A Broken Man - Out December 3rd

[Northern Lion]

I struggle to hear the tune, basically. Just not a strong vocal melody on these first three listens. That shuffle in the instrumental section is pure LTE goodness lol.

Not bad at all, maybe it'll grow on me. I wasn't floored by Night Terror either but now I can't stop listening to it.

I agree, the vocal melody is not as prominent in this song compared to Night Terror.  But there's so much else going on that I really like it.  And Lyrically, I like this one more (sorry John)

[DTiwbwMP]

Didn't dig it....at all. VERY DOT/AVATTOTW which are low hanging fruit in DT's catalogue IMO.

[Northern Lion]

I am the one who saw Night Terror muted, as i did with this one too.
Whatever anyone else thinks about this track, it doesn't matter.
1. DT is the kind of band that each song needs multiple listens, so the ones who don't like it at first may end up eventually loving it, and the opposite.
2. Each one of us is different and even if 95% of listeners hate one song, we could very well be in that 5% category who really love it.
So yeah, i read the different opinions but none of them means anything until i listen to the whole album.
Enjoy!

I like your first point, and I agree.  It's definitely been true for myself.

[Pastor of Muppets]

Yep...same old shit we've been served over and over and over. Called it well in advance. These guys have lost sight of what it means to be progressive. Great recycling band though.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

They've stuck pretty close to the formula again, I see. Does anyone else miss the days when DT could be relied on to do something new and different?

This is just... boring.

2016? 2021?

[PROGdrummer]

-the drumming has taken a step backwards relative to the predecessor album.

I actually really prefer how raw and aggressive the drums sound now, I feel that Portnoy is bringing back some energy to the band. Even just those simple lightning quick left to right tom fills from the octobans to the floors. It just works. 

[Pastor of Muppets]

In the 90s and early 2000s, basically first 8 albums...all drastically different from each other. No two sound the same. They've lost that. Been playing it safe using the same old boring ass formula since Systematic Chaos. Going to go spin my favorite Haken record, before the elitist fanboys who blindly praise everything they put out jump me like a pack of ravenous bitches, err, wolves.

[Setlist Scotty]

In the 90s and early 2000s, basically first 8 albums...all drastically different from each other. No two sound the same. They've lost that. Been playing it safe using the same old boring ass formula since Systematic Chaos. Going to go spin my favorite Haken record, before the elitist fanboys who blindly praise everything they put out jump me like a pack of ravenous bitches, err, wolves.

OK Uncle Rico/T-Rex Chicken.... 

[Zydar]

How's your back these days? 

[durga2112]

 

[Max Kuehnau]

2016? 2021?

all the MM era albums even (possibly barring D/T in places) IMHO 

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I actually really prefer how raw and aggressive the drums sound now, I feel than Portnoy is bringing back some energy to the band. Even just those simple lightning quick left to right tom fills from the octobans to the floors. It just works. 

Well to clarify, I do think it's a time tested formula. It works. But I think NT and now ABM drums sound two dimensional if I listen to them after the Alien or the actual DT song that precedes them in View.

[ReaPsTA]

I like guitar chugging in odd time signatures

[Pastor of Muppets]

How's your back these days?

Uhh...fine? How's yours? Dafuq?

[Northern Lion]

In the 90s and early 2000s, basically first 8 albums...all drastically different from each other. No two sound the same. They've lost that. Been playing it safe using the same old boring ass formula since Systematic Chaos. Going to go spin my favorite Haken record, before the elitist fanboys who blindly praise everything they put out jump me like a pack of ravenous bitches, err, wolves.

Hmm, 10 posts in.  I wonder how long till you're kicked off.

[Setlist Scotty]

Ahhh, yes, wouldn't be DTF without Setlist Scotty being instantly assuming the worst and being an ass to a new person. Fuckin elitist snobby piece of shit.

I rest my case... 

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

In the 90s and early 2000s, basically first 8 albums...all drastically different from each other. No two sound the same. They've lost that. Been playing it safe using the same old boring ass formula since Systematic Chaos. Going to go spin my favorite Haken record, before the elitist fanboys who blindly praise everything they put out jump me like a pack of ravenous bitches, err, wolves.

Welcome to the forums! That kind of talk probably won't go over too well here. We're allowed to love it!

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Ahhh, yes, wouldn't be DTF without Setlist Scotty being instantly assuming the worst and being an ass to a new person. Fuckin elitist snobby piece of shit.

Definitely Not A Previously Banned Poster

[King Postwhore]

Bitches don't go for that kind of talk.  LOL

[YngVai]

We can just not feed the troll, right?

