New single, Night Terror. Discuss.

[Xaves]

After listening to this song about 3 to 4 times, here are my thoughts on it

Definitely picking up BC&SL vibes as a lot of people have been saying.
My favorite part is the metric modulation part after the first chorus
The solo really rocks and JP goes a little melodic too.

Some minor issues with me is that James sounds to autotuney but not as bad as other albums. This does not really affect me too much as I really only care about the instrumentals.

Overall good song, not an instant favorite,  but it will grow on me.

[Stadler]

Just dickheads trying to make a quick buck with the Youtube fame.  I hate all those types of videos.  Why do I care what the fuck some nobody thinks of the new DT song?

I'm with you 100%

And then bitch about copyright claims.

This too.

[SeRoX]

Is there a scream by James (or maybe Mike) or a sound effect?

https://youtu.be/2IPT60hvGw4?t=129

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

Absolutely loving the background vocals on this single. The pre-choruses it's like Def Leppard and Alice In Chains had a baby lol.

[lovethedrake]

I'm about 10 listens in and it's growing on me.

It does sound like BC&SL, TOT, SC but there is a freshness to it, it feels like it breathes more and has more life.

I'm hoping it's one of the worst on the album but I'm enjoying it more now.

I love the riff in the instrumental with the organ sound, my favorite part easily

[clinks63]

absolutely love the new single..

after fifteen pages of backread:
hugh hugh
mike mike
chugga chugga
grow grow
ai ai
granny granny

just happy the forum is very much alive..

[Zydar]

That is a great summation so far 

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

absolutely love the new single..

after fifteen pages of backread:
hugh hugh
mike mike
chugga chugga
grow grow
ai ai
granny granny

just happy the forum is very much alive..

Where's the chugga chugga on this one?

[T-ski]

I've given it a week and there is nothing here that "wows" me. It's a bit disjointed, and I haven't heard the radio edit so maybe it actually flows better as an edit.

It's been a problem for me with the band for a while, too many songs sound like parts that don't fit together correctly.

Not a fan of the lyrics either.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

absolutely love the new single..

after fifteen pages of backread:
hugh hugh
mike mike
chugga chugga
grow grow
ai ai
granny granny

just happy the forum is very much alive..

I'm glad the granny comments made the recap post!

[DTiwbwMP]

DISAPPOINTED 
Honestly, this could be song 7 on BC&SL! Not that it's bad or anything, I just hoped for a more "melodic" DT but got the same generic chugga chugga DT. I hoped for something more along the lines of ADTOE style. The production is great and I obviously love the drums but the song just didn't "move" me like I had hoped/expected.

I stand by wishing for a more "melodic" sound, BUT Night Terror (after MANY listens) has KICKED MY ASS! YES, it's BC&SL"esque" but it is AWESOME and would be THE BEST track off that album!   This is what happens to "knee jerk" reactions.  

[Dedalus]

I stand by wishing for a more "melodic" sound, BUT Night Terror (after MANY listens) has KICKED MY ASS! YES, it's BC&SL"esque" but it is AWESOME and would be THE BEST track off that album!   This is what happens to "knee jerk" reactions.  

a dramatic turn in appreciation

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

a dramatic turn in appreciation

[Shadowmangini]

Yeah IMAGINE if "Night Terror" were a track on BC&SL. Imagine it playing maybe inbetween "The Best of Times" and "The Count of Tuscany". It would easily be the best song if not the 2nd best song on that album.

[hefdaddy42]

Yeah IMAGINE if "Night Terror" were a track on BC&SL. Imagine it playing maybe inbetween "The Best of Times" and "The Count of Tuscany". It would easily be the best song if not the 2nd best song on that album.

I agree with you.

[WilliamMunny]

I agree with you.

I agree as well.

[WilliamMunny]

Okay, folks, picking up on my post above, it's time for me to eat some crow and come correct.

I formally disavow all previous critiques and gripes concerning DT's latest single.

According to my Apple Music stats, I've listened to the song 21 times  

I mean, I probably haven't listened to "Rite of Passage," "Wither," and "Forsaken" that many times.

The song just plain rocks. Even better, it was a total grower. Something keeps bringing me back, which I hope is an attribute that will be shared by the record at large.

Either way, it just goes to show that initial impressions are just that, initial.

James sounds amazing.

MP nails it (I love that every fill feels like an homage to his past with the band...anyone else hear a hint of "6:00" during that opening tom work?).

JP is, well, his usual flawless self.

JR plays his ass off as well. While not readily apparent, repeated listens reveal a ton of texture work, and I actually really like his choice of patches.

JM is audible in the mix, and once again, is his typical flawless self.

Sure, the radio edit is a nice, tight, trim representation, but I have flipped: I prefer the album version.

I really, really, really hope we get another single before the record is released. Either way, even if I still kinda hate the album cover, the song is easily my favorite DT single since "As I Am.'

[emtee]

It does get better with each listen. Actually love the first two thirds but for me it loses steam during the instrumental breakdown. This is why I prefer the edit.

[efx]

For me it's a bit reversed. I'm really vibing with the instrumental section (with some obvious but fun callbacks) but the surrounding parts while good, does not really do much for me.

[twosuitsluke]

Yeah IMAGINE if "Night Terror" were a track on BC&SL. Imagine it playing maybe inbetween "The Best of Times" and "The Count of Tuscany". It would easily be the best song if not the 2nd best song on that album.

Man, I couldn't disagree more. But then, I love BC&SL.

[dualpalmpilots]

It does get better with each listen. Actually love the first two thirds but for me it loses steam during the instrumental breakdown. This is why I prefer the edit.

I agree with this, and it's been a really long time since I've said that about a new Dream Theater song.

