Dream Theater announces 16th Studio Album - Parasomnia

[TAC]

Hey, just an FYI: this may be a fantastic post, but I'll never know, because I won't read this giant wall of text.

 

[MinistroRaven]

Boxset on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/-/es/dp/B0DJTGLHX3/

[Progmaniac1988]

Boxset on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/-/es/dp/B0DJTGLHX3/

Thanks! Ordered! I might still keep my lasercd order as a "just in case" I guess I'll see lol

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

How long does it normally take to get the 2nd single?

[Kocak]

How long does it normally take to get the 2nd single?

About a month, maybe a smidge longer.

[wolven74]

I think this definitely speaks to the quality of their catalogue as a whole but it's funny because I see it as almost the complete opposite.

I feel like they were at their least inspired for 8V. 

Almost like they wanted to just do an epic but felt compelled to fill out a full LP.

I still listen to it sometimes though, that's how good DT is but it's one of their worst imo.

I would argue that they were their least inspired on BC&SL.

It was a good album, but it felt like a lot of what they put on it had been done many times before. I can imagine it was hard for MP to feel inspired. He wrote lyrics to TBoT pertaining to the death of his father, an emotional journey that likely took a lot out of him. I don't blame him for needing a break after that.

Overall though, I think BC&SL showed a lot of repetition and an overabundance of angry metal. It felt like there was no joy in the music. That's something I've always heard in DT's sound. There's been something uplifting in every album. There was nothing inspiring on that album.

And, yes, I have to admit that NT is a fairly dark song. The theme of the song is dark though. The music fits it. But, I can tell with MP back, they are back to their roots and firing all cylinders.

[fadetoblackdude7]

To me, SC was them at their least inspired. With the exception of ITPOE, all of the songs just sound forced.

[devieira73]

I don't if this was already commented before... but did you remember that MP and JP's short video with JP commenting that (paraphrasing) "you have no idea about what's coming"? So, I was expecting the announcement of something a bit more uncommon than a videoclip, album info and release date. Ok, it's a themed album about sleep disorders, but nothing too much out of the box. Unless that the rest of the album is really unexpected musically, I don't know what's JP was refering to. Any thoughts?

[TAC]

To me, SC was them at their least inspired. With the exception of ITPOE, all of the songs just sound forced.

I'm not saying you're wrong, because in a way, I do agree, but I've always described SC this way...

Score was such a climax for the band that they had literally been working towards for 20 years. I think the band was a bit spent at that point, and probably could've used a bit of a break. They didn't take one..at all. SC was released just 14 months after they played RCMH.

It's like they went in and winged it, and it plays that way. I actually think SC is a fun album. Nothing serious about it. SC just feels to me like the band was exhaling.

[TAC]

I don't if this was already commented before... but did you remember that MP and JP's short video with JP commenting that (paraphrasing) "you have no idea about what's coming"? So, I was expecting the announcement of something a bit more uncommon than a videoclip, album info and release date. Ok, it's a themed album about sleep disorders, but nothing too much out of the box. Unless that the rest of the album is really unexpected musically, I don't know what's JP was refering to. Any thoughts?

I took it as they think we're going to be blown away by the new album.

[devieira73]

I hope so, sure, but "only" that? Another way of saying "this the best - new - album that we ever made"?

[The Letter M]

About a month, maybe a smidge longer.

Given that the first single was released 17 weeks before the album drops, and Inside Out usually releases 3 pre-release singles, I could see the 2nd one dropping about 7 weeks from now, so either November 29th or December 6th.
The third one is usually very close to album release, so probably two weeks before, around January 24th.

-Marc.

[Jamesman42]

I'm not saying you're wrong, because in a way, I do agree, but I've always described SC this way...

Score was such a climax for the band that they had literally been working towards for 20 years. I think the band was a bit spent at that point, and probably could've used a bit of a break. They didn't take one..at all. SC was released just 14 months after they played RCMH.

It's like they went in and winged it, and it plays that way. I actually think SC is a fun album. Nothing serious about it. SC just feels to me like the band was exhaling.

That's a great take. 

Does that mean BCSL was them really needing a break? I love some of the album, but, for 6 songs, it's very bloated.

[TAC]

Does that mean BCSL was them really needing a break? I love some of the album, but, for 6 songs, it's very bloated.

Well, they made the album they set out to make. They wanted an album of epics. It's just that the songs have been really unevenly received. I think the problem with BC&SL, is except for Wither, is that there's too much of a similarity in style between the four long songs.

