Invisible Monster Thread ! ALL SPOILERS !

[Kotowboy]

Same as before.  Keep all spoilery-ish chat in here so the other thread ca be more general !!

Song is out tomorrow !

Hoping that means available at midnight wherever you are!

[Kotowboy]

Listening to the 90 second preview on iTunes.

Sounds fantastic production wise !



But as with the Alien - nothing really jumps out vocally as being super catchy.

Based on this - the new album will be the best sounding of the Mangini era by far.

[geeeemo]

9pm in PST!!

[Dream Team]

Right, definitely no re-invention of the wheel taking place so far . . .

[Kotowboy]

I'm not expecting a massive 180 stylistically. After 36 years and 15 albums it's enough that the music is still good.

[King Postwhore]

Right, definitely no re-invention of the wheel taking place so far . . .

Why would you expect that?

[Kotowboy]

The absolute last thing I want Dream Theater to do is pull a Radiohead and throw away all their guitars and start using keyboards and drum machines exclusively.

No Thank you.

[BeatriceNB]

The absolute last thing I want Dream Theater to do is pull a Radiohead and throw away all their guitars and start using keyboards and drum machines exclusively.

No Thank you.

Not that, but I would love to hear the guitars used as keyboards/pads, and Mangini playing on an electronic kit.

[Kotowboy]

Of course there are exceptions - but in my opinion - when ROCK bands start using keyboards instead of guitars - it usually means they've run out of ideas.

[wolfking]

Right, definitely no re-invention of the wheel taking place so far . . .

Just listened to the song now, they sound as bored as they looked in that interview vid.  Everything they are doing now is just sounding the same, they have gotten stale and are in a rut sound wise IMO.  Didn't like this song at all.  There's no energy here whatsoever.

[Kotowboy]

How ironic it would be if they decided to take 5 years off

[LKap13]

Right, definitely no re-invention of the wheel taking place so far . . .

Just listened to the song now, they sound as bored as they looked in that interview vid.  Everything they are doing now is just sounding the same, they have gotten stale and are in a rut sound wise IMO.  Didn't like this song at all.  There's no energy here whatsoever.

If we are to believe that some ppl on the thread have indeed heard the album as they've claimed then supposedly the album is fresh and great. Who knows though. At the very least I'm happy with the production of both

[JRuless]

Alright! Concise, need the let it sink in a bit. Same feel as I had with The Alien. No key solo. A get the feel of TEI.

[evilasiojr]

Listened to the song about 5/6 times and I didn't like it so much.

I "understand" the song, probably the most "commercial" on the album (people who have listened the whole thing could confirm or deny this for us), at the same time it's very dark, everybody playing tight, cool bass and drums dynamics, cool solo, some good vocal moments.

But I don't know, it didn't hit me. As any DT song, time can change it all! Still very excited for the new album.

[wolfking]

Alright! Concise, need the let it sink in a bit. Same feel as I had with The Alien. No key solo. A get the feel of TEI.

I don't hear that at all.

[LKap13]

Reviews for this one are lukewarm so far!! Wasn't paralyzed the second single off d/t? And some other more mainstream song the 2nd single from a prior album? Maybe second single is just not a good spot

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Right, definitely no re-invention of the wheel taking place so far . . .

Just listened to the song now, they sound as bored as they looked in that interview vid.  Everything they are doing now is just sounding the same, they have gotten stale and are in a rut sound wise IMO.  Didn't like this song at all.  There's no energy here whatsoever.

I haven't listened to it yet but that would be terrible if I end up agreeing lol. I think a few of the band members described high energy (paraphrasing here) throughout the album. My biggest fear indeed is that this song and the album end up sounding like recycled material, but at the same time I would not be surprised based on how this release has gone: barely anything mentioned about the album or the creative process and one single that sounds very much like what you say above. I am also keeping in mind how much OTHER music some of the band members are writing at the same time they are making this album, and wondering if maybe it was just too much.

I remember when they were writing and recording DoT we would get snippets here and there of JP or whoever else in the studio. They seemed genuinely happy about how they were making that album. I hope this one isn't just going through the motions. T minus a few hours for me .

[Kotowboy]

If this album ends up sounding a little uninspired then my guess about JP spreading himself too thin across 4 albums over 2 years may ring true.


Disappointing if it's not the "career highlight" level album that i've seen it touted as.

[erwinrafael]

Now that is underwhelming.

[wolfking]

I hope I am wrong, but as I said not just this one but both these first two tracks to me sound like a band who are bored and stale.  I hope the people saying it's fresh are right though and I can be persuaded otherwise once the album is out.

[LKap13]

If this album ends up sounding a little uninspired then my guess about JP spreading himself too thin across 4 albums over 2 years may ring true.


Disappointing if it's not the "career highlight" level album that i've seen it touted as.

This has been mostly one guy. We have no way of knowing who's actually heard what 

[Kotowboy]

Well then i stand by my assessment

[Glasser]

If this album ends up sounding a little uninspired then my guess about JP spreading himself too thin across 4 albums over 2 years may ring true.