[Shadowmangini]

I thought it was a solid 7/10 the first time I heard it, and then on the second listen it was a 9/10. Definitely the grower that almost every big DT song has been to me.

[WilliamMunny]

I thought it was a solid 7/10 the first time I heard it, and then on the second listen it was a 9/10. Definitely the grower that almost every big DT song has been to me.

Yeah, and I think it's way more clever than it initially appears.

Like, the way they modulate lower for choruses 2 & 3, and then back up to the original key for the final repetition at the end. It's stuff like that that really rewards those repeated listens.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

Yeah, and I think it's way more clever than it initially appears.

Like, the way they modulate lower for choruses 2 & 3, and then back up to the original key for the final repetition at the end. It's stuff like that that really rewards those repeated listens.

Great observation! Hadn't noticed. Very clever.

[Shadowmangini]

Yeah, and I think it's way more clever than it initially appears.

Like, the way they modulate lower for choruses 2 & 3, and then back up to the original key for the final repetition at the end. It's stuff like that that really rewards those repeated listens.

This was the moment where I think I realized how much I liked the song more on second listen. The slow leak of the first verse with an instrumental break after only a few lines also, a signature move all the way since "Pull Me Under". So much of their entire 1992/2009 run feels on display here even if the 2003 through to 2009 sound is the extra prominent tonally.

[emtee]

At this juncture I have no idea whether or not this song will stand the test of time. Maybe yes, maybe no, only time will tell.

But as of this moment in time, this song is kicking. My. Ass.

[TAC]

At this juncture I have no idea whether or not this song will stand the test of time. Maybe yes, maybe no, only time will tell.

But as of this moment in time, this song is kicking. My. Ass.

And. Balls?

[Peter Mc]

A week on and I'm fairly confident in saying that this is one of DT's better singles.  Chorus is catchy (if a little familiar), riffs are great, instrumental section is cool and Petrucci's solo is awesome.

I enjoyed the Mangini era records but this has an undeniable energy to me that I didn't realise was missing until I heard it again.  I feel like you can actually rock out to this  as a metal track rather than something like The Alien which was a technical marvel but not an accessible song in my opinion.

I get all the comments that it's not reinventing the wheel and it undeniably sounds like stuff they've done before.  I also get the "Portnoy's doing his same bag of tricks" stuff but that signature stuff is part of what makes Dream Theater.  I can't deny it gave me a thrill to see him doing all that stuff again.

Is it the best song ever? No but it definitely feels like they're back with a bang.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Whatever floats your boat! 😂

The thought of seeing Mike Portnoy hold up that Granny award and thanking the fans he wrote Never Enough about will get my boat floatin' big time

[TAC]

Sending out the Photoshop Signal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Spent more time with it this past week. It's still just fine. It's not out there or an acquired taste so I don't think it's just a matter of time before it catches fire to me but we'll see.

It just doesn't have any particular strength as a song. The only real criticism besides 'I have heard all of this before' is the bloat, which isn't the end of the world. On the other side of the coin there isn't a particular strength in any aspect of the song. It's not a better than average chorus, riff, instrumental section, or solo(s) so just kinda sits in DT purgatory as a whole.

One possibility I am trending towards is that this single is not really like the other songs on Parasomnia. It's just meant to be an 'I'm back' release with a straight forward yet classic DT song. There are probably going to be more twists and turns on the remaining tracks. I can't imagine Night Terror representative of the entire album.

[Jamesman42]

Spent more time with it this past week. It's still just fine. It's not out there or an acquired taste so I don't think it's just a matter of time before it catches fire to me but we'll see.

It just doesn't have any particular strength as a song. The only real criticism besides 'I have heard all of this before' is the bloat, which isn't the end of the world. On the other side of the coin there isn't a particular strength in any aspect of the song. It's not a better than average chorus, riff, instrumental section, or solo(s) so just kinda sits in DT purgatory as a whole.

One possibility I am trending towards is that this single is not really like the other songs on Parasomnia. It's just meant to be an 'I'm back' release with a straight forward yet classic DT song. There are probably going to be more twists and turns on the remaining tracks. I can't imagine Night Terror representative of the entire album.

I had all these exact thoughts today after giving it another listen at work today. The song really is fine, much better than what I remember from View, but I have to imagine much of the whole album is going to be a bigger hook. Maybe just wishful thinking, but the singles are not usually the best songs on their albums.

[nobloodyname]

One man's bloat is another's air guitar moment. Besides, if you can't follow your whims in progrock, when can you?

[Max Kuehnau]

yeah I mean, either in progressive music or in jazz fusion

[Dedalus]

It just doesn't have any particular strength as a song. The only real criticism besides 'I have heard all of this before' is the bloat, which isn't the end of the world. On the other side of the coin there isn't a particular strength in any aspect of the song. It's not a better than average chorus, riff, instrumental section, or solo(s) so just kinda sits in DT purgatory as a whole.

What I find discouraging is that this bloat is not a new problem. In a way, it has been around DTland since ToT. This is a type of bloat that I call "LTE bloat".

I find it discouraging because the band tried to get away from this path after Portnoy left. ADToE (which I consider an incredible album) managed to get around this paradigm very well. DT12 and DoT are albums where most of the songs escape this scheme, including some leaner and more direct tracks. TA can be accused of being bloated, but it is a different type (and unprecedented for the band). It is not "LTE bloat".

In the Mangini era, View was the album that perhaps came closest to moments like this (especially in the JP/JR duels). Perhaps already indicating a certain "safe path" in the attempt to please the fans, in response to the problems with the public.

Night Terror represents a complete return to something the band was trying to overcome, which I consider to be completely disappointing. We'll have to wait and see what the album sounds like as a whole.