[Progmaniac1988]

Well, I for one am very excited for the album

[Progmaniac1988]

Let's look at octavarium, one of their most diverse albums,

Say they released panic attack as a single? Followed by I walk beside you or even the root of all evil? Would any of those tracks be representative to the rest of the epicness of that album? Not a chance. I'd say let's just hold tight, we may be very surprised with the rest of the album. I love the single, but I expect lots of surprises on the album.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Hey, just an FYI: this may be a fantastic post, but I'll never know, because I won't read this giant wall of text.

You've gotta break this shit up with some paragraph breaks or something, my dude.

Thanks for the feedback, I'll do that

EDIT:

I gave it whirl:

;-)

Thanks for doing it!

[RandalGraves]

It's like they went in and winged it, and it plays that way. I actually think SC is a fun album. Nothing serious about it. SC just feels to me like the band was exhaling.

This IS a great take. I think when you have so few albums under your belt, each album you kind of want to make different and exciting in its own way - especially Scenes through Octavarium. That's a hell of a run. But for what it's worth I revisit SC all the time when I'm working out and it gets the job done.

[Elite]

So, aside from the cover art being absolutely horrendous (not just 'bad', but legitimately ridiculously terrible - how the hell did this pass the checkpoints?), I'm relunctantly slightly excited to hear the rest, though I probably won't be buying the physical record. Here's a summary of my thoughts, having listened to the song twice;

- the second verse is sick
- lol all those Portnoy fills
- sounds a lot like Dream Theater...
- ... adding absolutely nothing new to the table
- chorus in multiple keys, that's nice
- LaBrie adds nothing, it's baffling how his vocal lines have been mostly uninteresting for the last 15 years
- holy shit, that solo section wtf
- quite nice altogether!

[MirrorMask]

I don't if this was already commented before... but did you remember that MP and JP's short video with JP commenting that (paraphrasing) "you have no idea about what's coming"? So, I was expecting the announcement of something a bit more uncommon than a videoclip, album info and release date. Ok, it's a themed album about sleep disorders, but nothing too much out of the box. Unless that the rest of the album is really unexpected musically, I don't know what's JP was refering to. Any thoughts?

Yeah, also MP when he sarcastically commented on IG "wow thanks for reminding us that we have a new album, I forgot" he added the hashtag "trust us we know what we're doing".... yeah they wanted to have an anniversary album tour and then an album tour I guess, there was no really big strategic decision or concrete reason for the perceived delay in the announcement. The album just will come out after the European leg and the promotion machine started accordingly, that's all.

[evilasiojr]

Given that the first single was released 17 weeks before the album drops, and Inside Out usually releases 3 pre-release singles, I could see the 2nd one dropping about 7 weeks from now, so either November 29th or December 6th.
The third one is usually very close to album release, so probably two weeks before, around January 24th.

-Marc.

For A View though we had only two singles released before the album right? TA and IM

[Max Kuehnau]

yeah, but usually IO release three singles ahead of albums

[The Letter M]

And 3 singles from AVFTTOTW would've been half of the non-epic songs, so they probably agreed to just 2 with Inside Out. Distance Over Time had 3 pre-release singles though.

-Marc.

[Max Kuehnau]

yeah I meant more generally speaking

[Shadowmangini]

I don't if this was already commented before... but did you remember that MP and JP's short video with JP commenting that (paraphrasing) "you have no idea about what's coming"? So, I was expecting the announcement of something a bit more uncommon than a videoclip, album info and release date. Ok, it's a themed album about sleep disorders, but nothing too much out of the box. Unless that the rest of the album is really unexpected musically, I don't know what's JP was refering to. Any thoughts?

I think everyone these days speaks with a sense of hyperbole for the sake of hype. They probably were just going through the motions when they said that.

[Progmaniac1988]

I just thought JP was saying it to hype us for the album. Like a "get ready because this album is awesome" kinda meaning... I never read any further into it lol

[Glasser]

Very nice excited for this! Love the new song and album cover!

[Zydar]

Their website has recently gotten a new design also.

Dream Theater - Official Website

[Schurftkut]

when's the new theme for the forums ready?

[Wim Kruithof]

Their website has recently gotten a new design also.

Dream Theater - Official Website

It's a website I visit on a regular basis, really like it and it looks beautiful. Even though the countdown show any flaws, I love the style of it.

[MirrorMask]

Meanwhile on their Facebook page, the post pinned it's STILL the announcement of A View from the Top of the World 

[hefdaddy42]

when's the new theme for the forums ready?

Probably not until closer to album release.

[jammindude]

when's the new theme for the forums ready?

Heck, the "welcome" screen before sign in is still on D/T mode.

[Max Kuehnau]

Probably not until closer to album release.

I'm sure it will look nice though (they all did IMHO)

[Max Kuehnau]

TOT was their prime?

I don't think so.