Wall of text, you've been warned..
Just been reading through this thread and there were multiple messages I want to respond to.
More moment from JLB like the "Mothers for the Children" section from Illumination Theory.
That section embodies everything I personally would like JLB to avoid on the next album.
I think it's a highlight of the album. Besides, even if it's not your cup of tea, it's just one bit. Most of the his singing is in a fairly comfortable range, which I'm sure we can expect plenty of. But why put a limitation on what you'd expect from him? I'm happy for James to surprise us with stuff like IT even if it's just one little bit, and even if it's not something I'd personally expect from him (BMUBMD screams), it's still cool when they try something different.
FII-style album could be great but maybe a little more metal and experimental style.
Agreed, I think one thing that can be said about FII is that is stands the test of time. So another album in a similar regard, could end up being an outstanding classic in retrospect. Metal is fun, and I love me some chunky riffs, but it's more niche than Rock. I think in the long run, a wider range of people will appreciate the harder rocking side as opposed to the heavy metal side of the band. As for the progressive side, I like to think progressive/prog is becoming more accepted/appreciated these days and that people are getting bored with generic repetitive formulaic music. So DT will hopefully always be remembered for this side of them.
A cool idea would be if they rummaged the cutting floor a bit, and maybe flesh out ideas that were canned during writing of other albums. That way they could have a cool mix of "modern DT takes on old, but unheard, DT material".
YES! I bet there's heaps of stuff that got locked in the closet, that could have the potential of being an absolute gem. An infusion of earlier style DT with a modern interpretation. It's possible some recent stuff has actually derived from ideas that certain members have been sitting on for a while, but it's hard to know. It sounds like the band does keep archives of old and new material though so I like the sound of your idea.
I am hoping for something more emotionally dark. Lyrically, the last few albums have been about the answers to the problems in life. I would appreciate a return to songs that lyrically (and musically) relay the pain of being IN the problem.
I get what you're saying but it's important the the lyrics are honest. The recent stuff seems to be more about the solution to the problems of pain or resistance in life, which is where the writers are at personally, and that's just as sincere as songs written from a personal point of view of experiencing a particular problem. It's all a matter resonating with a type of expression, but I think you won't necessarily get the desired results by trying to put your IN the middle of an issue if you don't have personal views or attachments to it. You have to have an honest perspective or your message comes across as contrived.
I'm torn, I hope they go back to heavy roots with this one, I loved train of thought, but I also love the mellow stuff like vacant, far from heaven, this is the life, wait for sleep, etc
Haha me too. I'm torn, I love the heavy stuff. But I think the band thrives when they find that point between heavy/technical and soft/melodic. But I can't complain, they normally do at least one or two heavier songs which'll keep me happy, and the rest will probably grow on me like it did with DT12.
I'd love a double album in the vein of Six Degrees meets Greatest Hit meets In Your Honor by Foo Fighters.
An experimental, heavy, progressive Disc One, chock full of long songs, metal songs, strange songs...
And a lighter Disc Two with songs like The Silent Man, Solitary Shell, Beneath the Surface, Far From Heaven, etc...
Absolutely agree with this! Seems like the ultimate solution to the bands never ending issue of being confined to the parameters of the release medium. Who cares about time, just write whatever and as much as they want, and if it's over 80 minutes, well chuck it on a second disk. I also like the the idea of the "dark and lighter" side as portrayed on the greatest hit album.