New single, Night Terror. Discuss.

[TAC]

I miss the days when they actually wrote good, profound lyrics, that dealt with the human condition, and were more relatable. Seems like their lyrics over the years have become more generic.

I mean, doesn't everyone have a music player? Who can't relate to that?

[Uncle Rico]

I mean, doesn't everyone have a music player? Who can't relate to that?

Hysterical.

[Uncle Rico]

Which albums have your ideal lyrical themes?

Images & Words, Awake, A Change of Seasons, Falling Into Infinity, Scenes From a Memory, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Train of Thought, and Octavarium.

Systematic Chaos lyrics are cheesy sappy nonsense, same as Black Clouds. A Dramatic Turn of Events only has two good songs, lyrically speaking, and those are Breaking All Illusions and Beneath the Surface. Everything after that album I haven't cared for, lyrically.

[deggs37]

I mean, doesn't everyone have a music player? Who can't relate to that?

I dunno, people just don't have the TIIiime for music anymore

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Images & Words, Awake, A Change of Seasons, Falling Into Infinity, Scenes From a Memory, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Train of Thought, and Octavarium.

Systematic Chaos lyrics are cheesy sappy nonsense, same as Black Clouds. A Dramatic Turn of Events only has two good songs, lyrically speaking, and those are Breaking All Illusions and Beneath the Surface. Everything after that album I haven't cared for, lyrically.

DT12, DOT and View have lyrics thematically in line with those others you mention.

[Stadler]

Images & Words, Awake, A Change of Seasons, Falling Into Infinity, Scenes From a Memory, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Train of Thought, and Octavarium.

Systematic Chaos lyrics are cheesy sappy nonsense, same as Black Clouds. A Dramatic Turn of Events only has two good songs, lyrically speaking, and those are Breaking All Illusions and Beneath the Surface. Everything after that album I haven't cared for, lyrically.

I see where you are going, and I'm not sure I totally disagree, but "This Is The Life" is, to me, one of the more resonant lyrics they've ever written. It's the only DT song I've ever bothered to play for my kid, for example, and it was because of the lyrics. 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I listened to Train of Thought in full the other day, which was the first time I'd done that in years, and it didn't strike me as a better written or more profound lyrical showcase than their more recent albums. To be honest, I was personally a bit blindsided by how over the top the lyrics to "Honor Thy Father" are. Kind of a similar thing with "Never Enough" from Octavarium, and "The Answer Lies Within" is also super on the nose, although obviously in a less aggressive kind of way.

My personal opinion is that the band wrote generally good-to-great lyrics from I&W to SDOIT. Then there was a period of very hit or miss lyrics through BC&SL. During the Mangini era, they found more of an equilibrium with generally solid and sometimes even excellent lyrics, but nothing on par with something like Awake, which has some of the better lyrics of any metal album I've ever heard.

[HOF]

I listened to Train of Thought in full the other day, which was the first time I'd done that in years, and it didn't strike me as a better written or more profound lyrical showcase than their more recent albums. To be honest, I was personally a bit blindsided by how over the top the lyrics to "Honor Thy Father" are. Kind of a similar thing with "Never Enough" from Octavarium, and "The Answer Lies Within" is also super on the nose, although obviously in a less aggressive kind of way.

My personal opinion is that the band wrote generally good-to-great lyrics from I&W to SDOIT. Then there was a period of very hit or miss lyrics through BC&SL. During the Mangini era, they found more of an equilibrium with generally solid and sometimes even excellent lyrics, but nothing on par with something like Awake, which has some of the better lyrics of any metal album I've ever heard.

For me they peaked lyrically with FII, but I would generally agree with this (though I can't really speak much to the MM albums).

[Uncle Rico]

I see where you are going, and I'm not sure I totally disagree, but "This Is The Life" is, to me, one of the more resonant lyrics they've ever written. It's the only DT song I've ever bothered to play for my kid, for example, and it was because of the lyrics. 

Dangit, I forgot about This Is The Life. That one resonates with me too.

[direwhale]

Is there a new Special Edition Majesty in the Night Terror music video?

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Dangit, I forgot about This Is The Life. That one resonates with me too.

Songs like sleeping giant or IT I figured you might like lyrically

[Uncle Rico]

Songs like sleeping giant or IT I figured you might like lyrically

I need to go back and re-listen to them, and focus on the lyrics.

[BlackInk]

I haven't checked out the tabs, but the second verse riff in particular feels like it would be fun to play. Also, (sorry if this has been mentioned before, I've been bad at keeping up with this thread) is that a guitar-track editing jack at 3:54 or is that just an especially tight palm mute?

[joseph_stevenson_]

*FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE EPIC ORCHESTRAL OVERTURE LEADING INTO NIGHT TERROR AT THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR* it was composed and produced by me (Joseph Stevenson) and supervised by the band. We will be posting some behind the scenes stuff on Instagram about how we made it in the coming weeks. Thanks so much for all the kind words about it so far so far, so so lovely to see such positive reactions to it! You guys are just the best!!

