Official Parasomnia album discussion thread ***SPOILERS***

[bluefox4000]

This is in my top 3 DT albums and their best in a decade for me (Hated TA, didn't really Like DoT and A View was just OK.)

Midnight Messiah a single i thought was just OK has REALLY grown on me, My fav song remains dead Asleep.  The Shadow Man Incident i believe is my fav DT epic since literally Octavarium.

The thing that get's me about this record is how fast it flies by.  That's how i know it's great.  Before i know it it's almost over.

Last thing i'll say is i think the production is immaculate.

All and all.  i'm extremely proud of this band.

[nobloodyname]

It doesn't feel like a 70-minute album to me. It flies by, you're right.

[emtee]

Definitely. TSMI for instance just flies by. 19 minutes.

[Glasser]

Does anyone find the section from 10:10-11:01 in Shadow Man to be almost *distractingly* Symphony-X-like? It sounds like it's ripped DIRECTLY out of the Odyssey, for those of you familiar with the track. I liked it the first few times I heard it but the more times I go through the song it's actually sticking out like a sore thumb now.

100% percent heard the same exact thing. The Odyssey is a great song so I'm ok with that.

[goo-goo]

It doesn't feel like a 70-minute album to me. It flies by, you're right.

That is I like about this album. It doesn't drag at, it feels very cohesive.

[Jamesman42]

Guys, Bend the Clock is a great song, y'all should hear it,

[Trav]

I think what is telling to me is that it has grown with each listen. I wasn't blown away by the opener, Dead Asleep or the epic at first. But I'm loving all of them now. Even the singles, I thought were cool, but nothing amazing. I love them all now that I've been hearing them all together. Night Terror and Midnight Messiah were great live. MM was a highlight of the two shows I saw.

The opposite of this would be View. I thought it was awesome and I was singing its praises when it was released. But with each listen it started to feel more stale. Like I was chasing that first high lol.

[TAC]

I think what is telling to me is that it has grown with each listen. 

The opposite of this would be View. I thought it was awesome and I was singing its praises when it was released. But with each listen it started to feel more stale. Like I was chasing that first high lol.

I almost feel the opposite. It took a number of listens for me to wrap my head around View. Parasomnia was instantly easy to follow and sunk in right away.

I actually hold View in extremely high regard. It's one of my favorite DT albums. I said it before, but I find these two albums to be somewhat sister albums. They both give me the relatively same vibe.

[Herrick]

So far I think I am connecting with Dead Asleep most, feels like it describes the experience so perfectly, as someone who struggles with it myself. Has anyone figured out the time signature(s?) for the main riff? It's so good, it has been stuck in my head all week

Isn't Dead Asleep about killing someone?

Distance Over Over?

-Marc.

I hate abbreviations when it comes to music. I almost always just type out the full album and song titles.

I'm pretty familiar with almost every Dream Theater song but there have been many times on this board when I can't figure out which songs people are talking about when they abbreviate the title

[Mark Levinson Jr.]

After a few more listens, I'm starting to notice more piano in the mix. Do you think this is a real piano, or a sound from Jordan's main keyboard? Don't they have an actual grand piano or a baby grand at DTHQ?

[wolfking]

Listened to it again after a few days.  It's a nice, pretty damn good album.  I don't have urges to play it, but halfway through Shadow Man, it's kinda breezed by and just been quite easy listening.  Contrary to what I thought previously, I don't think there's that much to unpack here in the songs.  Maybe less depth than a lot of other DT albums?  Not sure.  it's the opposite of A View for me, this one is pretty instant, but time will tell if he has the longevity to keep in the rotation.

[wolfking]

Does anyone find the section from 10:10-11:01 in Shadow Man to be almost *distractingly* Symphony-X-like? It sounds like it's ripped DIRECTLY out of the Odyssey, for those of you familiar with the track. I liked it the first few times I heard it but the more times I go through the song it's actually sticking out like a sore thumb now.

For some reason I think of Iced Earth when this section hits.  Something from Gettysburg or something.  Thought that right away even on my first listen.

[TAC]

For some reason I think of Iced Earth when this section hits.  Something from Gettysburg or something.  Thought that right away even on my first listen.

Wow, you're right!

[Northern Lion]

Isn't Dead Asleep about killing someone?

Well... everyone has their struggles in life they are trying to overcome.

[Dream Team]

OK it's official, I love this album.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Isn't Dead Asleep about killing someone?

Sleep Walking! I meant sleep walking! LMAO

[lovethedrake]

Just did another full listen, it really has the edge and songwriting style of the late era Portnoy albums but with a warmth in production of the 90's stuff. Its so listenable, had a blast throughout the whole experience.

It's also an album full of sublety, it really grows on repeated listens.

I'm very pleased with the effort.

If they do a more eclectic/experimental/brighter album next it would be a fantastic 2 album stretch.

Dead Asleep is probably the most fun Dream Theater song in years (despite the morbid subject matter) and Bend the Clock is the most beautiful. 

I've heard Broken Man and Midnight Messiah a million times now and don't get sick of them.

Always fun to have a new DT album, especially one that continues to click more and more. 

[PixelDream]

Just listened to it while working out, again absolutely fantastic. One of their best? I don't know, but for me it's in the conversation. Not top level I&W/Awake/SFAM/SDOIT but pretty damn close if not equal to 8VM/TOT level which are two I also rank very highly.

