New single, Night Terror. Discuss.

[dualpalmpilots]

GOOD:
- James doesn't sound "processed" at all.

This was such a welcome change.

[Progmaniac1988]

It's almost hilarious and unfair to the band that their entire fanbase analyzes their music to shreds but here we go. I even get tired just reading everyone's opinions so I won't get offended if you skip mine altogether.

My initial impression after 4 listens is that it feels very good. Sure, the tune itself isn't the most inspiring melody I've heard this year but overall all the ingredients are just so back.

I love the instrumental section and it sends me back into SFAM/8VM land. And how JP finishes that instrumental with his emotive lead and MP playing these super musical fills, I love it.

This isn't the best music they've done or anything but the vibe feels cool and the band's performance and songwriting (or rather riff fest at times) is just pure DT.

Punchy mix from Andy Sneap. I also didn't expect MP to move towards a more choked snare sound but it definitely pops.

Overall the swing and rock 'n roll playfulness are back and that's really what I've missed. The drums are fluent but so incredibly human sounding.

Did I mention it is absolutely surreal to see these guys play together again? Enjoying the video as well, tastefully done. They absolutely kill that instrumental section and it's a sight to behold.

Ah what a refreshing post lol

I'm with you dude, I feel so bad for DT. Not all but many of their fans are just ridiculous with their magnifying glass analyzing. I grew tired of that bullshit as I grew older lol

[Max Kuehnau]

John said during one interview (can't remember when) that DT fans always hold up score cards. Made me laugh at the time, but it's accurate (and I'm including myself here)

[Parasomnia]

Why does it share the name with a movement of False Awakening Suite?


Anyway track was sick, enjoyed it. It initially made me think of SC and BC&SL, and no doubt the rest of the album will have some of those traits too. But actually I heard a lot of Sleeping Giant in this one, except with Portnoy on drums.
The recording is absolutely much tighter with Portnoy on drums that's for sure.

[hefdaddy42]

It's almost hilarious and unfair to the band that their entire fanbase analyzes their music to shreds

No kidding.  Fans of most other artists are like "Yeah, I liked it!" or "Nah, didn't care for it."
DT fans are like "Too dark.  Not as technical as their other thing.  Production isn't to my taste.  Not crazy about the minor diminished unison run in the second prechorus."

but here we go

Aaaaahhhhhh

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Ah what a refreshing post lol

I'm with you dude, I feel so bad for DT. Not all but many of their fans are just ridiculous with their magnifying glass analyzing. I grew tired of that bullshit as I grew older lol

He did the exact same thing in his post lol

[Max Kuehnau]

No kidding.  Fans of most other artists are like "Yeah, I liked it!" or "Nah, didn't care for it."
DT fans are like "Too dark.  Not as technical as their other thing.  Production isn't to my taste.  Not crazy about the minor diminished unison run in the second prechorus."
Aaaaahhhhhh

DT's main clientele are musicians, so this is what happens. Happens with Toto too (or Steely Dan, to name two other bands) or indeed any band where their main clientele are musicians. And IMHO, these bands have their rightful place in music and we need bands who push the boundaries. They did.

[macneil]

First impression: I like it. Feels a lot like Invisible Monster, a solid DT track, though it hasn't blown me away.

Things I like about it:

• Portnoy being back warms my heart (including it sounds like every one of his signature fills lol)
• Really enjoy James' performance here
• JM sounds good in the mix

Might take a few more listens to fully absorb it.

Feeling like the overall sound will be a mix of View and SC/BC&SL, which I suppose makes sense (though I would say leaning more towards View,based on this first track).

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

DT's main clientele are musicians, so this is what happens. Happens with Toto too (or Steely Dan, to name two other bands) or indeed any band where their main clientele are musicians. And IMHO, these bands have their rightful place in music and we need bands who push the boundaries. They did.

Exactly. Lot of DT fans are musicians and some with formal training. It comes with the territory and the band embraces that. John Petrucci literally posts lesson videos where he analyzes his own work and presents it to the guitar community. It is what it is and I am glad we have music to sink our teeth into.

