Dream Theater: The Astonishing (now with moment of betrayal!)

[Ben_Jamin]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

Yep, wise words - I've been listening to the album since mid-December and I was thinking the same thing when I saw the trailer.

Well,it's a one minute trailer for a 2hr 40min album. Plus, I liked it thought the music was good. Can't wait to be surprised with what's all in the music.

[MirrorMask]

Watching the video without sound (I'm strong and resolute in my desire to listen to the entire album on purchase day without having heard a single note beforehand) is quite a WTF experience 

I don't mind the low budget graphics, actually it's cool to see the characters come "alive" in a sense. Looks like indeed there's a lot of story going on, I'm not a fan of those "concept albums" that promise to tell a story but in the end all the lyrics are mumbo jumbo about abstract stuff that you would never guess they're part of a concept unless you're not told so.

So, the cast of characters is complete, the map is complete (did anyone else notice that or I missed the thousand posts of excitement?), and we have one video to go.... then all we'll have to do is listen to the album 

[As I Am]

I'll say it now....I have a feeling this album is going to be a MAJOR disappointment! 

I really hope it proves me wrong!

[mikeyd23]

I'll say it now....I have a feeling this album is going to be a MAJOR disappointment! 

Based on what?

[noxon]

If your favorite track is "As I Am", you will be disappointed. 

[MustActFastToCoverUp]

In the lower right corner of the map it goes 'published by...'
Can anybody read this? Lokks like its a name and a date.

[Another_Won]

Let me join the chorus of people saying cheesy video (that's ok - it was kind of expected) and great sounding music.

I did notice a couple of things that sounded like other songs:

0:12 Trailer = 1:33 Fatal Tragedy
0:33 Trailer = Bridges in the Sky?

Hard to say since the clips are so short.  I'm still very excited to hear the album, it would really take a lot to disappoint me.

[Ben_Jamin]

Now we understand what Bosk meant by NOMAC hotel.

[wideworldofmike]

I am guessing they chose a lot of heavy stuff because it's a Road Runner video promo.

[|KirK|]

Still waiting for something more, that's not enough to understand the identity of the album... However, the release date is not so far!!!
Talking about the graphics, what can I say....?!

[wideworldofmike]

Still waiting for something more, that's not enough to understand the identity of the album... However, the release date is not so far!!!
Talking about the graphics, what can I say....?!

This is everything.

[Crow]

the animation literally made me lol it was so bad

music sounds cool tho but we'll see

[MirrorMask]

If the album bombs, instead of DT jumping the shark we'll say that they flew with the raven 

[Prog Snob]

It's really hard to make out what it says. It looks like below the name is a year. I'm also curious as to the name of the city below Victory Isleland.

[The Paddies]

Had an interview with John Petrucci today. Some info I can share: during liveshows there will be no encore, they will solely be about The Astonishing. The album is mastered at a lower volume than A Dramatic Turn Of Events and Dream Theater, making it more dynamic. Petrucci wrote all the lyrics. Rudess and Petrucci wrote all the the music.

Besides that: Petrucci's second solo album has been written! He wanted to have it recorded by now, but he didn't have the time to record it yet, because The Astonishing took him longer than expected. Probably will take more than a year as Dream Theater is going full throttle now.

[Ben_Jamin]

Is Daryus gonna kill Xander which starts the war?

[MirrorMask]

Some info I can share: during liveshows there will be no encore, they will solely be about The Astonishing.

Could have been the icing on the cake, but I'm fine either way. At least now we know, so we won't be two thirds into the show all thinking "Will they play Metropolis or Octavarium?"

[Estiui]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

Despite being extremely underwhelmed by the animations and storyline, I AM very excited and stoked for the music but that's a little disappointing to hear you say that, especially when you say it "ENTIRELY MISREPRESENTS" the album

Which is EXACTLY why I'm making that statement! I mean, obviously these parts exist, but the trailer makes it seem like this is what the album sounds like. Its absolutely not. There's a lack of dynamics - theres no piano and orchestra solo parts, theres no violin or flute or bagpipe, no acousttic guitars - and yet, everyone ive spoken to have pointed out just how much of THAT there is on the album. How little of the metal side we see.

