On the Backs of Angels Thread

[Aniland]

Like I said, LaBrie-written songs usually don't have as strong of vocal melodies (ironically enough). "Prophets of War", "Anna Lee"... okay, "One Last Time" had a pretty giant and bitchin one, but it was more of a reprisal of the already existing melody that Overture 1928 introduced.

[CrimsonSunrise]

In all honesty... I enjoy Lames voice better when he sings melodies like this compared to "Rangier" stuff  (is that a word??...LOL)

[Nekov]

So, I just listened to the song for the second time. While it has some interesting stuff, I think it's still following the lines of the last few albums and I was hoping for a bigger change. For the production the only thing I'd change is having the cymbals a little louder. I hope the rest of the songs do not follow the same path as this one.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Who else hears some screaming thingy at the very end lol?

It's a keyboard filter slowly opening (escalating upwards)

Hey guys... WHAT IF THIS IS JUST THE SINGLE EDIT AND IT'S ACTUALLY LONGER

The entire arc of the song feels present, so I doubt it had more to say.  Also, why edit something to over 8 mins, which is still too long for radio play?

A few LTE inspired nuggets - some of Jordan's patches and the pre-chorus riff is very Universal Mind.  DT also employs the same song structure used in Pull me Under, so I wonder if they were trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

[CrimsonSunrise]

So, I just listened to the song for the second time. While it has some interesting stuff, I think it's still following the lines of the last few albums and I was hoping for a bigger change. For the production the only thing I'd change is having the cymbals a little louder. I hope the rest of the songs do not follow the same path as this one.

Keep in mind, this is a crappy youtube mix.  HOPEFULLY in the proper format it will sound better

[lordxizor]

So I ran home over lunch so I could listen to the song. My first impressions were very positive. I think it had some of that old DT feeling while still meshing with their more modern sound. Definitely gets me excited to hear the rest of the album.

My constuctive criticism of the song: I thought it was a tad long. I think it would have been better at 6-7 minutes rather than almost 9. It just dragged a bit in the middle. As much as I love Jordan (that piano solo!!!), I think that a lot of the time he just doodles too much. Instead of plinking away over a guitar riff, how about just laying down some cool organ or synth sounds? There were a couple of spots I thought would have been better served in that way.

[emindead]

Hey guys... WHAT IF THIS IS JUST THE SINGLE EDIT AND IT'S ACTUALLY LONGER

It sounds really good, with great flow to be just an edit.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Like I said, LaBrie-written songs usually don't have as strong of vocal melodies (ironically enough). "Prophets of War", "Anna Lee"... okay, "One Last Time" had a pretty giant and bitchin one, but it was more of a reprisal of the already existing melody that Overture 1928 introduced.

Caught in a Web?
Statued?
Undecided?
Slightly Out of Reach?

These are all evidence of strong vocal melodies from his lyrics.

[DP_Gumby]

I can't get enough of this song.   I really hope that the rest of ADTOE is as good, or even better, as OTBOA.  

Looking forward to September 13th.  

[Ben_Jamin]

Our prayers have been answered...."We spiral toward disaster, survival fading fast"...

Now this is what I'm talking about, real strong opener, good bass, and piano.

[theusualmadness]

Very cool song, but I am not too sure about the mix. Guitar and Drums sound muddy on many parts.

[Global Laziness]

Interesting.  In some respects it actually reminds me more of their contemporaries, i.e. Circus Maximus.

The song actually reminds me a bit of a mix between Pull Me Under and this.

My thoughts:
 - The keyboards are the definite standout on this song - absolutely fantastic.
 - Very nice to have some audible bass work.
 - The vocal melodies are rather plain - I don't really find myself wanting to sing along to anything.
 - After three listens, I can't seem to focus on the drums very much. Maybe it's because they're so low in the mix, I don't know, but they aren't especially standout. I was really hoping to be blown away by Mangini's recorded debut with Dream Theater. At least he's got another eight tracks to prove me wrong.

[Scard]

I think it's great, and in the direction I've wanted DT to go for a few albums. It's ballsy, not too much like ANTR, and it's proggy, much like something from FII.  With SC and BC&SL I find the direction of BALLZ METAL was too much for an old school DT fan. If the rest of the album is like this single, I'll be very surprised and happy.

[kartmaze2]

Unable to stop listening to this song after almost 2.5 hours...

Constantly discovering awesome new stuff!

[MykeHavoc]

Giving it a second spin now. I must say, my first impression is better then anything from the last 2 albums. I mean that honestly, not just being a hater. I had to sort of grow to love the recent stuff, but this is legitimately strong and I'm sure will sit well for quite some time. I feel this is a much better representation of where the members are and what they're capable of. I think LaBrie sounds his strongest in quite some time due to not straining at all. He's in his comfort zone. Everyone is highlighted, the lyrics are good, and the structure doesn't feel forced. Consider me excited for the entire album!

[Aniland]

Mangini is so shockingly wonderful, and I already had high hopes.

[italianoman]

I agree with everyone who's not digging the vocal melody...that's the first thing I thought when vox came in; I was just like, eh...but the song as a whole is fantastic and I loved the guitar solo a lot. If only it'd kept that crazy prog chord passage from the intro going for some of the verse so I could hear the melody breathe a bit but still, so much better than AROP.