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

We can just not feed the troll, right?

Lately there are an awful lot of mouths to feed sadly.

[Stadler]

I'm sure this will put me in the line of fire too, but I can honestly say with personal experience, that Setlist Scotty is about as far from a "fucking elitist piece of shit" as you can get.   

[lightbug]

This one is a LOT better than Night terror IMO.

Final chorus has a Room 137 vibe, and the "Broken man Only one remedy..." part reminds me a lot of Sleeping Giant. Very melodic and theatrical, I love it.

The thing I don't like is how the guitar solo connects with the last instrumental section (6:35) but that's all.
Easily an 8/10 for me.

[Max Kuehnau]

I'm sure this will put me in the line of fire too, but I can honestly say with personal experience, that Setlist Scotty is about as far from a "fucking elitist piece of shit" as you can get.   

very much so

[RoeDent]

Love it! Cannot wait for the album!

[abydos]

In the 90s and early 2000s, basically first 8 albums...all drastically different from each other. No two sound the same. They've lost that. Been playing it safe using the same old boring ass formula since Systematic Chaos. Going to go spin my favorite Haken record, before the elitist fanboys who blindly praise everything they put out jump me like a pack of ravenous bitches, err, wolves.

God forbid someone enjoys what they hear. And insulting them is a sure way for them to respect you.

[T-ski]

Ya, not feeling it.

Jordan's sound choices continue to frustrate me. John's solo is interesting but it's feels like it should be in a different song.

And for me personally, I just can't get into song lyrics based on war or soldiers.

I like my DT more moody then heavy so the first two tracks are swinging the wrong way right now.

[Dellers]

Certainly better than Night Terror. Mix still sounds way off, though. Probably 50% a Youtube issue. I put on Sleeping Giant from the Blu-ray to check if it actually sounded better, and it was night and day. Youtube didn't sound very nice for that song either, but still better than the two new songs. I feel like there's way too much picking scratch noise from the guitar, too little bass and worse sounding drums. Bass was absolutely fine on the last album, for the first time in 20 years, yet it isn't now. Same mixer. Sounds thin and unfinished to me. I could do a better job myself in that department. Hopefully the Atmos mix will be better.

[CirclesSquared]

I drop in and out of here occasionally, mostly in time for new releases.

Sadly, I have to echo the sentiment that this overly metal DT approach is not cutting it for me. In fact, I feel like the band is wasting away its potential when they go down this route. Progressive songs in the vein of Learning to Live, Scarred or even Breaking All Illusions are few and far between.

Rudess must be the most talented keyboardist currently in the game, yet he keeps himself bafflingly limited when it comes to DT songwriting and his constant reuse and choice of patches (personally, always felt Moore was a much more musical and creative keyboardist for them). Portnoy's return doesn't do it for me, as this same old, paint-by-numbers metal take on everything they've done thus far proves it. The song is undoubtedly dynamic, but even so it feels tedious.

Myung was slightly more prominent during the MM era and that is something I liked. As it stands two songs in, it appears he will be buried in the mix again.

A pity. There are so many bands being so much more creative right now. Just look at Opeth's new release.

[Lax]

I prefer this single, it's feeling fresher, the instrumental section is awesome and the 8 minutes felt like 4!

[Dani Helios]

Pretty good. Didn't vibe with it as immediately as I did with Night Terror, but still an enjoyable listen!

The instrumental passage was definitely the highlight for me. Nice to see proper BVs again, I have missed that.

[Schurftkut]

the only redeeming quality are the backingvocals to me. sounds like a good mix of JP/MP. Vocalmelody-wise i think they start with the basic melodies, write more interesting for the 2nd time around and then some small variation maybe. I think they should go for a third attempt at making it even more interesting, and dump the 1st basic one.

[JiM-Xtreme]

I can't be the only one that thought James was going to sing "War Inside My Head" at the end of the first verse? What a missed opportunity for a self reference 

Immediate first impression - amazing! This is what The Enemy Inside should have been 

That whole swing section fucking ruled. So unexpected and fun sounding, more akin to an LTE track - how long has it been since we've heard completely unexpected stylistic changes in a new DT song? More of that kind of thing please!!

[ReaPsTA]

Confused by people saying bass is low.

In headphones - Sound is very bassy

On spakers with no bass - Can hear bass honks/rings everywhere

[ReaPsTA]

I feel like there's way too much picking scratch noise from the guitar

Aesthetic preference but I like it. Adds grit and chug.