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

[Marion Crane]

I still can't get enough of the first 25 seconds before the guitar kicks in. This is one of the most awesome DT-related music parts I've heard for ages.

It's pretty for sure. But VERY VERY similar to ITNOG.

[rab7]

Modulation is the essential part of the art. Without it there is little music, for a piece derives its true beauty not from the large number of fixed modes which it embraces but rather from the subtle fabric of its modulation.
— Charles-Henri Blainville (1767)

^That.  And in recent "popular music" history, modulating a final chorus has been done FREQUENTLY for effect precisely because it works effectively.

"Youuuuu're here, there's NOOOOTHING I fear, and I know that the heart does go oooon."

[rab7]

I still can't get enough of the first 25 seconds before the guitar kicks in. This is one of the most awesome DT-related music parts I've heard for ages.

It's pretty for sure. But VERY VERY similar to ITNOG.

That 1235, 1236 line is already very common in music. Plus, the rhythm is different enough (12/8 vs something I can't figure out) that I didn't even notice the similarity until someone brought it up on reddit a few days ago.

[DP_Gumby]

If the other songs on TA are half as good as i feel MOB is, this album is close to a masterpiece IMO.


Happy 200th page "anniversary" on the thread! 

[Kotowboy]

Is it the pop band Eternal who did that song " I wanna be the only one " or something and it had like 3 key changes at the end. ridiculous.

Every couple of choruses it would go up a tone.

[RoeDent]

HAPPY PAGE 200, GUYS!



8 days before release as well!

[rab7]

HAPPY PAGE 200, GUYS!



8 days before release as well!

That's 300 pages if we include the 100 page speculation thread that started in February

[BlackInk]

Modulation is the essential part of the art. Without it there is little music, for a piece derives its true beauty not from the large number of fixed modes which it embraces but rather from the subtle fabric of its modulation.
— Charles-Henri Blainville (1767)

^That.  And in recent "popular music" history, modulating a final chorus has been done FREQUENTLY for effect precisely because it works effectively.

And I hate it just as much every time. Even pop music is moving away from that trend now, finally.

[MirrorMask]

I was wondering if we would reach 200 pages before or after the release  a couple of days ago it was clear we would have went over, hehe!

Tomorrow we'll be able to say we're in the final week! 

[thosava]

I didn't like MoB that much the first 4-5 times i listened to it. I decided to wait until the album to listen again, but once i saw it on youtube in better quality i had to listen One Last Time. I'm starting to really like this song! And if the average quality of the album is the same as TGoM and MoB, then we may have another DT masterpiece

Merry 200 pages, and a happy new 100!

[aurorablind]

Just to be clear: I am NOT one of those who will jump on the hate-train when it comes to the drum-sound. Its much better than on DT12.
But I just have to nitpick:
The snare doesn't really bug me, but the kick drums kind of do. They are a bit loud, and they are really missing the punch thats on BTFW (I really like that drum sound). It almost sounds like they sampled someone tapping on the mic, threw in some compression and gain and EQ'd some bass to the mix. Mangini is one of the best double-bass players in the world, so it's a bit sad.
The snare however has grown on me. It's really loud and punchy, yes, but the low-tuned, balls-to-the-walls sounding snare has kind of becomed Manginis signature sound. It sits much better in this mix than on DT12.

With that being said, I love the two songs that have been released so far. Every member shines, especially on this new track.
The vocals, the bass, the keys, the drums, the guitar...Im speechless.
This will rock! 

[Hanz Gruber]

Before the good quality version was released I listed to MOB 2 times and really didn't like it that much.  Now after hearing a good quality version I actually like it.  It won't be my favorite off the album but it is a solid song.  I don;t know if the quality jump changed my mind or if it finally clicked on the 3rd listen

Edit:

I didn't like MoB that much the first 4-5 times i listened to it. I decided to wait until the album to listen again, but once i saw it on youtube in better quality i had to listen One Last Time. I'm starting to really like this song! And if the average quality of the album is the same as TGoM and MoB, then we may have another DT masterpiece

Funny.  We were typing this around the same time.   My same feelings as well

[Bertielee]

Modulation is the essential part of the art. Without it there is little music, for a piece derives its true beauty not from the large number of fixed modes which it embraces but rather from the subtle fabric of its modulation.
— Charles-Henri Blainville (1767)

^That.  And in recent "popular music" history, modulating a final chorus has been done FREQUENTLY for effect precisely because it works effectively.

Yes, and I love that. Just listen to Lionheart by TNT. The final chorus is glorious!


B.Lee

[nikatapi]

Also, dat Mangini at 5:20. Damn he is awesome.

[Evermind]

I still can't get enough of the first 25 seconds before the guitar kicks in. This is one of the most awesome DT-related music parts I've heard for ages.

It's pretty for sure. But VERY VERY similar to ITNOG.

Well, ITNOG is my top 5 DT song, so I guess it's not much of a coincidence. However, the violin (or cello, I dunno, I think it's more like a violin) gives it quite a unique vibe for DT.