If I could change one thing, I would've included a breather track (mellow/ballad-like or interlude after Night Terror. The opening to Broken Man would've had a little more impact I feel.

[MirrorMask]

If I could change one thing, I would've included a breather track (mellow/ballad-like or interlude after Night Terror. The opening to Broken Man would've had a little more impact I feel.

Nah the breather track should be between Broken Man and Dead Asleep, separating two heavy tracks from the other two.

[bl5150]

Does anyone find the section from 10:10-11:01 in Shadow Man to be almost *distractingly* Symphony-X-like? It sounds like it's ripped DIRECTLY out of the Odyssey, for those of you familiar with the track. I liked it the first few times I heard it but the more times I go through the song it's actually sticking out like a sore thumb now.

I'm not sure if that was the exact spot , but I do recall thinking "Symphony X" at some point during my first (and so far only) listen to the whole album. 

[Pettor]

Nah the breather track should be between Broken Man and Dead Asleep, separating two heavy tracks from the other two.

I think BTC and AWD are correctly placed on the album. However, a small interlude with some breathing room between NT and ABM would have been quite nice. It could have been very short. I don't feel too hammered by the constant riffing on the album, but I'm also a fan of TOT, so maybe my brain has just adjusted to it over time 😁

[hefdaddy42]

Isn't Dead Asleep about killing someone?

Yeah, but IN THEIR SLEEP, so not consciously.

After a few more listens, I'm starting to notice more piano in the mix. Do you think this is a real piano, or a sound from Jordan's main keyboard? Don't they have an actual grand piano or a baby grand at DTHQ?

I think it probably IS a real piano on the studio recording.

[Architeuthis]

This album is meant to be played loud, and on a big stereo. I know what JP was talking about when he likened the sound to a chocolate cake T-rex on fire. 🍰🦖🔥

I also like it on headphones. I fell asleep while listening, and had some strange dreams intertwined with the music. I was glad shadow Man didn't show up.. 

[jayvee3]

Listened to it again after a few days.  It's a nice, pretty damn good album.  I don't have urges to play it, but halfway through Shadow Man, it's kinda breezed by and just been quite easy listening.  Contrary to what I thought previously, I don't think there's that much to unpack here in the songs.  Maybe less depth than a lot of other DT albums?  Not sure.  it's the opposite of A View for me, this one is pretty instant, but time will tell if he has the longevity to keep in the rotation.

Yea, this is kinda where I'm at as well. The songs are good, and I enjoy enough when I listen, but I feel like in pretty short time, I've wrapped my head around it for the most part. My only issue is, I'm now just kinda - "yea it's fine'. And I think that might come down to what you mention in its "depth"...

I felt other albums over the years I was constantly discovering new things for some time and there seemed a larger scope... So I'm a little worried about Parasomnia's  longevity for me personally, but hope it can prove me wrong over time...

[Thoughtspart3]

Dead Asleep is probably the most fun Dream Theater song in years (despite the morbid subject matter) and Bend the Clock is the most beautiful. 

My Feeling exactly. Both great songs and standouts for me so far.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Not sure if anyone else feels similarly, but while I do really enjoy this album, I don't have a burning desire to listen to the whole thing too often. I feel more drawn to individual songs, just depending on the day. I think this is because it is such a relentless onslaught pretty much right through to Are We Dreaming. I also have yet to really fall in love with A Broken Man... I'd rather just jump straight to Dead Asleep.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Not sure if anyone else feels similarly, but while I do really enjoy this album, I don't have a burning desire to listen to the whole thing too often. I feel more drawn to individual songs, just depending on the day. I think this is because it is such a relentless onslaught pretty much right through to Are We Dreaming. I also have yet to really fall in love with A Broken Man... I'd rather just jump straight to Dead Asleep.

Same broadly speaking. I listen to 1-2 songs here and there, but no real desire for the whole thing.

[Architeuthis]

I'd rather just jump straight to Dead Asleep.

Broken Man really grew on me. That bluesy/shreddy solo section is bliss.

[dualpalmpilots]

Parasomnia might be unseating ADTOE from the fifth spot on my top 5. I really love this record.

[TAC]

Broken Man really grew on me. That bluesy/shreddy solo section is bliss.

Yes

[dualpalmpilots]

Broken Man really grew on me. That bluesy/shreddy solo section is bliss.

The chorus melody reappearing as a motif throughout the album is an excellent touch. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album.

[The Letter M]

https://www.facebook.com/share/163nBsKx6N/

To our amazing listeners all over the world, thank you so much for your incredible support of the new album Parasomnia!

-Marc.

[TAC]

Awesome stuff!!

[emtee]

https://www.facebook.com/share/163nBsKx6N/
-Marc.

Wow. Really happy for their entire team. Fantastic to see and be a small part of this 40 year run. Congrats Dream Theater! I bet they never expected this.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

https://www.facebook.com/share/163nBsKx6N/
-Marc.

The typo "US Hard Music" Album Chart is so funny to me for some reason

(https://www.billboard.com/charts/hard-rock-albums/ is the real name)

Well deserved though! It's the greatest album to be released in quite some time, maybe even a decade