Disappointing if it's not the "career highlight" level album that i've seen it touted as.

This has been mostly one guy. We have no way of knowing who's actually heard what 

Tough crowd as expected. I have been listening to the album since mid August and I thoroughly love it. Its a kick ass DT album! If the band had to get an OK before they included songs on an album from here, there may ever release another one. 15th album and still going strong! What does everyone want from them?

[Kotowboy]

That's pretty much where I am.

We're lucky they're this good after 36 years and 15 albums. Most bands end up sounding like all the bands they inspired.

I'm not even bothered if this album is a little safe. Maybe the next one will be different !




Ok it's after midnight GMT. Purchased the song and listening now. . .

[Dedalus]

If this album ends up sounding a little uninspired then my guess about JP spreading himself too thin across 4 albums over 2 years may ring true.


Disappointing if it's not the "career highlight" level album that i've seen it touted as.

This has been mostly one guy. We have no way of knowing who's actually heard what 

Tough crowd as expected. I have been listening to the album since mid August and I thoroughly love it. Its a kick ass DT album! If the band had to get an OK before they included songs on an album from here, there may ever release another one. 15th album and still going strong! What does everyone want from them?

[Kotowboy]

Invisible Monster has a nice interesting middle section. Some of this track reminds me of Falling Into Infinity...

[Trav]

If this album ends up sounding a little uninspired then my guess about JP spreading himself too thin across 4 albums over 2 years may ring true.


Disappointing if it's not the "career highlight" level album that i've seen it touted as.

This has been mostly one guy. We have no way of knowing who's actually heard what 

Tough crowd as expected. I have been listening to the album since mid August and I thoroughly love it. Its a kick ass DT album! If the band had to get an OK before they included songs on an album from here, there may ever release another one. 15th album and still going strong! What does everyone want from them?

My thoughts as well. I've learned to take anything I read on here with a grain of salt. I realize everyone has their own tastes and opinions, but there are more negative comments on this forum than on Facebook. And that's sad!

[Kotowboy]

Oooh harmonised solo !!!! 


Initial thoughts : way more melodic than i anticipated and I like it a lot more than The Alien


Now i'm excited for the album again

[wolfking]

If this album ends up sounding a little uninspired then my guess about JP spreading himself too thin across 4 albums over 2 years may ring true.


Disappointing if it's not the "career highlight" level album that i've seen it touted as.

This has been mostly one guy. We have no way of knowing who's actually heard what 

Tough crowd as expected. I have been listening to the album since mid August and I thoroughly love it. Its a kick ass DT album! If the band had to get an OK before they included songs on an album from here, there may ever release another one. 15th album and still going strong! What does everyone want from them?

Is it not okay to not like something they release?

[Kotowboy]

Yes ! But not before you 've heard it !


Also now that DT have their own HQ - there's no reason all the albums from here on shouldn't sound this good.

[Glasser]

That's pretty much where I am.

We're lucky they're this good after 36 years and 15 albums. Most bands end up sounding like all the bands they inspired.

I'm not even bothered if this album is a little safe. Maybe the next one will be different !

Exactly! This album has new elements, I wouldn't say its "safe" as a whole. ATM will knock you all on your asses for sure, they are saving the "meat" for the release, I love both singles but this cat only has 2 paws out of the bag! 

[Kotowboy]

Yeah I like this new single a lot.

It reminds me of Hells Kitchen meets a bit of In The Presence with a touch of DT12.

[TAC]

I hope I am wrong, but as I said not just this one but both these first two tracks to me sound like a band who are bored and stale.  I hope the people saying it's fresh are right though and I can be persuaded otherwise once the album is out.

Think of the reviews that said the very same things about Senjutsu, and how differently you feel about that album.

Iron Maiden does what Iron Maiden does. Same with Dream Theater.

Maybe it's you that's bored of Dream Theater.

[Dedalus]

I hope I am wrong, but as I said not just this one but both these first two tracks to me sound like a band who are bored and stale.  I hope the people saying it's fresh are right though and I can be persuaded otherwise once the album is out.

Think of the reviews that said the very same things about Senjutsu, and how differently you feel about that album.

Iron Maiden does what Iron Maiden does. Same with Dream Theater.

Maybe it's you that's bored of Dream Theater.

I thought the same. I like Reunion Maiden and I like Senjutsu, but I can take the definition of Wolfking for the current DT and easily apply it to Maiden.


EDIT: this definition "Everything they are doing now is just sounding the same, they have gotten stale and are in a rut sound wise IMO"

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

That's pretty much where I am.

We're lucky they're this good after 36 years and 15 albums. Most bands end up sounding like all the bands they inspired.

I'm not even bothered if this album is a little safe. Maybe the next one will be different !

Exactly! This album has new elements, I wouldn't say its "safe" as a whole. ATM will knock you all on your asses for sure, they are saving the "meat" for the release, I love both singles but this cat only has 2 paws out of the bag! 

Glasser - is it your opinion that this is the most radio friendly song on the album?