[bosk1]

Modulation is the essential part of the art. Without it there is little music, for a piece derives its true beauty not from the large number of fixed modes which it embraces but rather from the subtle fabric of its modulation.
— Charles-Henri Blainville (1767)

^That.  And in recent "popular music" history, modulating a final chorus has been done FREQUENTLY for effect precisely because it works effectively.

Yes, and I love that. Just listen to Lionheart by TNT. The final chorus is glorious!


B.Lee

Or even Living On a Prayer by Bon Jovi. 

[Enigmachine]

Listened to MoB again. Holy crap, what a song! Every member of DT shines here, JLB whenever he sings, JP in that awesome solo, JR in his piano part in the intro, MM in the second verse keeping the song feeling really tense and JM when he goes from that unison to those really deep held notes. I think the production is excellent too.

[cramx3]

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6851509/dream-theater-moment-of-betrayal-song-premiere-the-astonishing-album

Maybe I am late to the party, but I think this makes it official right?  That we can share a link to listen to the new song.  From DT's facebook.

[dparrott]

Modulation is the essential part of the art. Without it there is little music, for a piece derives its true beauty not from the large number of fixed modes which it embraces but rather from the subtle fabric of its modulation.
— Charles-Henri Blainville (1767)

^That.  And in recent "popular music" history, modulating a final chorus has been done FREQUENTLY for effect precisely because it works effectively.

Yes, and I love that. Just listen to Lionheart by TNT. The final chorus is glorious!


B.Lee

Just listened to Living Colour do this in "Someone Like You".  Boy did I sleep on that song!

[CoT67]

It also seems that the sound of the mix/master has changed a lot as someone said before, and now there's proof for it... a lot more bass and volume than TGoM in general. Can any current owner of the album/preview confirm the difference?

[Ben_Jamin]

Hell yeah an official release

[dparrott]

I feel having the song title in the chorus (and repeated so many times) is a bit cheesy.  Those lines could have been used to add more to the story.

[thosava]

Yeah.. That's one of the things i don't like about DT12. Out of the non-instrumental songs they all use the title in the chorus except Illumination Theory. (sometimes it works, other times it feels forced.)

[Lowdz]

Just listened to it again. I'm digging this song.

EDIT: Except the raise in pitch for the final chorus. No band or artist should ever do that. Ever.

You should listen to more hair metal  it's compulsory. Even if the singer then can't reach the correct pitch. Jon Bon Jovi I'm looking at you...

I See I was ninja'd higher up

[RoeDent]

Confirmation in the Billboard article that MoB is Gabriel speaking to Arhys.

[dparrott]

Just listened to MoB and TGOM back to back, I like TGOM more.  It has a lot more going on, it's not as formulaic, and it doesn't say "the gift of muuuuuusiiiiiiiiic" haha

[T-ski]

put me on the list of those who dislike the drum sound.  I hated it on the last album and it doesn't really sound any better on the two tracks I've heard from the new one.

[aurorablind]

The instrumental section between 3:43-3:55 blows my mind. The drums and keyboards are mindblowing! 

[JLa]

I'm glad they went with a full scale orchestra this time. I can really hear the difference from their previous orchestrations.

[shadow1psc]

Dunno if this means anything yet, but they didn't put MoB in the second video slot on the website...

[chwik]

I feel having the song title in the chorus (and repeated so many times) is a bit cheesy.  Those lines could have been used to add more to the story.

This might be because the lyrics are written before the title of the song is chosen, which is pretty common across mulitiple musical styles. Would it really be less cheesy if the chorus was sung as is, but the songtitle different?

[home]

Does any think the chorus of A Moment of Betrayal is a bit similiar to a part in "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" from Iron Maiden" ? The following part:

"I will hope, my soul will fly, so I will live forever
Heart will die, my soul will fly, and I will live forever"

It just gets stuck in my head every time I listen to Moment of Betrayal

[Enigmachine]

Does any think the chorus of A Moment of Betrayal is a bit similiar to a part in "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" from Iron Maiden" ? The following part:

"I will hope, my soul will fly, so I will live forever
Heart will die, my soul will fly, and I will live forever"

It just gets stuck in my head every time I listen to Moment of Betrayal

There's a different mood but yeah, they are quite similar. It's an awesome part in both cases.

[thosava]

Does any think the chorus of A Moment of Betrayal is a bit similiar to a part in "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" from Iron Maiden" ? The following part:

"I will hope, my soul will fly, so I will live forever
Heart will die, my soul will fly, and I will live forever"

It just gets stuck in my head every time I listen to Moment of Betrayal

I can kind of hear it! I like the Maiden song better though 

[chwik]

With all the snare talk, I just listened to Circus Maximus new song "The Weight" and thought the snare sounded approx the same as MM's in the Astonishing. Might it be that the "progressive rock/metal snare" is supposed to sound this way today? Also, I wonder if people will show the same "emotional" degree when it comes to Circus Maximus snare drum or if this is a preconcived notion against MM with the history of MP in the band. Just curious on a general basis.

Personally, I have no skin in the snare game, although I understand both sides of the argument - I belive it comes down to personal preference.