[hefdaddy42]

Why does it share the name with a movement of False Awakening Suite?

Why does your username share the name of the new album?  That's going to get confusing around here in short order.

[Stadler]

DT's main clientele are musicians, so this is what happens. Happens with Toto too (or Steely Dan, to name two other bands) or indeed any band where their main clientele are musicians. And IMHO, these bands have their rightful place in music and we need bands who push the boundaries. They did.

Really?  Most of the people here are NOT musicians.  TAC isn't, King isn't, Bart isn't, I wouldn't call myself one...

Some are, and some are gifted, I get that, but I don't think it's fair to stereotype the audience in that way.

[Max Kuehnau]

Exactly. Lot of DT fans are musicians and some with formal training. It comes with the territory and the band embraces that. John Petrucci literally posts lesson videos where he analyzes his own work and presents it to the guitar community. It is what it is and I am glad we have music to sink our teeth into.

I'd be at a loss without it yeah.

[Max Kuehnau]

Really?  Most of the people here are NOT musicians.  TAC isn't, King isn't, Bart isn't, I wouldn't call myself one...

Some are, and some are gifted, I get that, but I don't think it's fair to stereotype the audience in that way.

MP did it himself in Japan in 2004    ("Geeky guys, computer nerds and musicians, and in Japan it's all girls"), but I see where you're coming from.

[hefdaddy42]

Yeah, this "All of DT's fans are musicians" thing is a myth.  They have a lot of musicians as fans, but it's not like some people like to think.

[Whitefish]

DT I'm so sorry your blessed and cursed with this fan base lol

Lol yeah, talk about a tough crowd.

[Max Kuehnau]

So all in all I've read

"this is all chugga chugga, not enough melodic!" "I could use more chugga chugga! JP like melodic riffs!" "Too much like bc&sl!!" "This just sounds like avfttotw with Portnoy!", "too much as I am!" "Too much ANTR!"

I've never read such a mixed bag of opinions on a song in my life. 😂

DT I'm so sorry your blessed and cursed with this fan base lol

this has always been the case though (and I don't think it'll ever change actually)

[genome]

This song is basically Invisible Monster if it was good.

[HOF]

Why does it share the name with a movement of False Awakening Suite?


Anyway track was sick, enjoyed it. It initially made me think of SC and BC&SL, and no doubt the rest of the album will have some of those traits too. But actually I heard a lot of Sleeping Giant in this one, except with Portnoy on drums.
The recording is absolutely much tighter with Portnoy on drums that's for sure.

The album is self aware and posting on the forum!

[jimgolf]

Man, this might be a controversial opinion, but I think the radio edit is actually the superior version of the song. The song feels tight as hell on the radio edit. It's not that what they cut out was bad, but it just feels like a really tight single in the edit. I'll have to listen to it a couple more times to get a better gauge of it.

[King Postwhore]

Really?  Most of the people here are NOT musicians.  TAC isn't, King isn't, Bart isn't, I wouldn't call myself one...

Some are, and some are gifted, I get that, but I don't think it's fair to stereotype the audience in that way.

I play guitar but not at this level.

[Chino]

The only instrument I play is the skin flute.

[Max Kuehnau]

I had to google that 

[Joshgirouard]

I really hate to be a critique but I hate the production. It all sounds muddled . JM's bass is the MVP though and LABRIE shines . I hope the album is mastered better than the single

[TheCountOfNYC]

I play guitar but not at this level.

To be fair, I'm pretty sure most of the musicians on these forums aren't at this level either. I've been playing bass for almost 20 years, I'm a professional musician, and I'm nowhere near John Myung's level.

[King Postwhore]

To be fair, I'm pretty sure most of the musicians on these forums aren't at this level either. I've been playing bass for almost 20 years, I'm a professional musician, and I'm nowhere near John Myung's level.

