream or listen to music on less-than-professional audio equipment.

I think even the hardest of hearing using £0.99 earbuds would be able to hear the distortion caused by the brickwalling on Baroness's recent releases. The original releases of Vapor Trails and Death Magnetic are aural masterpieces compared to those.

Indeed, some albums are outright bad. But brickwalling itself is not the sole issue for some albums. For example Six Degrees is pretty brickwalled, but mostly sounds good.

[jayvee3]

I'm glad to hear that people are talking about the dynamic range of the upcoming release. If anyone is interested, Apple Music does have the BluRay version of Distance Over Time, as well as the HDTracks version of A Dramatic Turn of Events and Systematic Chaos. These all have higher DR values than the standard masterings.

However, the versions of the self-titled and Black Clouds & Silver Linings on Apple Music are the standard CD versions (despite dynamic HDTracks versions of those also existing). It will be interesting to see what they publish on Apple Music (and other streaming services).

The version I downloaded from Apple Music of the self-titled is significantly better than the cd version I had imported previously. And I mean significant - enough to not only be very likely the HDTracks version, but also one of the best sounding DT albums to me. ADTOE unfortunately sounded the same. I'm in Australia, and can't imagine it being different in different parts of the world, but just putting it out there...

[erwinrafael]

Album is coming in a few minutes here in our part of the world. Can we discuss spoilers here or do we start another thread?

[RoeDent]

Good luck, everyone...

[MirrorMask]

Album is coming in a few minutes here in our part of the world. Can we discuss spoilers here or do we start another thread?

I think the album release day deserves a proper thread! this one was dedicated to collect all the info about the writing and release process (and should be preserved as such...)

[bosk1]

New thread has been started.