[CrimsonSunrise]

Mangini is so shockingly wonderful, and I already had high hopes.

I concur Mon Frer    LOVE the cymbals @ 3:28

[kartmaze2]

Mangini is so shockingly wonderful, and I already had high hopes.

It seems like they made the right choice.

[Nekov]

So, I just listened to the song for the second time. While it has some interesting stuff, I think it's still following the lines of the last few albums and I was hoping for a bigger change. For the production the only thing I'd change is having the cymbals a little louder. I hope the rest of the songs do not follow the same path as this one.

Keep in mind, this is a crappy youtube mix.  HOPEFULLY in the proper format it will sound better

I'm not complaining about the sound at all (besides the cymbal volume). The song in general sounds more to me like what some people here call "Generic prog metal", with a couple of good sections.

[darkshade]

Ive listened to it 3 times, and by the third time, it started to click. It's a very good song. I will probably listen to it another 1-2 times, then that's it until September  

[?]

Listening right now! James' vocals just started, so far this reminds me of Images & Words! BTW, I've never seen so many people online on DTF!

[Aniland]

I agree with everyone who's not digging the vocal melody...that's the first thing I thought when vox came in; I was just like, eh...but the song as a whole is fantastic and I loved the guitar solo a lot. If only it'd kept that crazy prog chord passage from the intro going for some of the verse so I could hear the melody breathe a bit but still, so much better than AROP.

Something I notice: I'm legitimately excited for the instrumentation, which is usually not the case and I'm usually only thinking of it as fillery due to some of the wank of past albums. There's literally no wank here; everything is completely melodic and with purpose. They used those eight minutes and several seconds very, VERY well.

[chrisbDTM]

such a good instrumental section.

-piano
-tasty JP solo w/ a few of his old tricks
- LTE jam session


short and really freakin sweet

[Jaffa]

Listening right now! James' vocals just started, so far this reminds me of Images & Words! BTW, I've never seen so many people online on DTF!

There's never been so many people online on DTF.  =D

[Super Dude]

I've actually forced myself to close the window and stop listening entirely; I don't want it to become stale so long before the album is released.

[Orion1967]

Sadly, this song is just as uninspired as much of the past three albums. The vocals and melodies are just there.

The lyrics are my least favorite type of DT lyrics: vaguely politicized and seemingly critical about society. Really, DT's lyrics have been a major MAJOR problem for me for a while now. Could somebody please explain what these lyrics are about, because I don't want an album full of more Sacrificed Sons, Prophets of War, In the Name of God, The Great Debate type stuff. Maybe I'm totally wrong about what this song's about, so I'd like to proven wrong so I can actually enjoy it more.

So far the only thing I like is the intro, the bass being upfront, and one of the riffs. I knew most people would like it, but I guess I'm not much of a fan of new DT anymore. This cements it.

I hear Justin Beiber is making good music these days....    just a suggestion.  

I really can't understand how anyone that is a DT fan, especially of the earlier stuff couldnt absolutely love this single.

[chrisbDTM]

im also glad that JR's 'solo' was the piano break.
no wah-wah feedbacky lead section

[mentalny]

Sadly, this song is just as uninspired as much of the past three albums. The vocals and melodies are just there.

The lyrics are my least favorite type of DT lyrics: vaguely politicized and seemingly critical about society. Really, DT's lyrics have been a major MAJOR problem for me for a while now. Could somebody please explain what these lyrics are about, because I don't want an album full of more Sacrificed Sons, Prophets of War, In the Name of God, The Great Debate type stuff. Maybe I'm totally wrong about what this song's about, so I'd like to proven wrong so I can actually enjoy it more.

So far the only thing I like is the intro, the bass being upfront, and one of the riffs. I knew most people would like it, but I guess I'm not much of a fan of new DT anymore. This cements it.

I agree COMPLETELY!  

[John94]

I get a I&W vibe from the drumming. I don't know why but I just do.

[Aniland]

I'm really glad they released the album opener, because when we get the album now, it's not a matter of, "So I have that part that I've heard a billion times coming up in two tracks... then six more!" It's what we know from the get-go as a wonderful opener, and it will breathe new life into the song as we'll know that there's more to come right after it.

[Jaffa]

That's one thing I'm not getting - the SFAM/I&W vibes others are talking about.  I hear a little PMU in it at times, but other than that, I don't see it.

[?]

Listening right now! James' vocals just started, so far this reminds me of Images & Words! BTW, I've never seen so many people online on DTF!

There's never been so many people online on DTF.  =D

You're right: "Most Online Ever: 966 (Today at 07:11:31 PM) "

[darkshade]

That's one thing I'm not getting - the SFAM/I&W vibes others are talking about.  I hear a little PMU in it at times, but other than that, I don't see it.

I said it before, but to me it has more of a SDoIT vibe, with FII production values. But I'm sure once the album comes out and it's been digested, it will be "It has that ADTOE-vibe" 

[CrimsonSunrise]

That's one thing I'm not getting - the SFAM/I&W vibes others are talking about.  I hear a little PMU in it at times, but other than that, I don't see it.

I hear a LOT of SFAM..not so much I&W's.  Keys around 2:28 sound very SFAM, and in quite a few other places.