I'm probably not at your level either. LOL my brother is he he's a bass player he plays out I don't play much anymore so definitely rusty.

[Lonk]

Why does it share the name with a movement of False Awakening Suite?


Anyway track was sick, enjoyed it. It initially made me think of SC and BC&SL, and no doubt the rest of the album will have some of those traits too. But actually I heard a lot of Sleeping Giant in this one, except with Portnoy on drums.
The recording is absolutely much tighter with Portnoy on drums that's for sure.

Is that you, MP?

[TheCountOfNYC]

I'm probably not at your level either. LOL my brother is he he's a bass player he plays out I don't play much anymore so definitely rusty.

You'll be surprised how quickly it'll come back if you start playing consistently again.

[King Postwhore]

You'll be surprised how quickly it'll come back if you start playing consistently again.
[/

You'll be surprised how quickly it'll come back if you start playing consistently again.

I have an Ibanez artista jazz guitar with pearl inlays in my 1980s candy apple red creamer focus with the Floyd Rose the hair metal days. Also a cheap knockoff for my idle Alex Lifeson.

[Zantera]

It's almost hilarious and unfair to the band that their entire fanbase analyzes their music to shreds but here we go. I even get tired just reading everyone's opinions so I won't get offended if you skip mine altogether.

I feel like this is just the internet in general and applies to most bands/artists. If you go into any subreddit for a band where you have the most hardcore fans posting daily you will find everything analysed to the extreme. I do agree it sucks for the band but I think it's the same for any band. Obviously circumstances might be different but generally speaking.

[Thoughtspart3]

I really hate to be a critique but I hate the production. It all sounds muddled . JM's bass is the MVP though and LABRIE shines . I hope the album is mastered better than the single

I think the production makes a bigger difference than many people realize. With a band like DT, with so many layers at the same time, if it is too muddy you just can't hear many of the elements or they sound so weak in the background.

Having the stems from BC&SL and mixing them so that you can hear everything is a profound experience. At times I am amazed when I hear some of the things JR is doing that is just buried under a wall of guitars and compression. I feel like this is the case in this mix as well. 

[dualpalmpilots]

Yeah, this "All of DT's fans are musicians" thing is a myth.  They have a lot of musicians as fans, but it's not like some people like to think.

Not a musician. I write and study a lot for my job and their music has accompanied my work for a long time now.

I've listen to the track three times. I like it. I like it more with each listen. I'm really eager to hear the rest of the record!

[emtee]

The radio edit is vastly more enjoyable to me. I don't think I've ever said that before.

[WilliamMunny]

The radio edit is vastly more enjoyable to me. I don't think I've ever said that before.

The transitions between parts are actually smoother to my ears.

[Parasomnia]

"Eyes open wide but I can't see"

"I am ready Help me be what I can be"


Anyone else?

[Zook]

To go back to the drum fills discussion, drum parts aren't too dissimilar to guitar riffs or vocal melodies, right? Some riffs in this new song are pretty similar to older songs, but not a direct copy, but if they were, he'd be called out for ripping himself off. It wouldn't be a question. There are several people, including myself who immediately recognized and pointed out Mike's drum fills as being exact copies of his fills over many years. Still, others are just like, "that's Mike being Mike." What's the difference here?

I'm not trying to shit all over this song. I've only heard it once so far, and I didn't think it was that bad. Not too compelling, but that could change. I've recognized Mike reusing drum patterns since Systematic Chaos. I guess I'm just curious why for drums it gets a pass.

And just to elaborate a little further, I wouldn't really put power metal songs in the same box. You know the ones where the entire song is just fast double bass drums all the way through? Or even AC/DC's (and countless other bands) straight 4/4 drums beats. Portnoy is using specific drum fill patterns. Wouldn't that even be classified as a "drum riff"?

This is just my brain over analyzing any new music I hear. I can't help it when I hear a band reusing the music they wrote in the past, or when they've intentionally or unintentionally ripped off another band. I can't unheard it.