Dream Theater - Midnight Messiah (Official Video)

[MinistroRaven]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwOjMJB0Q2k&feature=youtu.be

A tour diary music video featuring footage from multiple dates of their successful European leg of the 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 was directed and edited by longtime collaborator Mike Leonard from footage compiled by tour documentarian Wolfe Eliot and Paul Green Productions. The music video for "Midnight Messiah" can be seen here: https://youtu.be/JwOjMJB0Q2k. 
"It was great writing lyrics again and contributing this chapter to the Parasomnia story. DT fans may get a kick out of discovering some of the hidden nuggets I planted in the song referencing many of my past DT lyrics...and the music video is a great representation of the excitement of the first two tour legs we recently completed throughout Europe and South America. Just in time to prepare for our next leg throughout North America which we are so excited to embark on," explains Mike Portnoy. 

[HOF]

Song is whatever, but I like the video. Can't recall them doing a video like that with live footage before.

[emtee]

Seeing as this song has never been played live, somebody (or many somebody's) did a wonderful job synching the parts to appear as they are being played. Bravo.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

The verses sound like As I Am, the chorus is, uh, a bit meh really, and overall there's a general lack of keyboard presence. But the unison section is good

[SeRoX]

Song is whatever, but I like the video. Can't recall them doing a video like that with live footage before.

Wither and Our New World have live footage.

[dream416]

Loving the new track!!!!! March 11th can't get here soon enough.
Going great gig in TORONTO!!!!!

[gzarruk]

Seeing as this song has never been played live, somebody (or many somebody's) did a wonderful job synching the parts to appear as they are being played. Bravo.

Not what I expected when they said they filmed a video, but it works

[Grappler]

I love the bouncy vocal melody in the verse - that feels completely new to the band with some intentional pauses between words.  Then the chorus comes in and kicks ass.

This is a fun song.   

[Zook]

Pretty good song. I heard a few song titles throughout. I take it this was written by Portnoy?

[porcacultor]

Pretty good song. I heard a few song titles throughout. I take it this was written by Portnoy?

Yes. In his words:

"It was great writing lyrics again and contributing this chapter to the 'Parasomnia' story. DT fans may get a kick out of discovering some of the hidden nuggets I planted in the song referencing many of my past DT lyrics...and the music video is a great representation of the excitement of the first two tour legs we recently completed throughout Europe and South America. Just in time to prepare for our next leg throughout North America which we are so excited to embark on."
https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-shares-new-song-midnight-messiah-featuring-lyrics-by-mike-portnoy

[SeRoX]

I like it more than other singles. This song has so much DT feeling. I like lyrics nuggets by Portnoy (Like This Dying Soul, The Root Of All Evil...)

I love James' current range usage. This fits the song so well. This is somewhat straightfoward yet so melodic at the same time.

No I'm hyped again.

[T-ski]

First thought, this is the 'Metallica song' for the new album

Second thought, I'm getting less excited after hearing these first three songs.

Not one of these three songs have stood out to me at all. They're just.....Dream Theater songs.

[Jinx]

Could the video footage on this be snippets from the new Live album? I'm hyped for that too 

Dream Theater fans are eating well this year for sure

[XJDenton]

This album is increasingly feeling like the love child of TOT and BCASL to me.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

A thrash chorus has made my day. So stoked for the album and the tour.

[toro]

I love the way the chorus enters.

[faizoff]

Song is whatever, but I like the video. Can't recall them doing a video like that with live footage before.

They did one for Wither with all crowd footage. Pretty sure it was a similar vibe to this.

I really really love that snare sound on this track. 

[CodyWanKenobi]

Eh.


Solo section is sick. Video is cool.


Hopefully it grows on me.

[Xaves]

Dream Theater is power metal now.

I'm just kidding of course, but that's what I thought when I heard the entrance to the chorus for the first time. Also, loved finding snippets of the song titles from older DT stuff. I found a lot but I have a feeling that I didn't find them all.

This is DT going back to PEAK form. 
My favorite single so far. My ranking of the three is like this
1.Midnight Messiah
2.Broken Man
3.Night Terror

[Laughingplace56]

One of the most unique choruses they've done in quite a long time, and I greatly appreciate it.