[illusionist]

*FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE EPIC ORCHESTRAL OVERTURE LEADING INTO NIGHT TERROR AT THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR* it was composed and produced by me (Joseph Stevenson) and supervised by the band. We will be posting some behind the scenes stuff on Instagram about how we made it in the coming weeks. Thanks so much for all the kind words about it so far so far, so so lovely to see such positive reactions to it! You guys are just the best!!

Man are out of your mind??

[illusionist]

Man are you out of your mind??

[hefdaddy42]

Man are out of your mind??

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Really like the new single! Looking forward to the rest of the album. Good to see Portnoy back in the band.

I agree, long live the classic lineup

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Really like the new single! Looking forward to the rest of the album. Good to see Portnoy back in the band.

Good to see you back too 

[Dream Team]

For me they peaked lyrically with FII, but I would generally agree with this (though I can't really speak much to the MM albums).

FII has some lyrical duds like JLMB and BMS.

[HOF]

FII has some lyrical duds like JLMB and BMS.

This is very true. New Millenium also is pretty clunky (at least the second verse). Common denominator in who wrote those three lyrics...

[PixelDream]

I haven't checked out the tabs, but the second verse riff in particular feels like it would be fun to play. Also, (sorry if this has been mentioned before, I've been bad at keeping up with this thread) is that a guitar-track editing jack at 3:54 or is that just an especially tight palm mute?

There's something weird happening there right? It's always glitching when I'm using my headphones. I don't hear it in any other circumstances but only on good headphones.

[CodyWanKenobi]

The song has definitely grown on me. I just hate the verse melody/vocal rhythm - it's just the same one JP has been writing over and over again. It's in LNF, MOB, FITL, AVFFTOTW, etc. A line of 6 syllables, and then a line of 5, and then repeat - same rhythm, same alternating between two notes. It's getting tired and it's melodically uninteresting, especially after the fifth or sixth song.

[Dream Team]

The song has definitely grown on me. I just hate the verse melody/vocal rhythm - it's just the same one JP has been writing over and over again. It's in LNF, MOB, FITL, AVFFTOTW, etc. A line of 6 syllables, and then a line of 5, and then repeat - same rhythm, same alternating between two notes. It's getting tired and it's melodically uninteresting, especially after the fifth or sixth song.

Yeah, it'll be interesting to see if any of the other songs do something more interesting.

[DoctorAction]

After a couple more listens I think it's fine - no cringe but unremarkable. Slightly disappointed but looking forward to the album still. 5 out of 10.

That first quick riff and the chorus are the MVPs here. The chopped up riff is also really cool. But they feel like cool parts in a just ok track. The rest doesn't fit together that well to me or do anything close to terrific.

The only actual gripe I have is that it feels rather slow and plodding. Not much energy. Panic Attack came on after the last time I heard it and the groove and energy on that was fantastic, by comparison.

[Thoughtspart3]

I am trying not to kill this song but the more I am listening to it the more I am liking it. Looks like it rocks live too.

[Stewie Griffin]

I like the new single; I find it ever so deliciously delightful. What a wonderfully spectacular return to form.

Brian has gone on and on and on about everything wrong with it; meanwhile the fat man can't stop talking about how happy he is over Sir Portnoy's return — it's almost as bad as his obsession with Surfing Bird. Over the past 14 years, he forbade us to listen to any album featuring Mangini, as he insisted it 'twas not real Dream Theater. Brian and I always had to listen to those albums, discreetly, but of course.

In contrast, that vile redhead pathetic excuse of a mother always went on about "oooo, give me some of that genie!", lusting after him. She is, but of course, devastated over the loss of Mangini; putting her at odds with the fat man.

Hopefully this results in the long overdue divorce that has been pending, and will allow me to be free of this simpleton family I was born into! The quest for world domination continues.

Thank you Dream Theater for this ever so strategic move; bringing Portnoy back couldn't have arrived at a better time!

And, to Sir Portnoy, my heart goes out to you, over the loss of your dear beloved sister.

[Dream Team]

Indiscipline's new account??

[TAC]

Indiscipline's new account??

My first thought.

It's not though.

[Dream Team]

A shame, I miss that guy despite him being kind of a weirdo and disappearing for literally years at a time.

[Schurftkut]

i miss Nicky Spanjaards' covers 

[SeRoX]

The single growns on me. Seeing it live added so much. Sounded like modern As I Am with James current range on the stage and it sounds great.

[Tyrannosaurus Chicken]

Really digging the new single. It reminds me a little bit of Black Clouds & Silver Linings, which is a good thing.

[LCArenas]

I like the new single! I don't really know how to describe it, but it has that Portnoy mark all over it, specially in the chorus and the intros. It's nice.

[Zydar]

From their different social media:

It's official: Night Terror is our biggest single release since Pull Me Under in 1992!

From the bottom of our hearts, a huge thank you to everyone who's listened, watched the video and came along to see us on tour - this was only possible because of our amazing, passionate and loyal fanbase.

Stay tuned for more from Parasomnia...