I'm guessing JR had its magic spread all over the composition process.

[ariich]

role playing fantasy

I have no idea what this means in the context of this album or what we are discussing in this thread.

Yeah seriously, wtf. This is the equivalent of people who hate metal music saying about the trailer "ugh I hate that death metal stuff, it's all just noise and angry shouting".

[Another_Won]

Had an interview with John Petrucci today. Some info I can share: during liveshows there will be no encore, they will solely be about The Astonishing. The album is mastered at a lower volume than A Dramatic Turn Of Events and Dream Theater, making it more dynamic. Petrucci wrote all the lyrics. Rudess and Petrucci wrote all the the music.

Besides that: Petrucci's second solo album has been written! He wanted to have it recorded by now, but he didn't have the time to record it yet, because The Astonishing took him longer than expected. Probably will take more than a year as Dream Theater is going full throttle now.

" . . . second solo album has been written!" That's great news.  I really had given up on it.  I can wait now that I know it's been written, especially because I'll have TA to listen to.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

omg yes ty

[thosava]

Talking about the graphics, what can I say....?!

Have you never seen portals "On the Backs of Ravens"?

[Prog Snob]

role playing fantasy

I have no idea what this means in the context of this album or what we are discussing in this thread.

Yeah seriously, wtf. This is the equivalent of people who hate metal music saying about the trailer "ugh I hate that death metal stuff, it's all just noise and angry shouting".

I'm not sure where the "role playing fantasy" comes in. If he followed even an iota of what the subject matter of the story is, he wouldn't make such a ludicrous critique.

[Shadow2222]

Yeah, that raven/Xander drawing should have never been OK'ed by the band or anyone else that saw it. I'm fine with the other animations as I understand that this is not a multi-million dollar production, but that is terrible.

However, the music sounded great and I'm still very fond of the visuals (mostly the still ones though  ).

[NickySpanjaards]

Talking about the graphics, what can I say....?!

Have you never seen portals "On the Backs of Ravens"?

Or watch the raven falling 

[dreamsforever]

I have been a DT fan since before I&W, as I am from Long Island. I want to start by saying this. This album for me is one of their worst. I, for the life of me, cannot get into it. I have a bad feeling that a lot of people will feel this way after hearing the entire thing. It seems sterile and uninspired to me. Some of the melodies sound familiar like we have heard them before. I'm sorry, but this is my opinion. Not to say that there aren't some good moments on the CD, there are. However, the album being the length it is has many moments that I really felt bored. I've never said that listening to DT before. I just don't have much desire to go back and listen to it again and again, which for me is the telling tale.

I am curious to see other peoples reactions when everyone hears it though. But for me, it's just not even close to their other concept albums. I'm very disappointed.

[bosk1]

Cool story.  I'll be interested to know whether you still feel that way once you've actually heard it.

[ariich]

But for me, it's just not even close to their other concept albums.

Yeah, all those other concept albums they've done.

[bosk1]

  That too.

[cramx3]

Can't take a review seriously unless from a real source or after the album is released

[Kotowboy]

But for me, it's just not even close to their other concept albums.

Yeah, all those other concept albums they've done.

All of dream theater's concept albums...


All the concept albums...


.....





...Scenes From A Memory...


...


...ALl the...concept albums...

[King Postwhore]

But for me, it's just not even close to their other concept albums.

Yeah, all those other concept albums they've done.

And not hearing one lick of the album either.

[theanalogkid7]

Talking about the graphics, what can I say....?!

Have you never seen portals "On the Backs of Ravens"?

It's like a boy/raven version of a Centaur!

[lovethedrake]

Glad to hear the album sounds different than the trailer because the trailer sounded very "Newer DT by numbers" to me. 

I really like TGOM though so I am excited about the album.  Dynamics, acoustics, etc.... all of that sounds very exciting to me. 

[Enigmachine]

Still waiting for something more, that's not enough to understand the identity of the album... However, the release date is not so far!!!
Talking about the graphics, what can I say....?!

The rest of the video, I can sort of get but that is just silly.