I really like the vocal lines in the verses (the whole song, really), but the guitar riff is super boring in the verses. It feels like one of the more boring riffs off of D/T. But the rest of the song makes up for it. I can dig it!

3/7 songs in and I'm honestly disappointed in MP's drumming. It feels like very minimal effort was put into his drum parts, specifically the fills. I've played all of his DT drum parts extensively for years and understand he has his "Portnoyisms" and famous fills and whatnot. That's a huge part of what makes him such an iconic drummer, and I've always loved his drum parte. But it feels like he keeps going back to the simplest, more straightforward tom/bass rolls over and over, and I'm a little surprised by that.

[TAC]

I'm honestly disappointed in MP's drumming. It feels like very minimal effort was put into his drum parts

Wow, I feel the complete opposite. I think that MP is bringing it. I thought after letting Mangini go, that he needed to, and I feel he has.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Posted in the other thread but ranking of singles:

ABM parity with MM
NT

MM probably will go ahead of ABM, I'm just not digesting the fan service as well initially.

Side note - where is Jordan?

[durga2112]

"Launch the Polaris, the end doesn't scare us."

Does anyone else hear that vocal melody in the chorus?

This song is fucking 

[Dream Team]

Listened to it just now, thought it was great.

[DT89]

I transcribed the guitar parts:

[Thoughtspart3]

Definitely got some smiles and a few  out of me.

[TheCountOfNYC]

This is my favorite of the new songs so far.

[bosk1]

I like that it rocks.  In context of the album, I think it will sound cool.  As a standalone song, not sure yet.  It hasn't quite grabbed me quite the way the first two songs did.  But I'm only two listens in, so hard to draw any conclusions.

[Laughingplace56]

Wow, I feel the complete opposite. I think that MP is bringing it. I thought after letting Mangini go, that he needed to, and I feel he has.

There's lots to like about what he's doing. I think my biggest issue comes from most of the fills he's done throughout the 3 singles. The big fill that goes from the intro into the main verse of NT is badass, but there's been a lot of the same generic alternating 2 tom/2 bass drum and 4 tom/2 bass drum fills, way more than you'd find on a sample of 3 songs off the same album from MP. There's always been more diversity and more flare or "personality" in his drumming than that, imo.

[geeeemo]

I think it is very "hook-y" and groovy and really enjoyed it. The video has me hyped for the tour! 1 month!
Also, James sounds great, they have the range dialed in just right.


We have a customer who comes into our shop who loves DT. He is a drummer and is very hyped about MP. He doesn't keep up on music like some (here, lol) so I asked, had he heard the 2nd single? No. Ok, I say I am going to play it. (We have a killer system in our shop.) So I go to put it on, and I see that MM has dropped! I play it.
The point is.. After that ABM played and then NT. It gave me a sense of listening to the album and it gave me all the right emotional feels. I am excited!!

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

There's lots to like about what he's doing. I think my biggest issue comes from most of the fills he's done throughout the 3 singles. The big fill that goes from the intro into the main verse of NT is badass, but there's been a lot of the same generic alternating 2 tom/2 bass drum and 4 tom/2 bass drum fills, way more than you'd find on a sample of 3 songs off the same album from MP. There's always been more diversity and more flare or "personality" in his drumming than that, imo.

He sounds more or less consistent with the work he's been putting for a while. Nothing new I caught after a few listens. Mix sounds good but pretty straight ahead rock/metal drumming with his signature fills.

[three__days]

really vibing this one. the 'home' callback is a bit much... but otherwise, yeah, damn. the prechorus and chorus sections are really fantastic.

[dream75]

But do you really like this single? Where has prog gone? It is a trash/heavy metal song

[MirrorMask]

Very nice song overall! I like the build up it has, always more and more menacing, some "gothic" (for lack of a better word) keyboards and then going into the verses... for all the buildup and the energy of the song, I believe the chorus could have been way better and more bombastic. Maybe I will eat my words in a month but after one listen (and I want the second to be along with the entire album on release day) I'd say great song, weak chorus.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

But do you really like this single? Where has prog gone? It is a trash/heavy metal song

Agreed.