On the Backs of Angels Thread

[Aniland]

Six times today. That's my limit. It will feel fresh tomorrow.

[fllnsprrw]

good song, and I like it more and more after every listen, but I really hope we get to hear more MM in the other songs!!! He's virtually nowhere to be found in this song.

[Addy]

Hi everyone, long time lurker here

Well, I'm listening to the song for something like the 10th time now and to me it's great. It's not as riff-oriented as most of the songs on last couple of albums. And it really reminds me of PMU in terms of the structure. But I love the fact that progressive side of DT is back. It has so much 90s vibe to it. And keeping in mind that a single is always one of the weakest songs... Wow, I'm really looking forward to 13 September.

Oh, by the way, did anyone else notice that the song continues from where TCOT ended ? Really cool transition, especially when you cut the fade out in TCOT 

[Pols Voice]

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.

Hurr hurr...Bieber.

This song doesn't sound much at all like earlier DT to me, so I don't really get your point.

The good news is that I thought AROP was the worst song from the last album, and that was the first single. So just because I don't like this new song much doesn't mean the whole album will be bad.

[Scooterfruit]

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.

If you listen for the big picture, it's pretty much the same structure as Pull Me Under. Not saying that in a negative way at all.

To me it's not the vibes of those albums, it's that it seems like the natural progression from that stuff. The overbearing metal aspects of the recent stuff seemed to lose the sort of glory days of those albums for me. But this seems natural. This seems like where DT should be. I love it.

[Nekov]

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

Because it doesn't sound anywhere near the earlier stuff. Maybe a little of Pull Me Under but that's about it. I relate this more to SC than anything.

[Perpetual Change]

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.

Hurr hurr...Bieber.

This song doesn't sound much at all like earlier DT to me, so I don't really get your point.

The good news is that I thought AROP was the worst song from the last album, and that was the first single. So just because I don't like this new song much doesn't mean the whole album will be bad.

Honestly, if you don't like this song I can only think of three explanations:

1. You've moved on beyond being able to enjoy this type of things anymore
-
AND/OR
-
2. Your expectations are unreasonably high.
-
AND/OR
-
3. You're still just hard-up about Mike quitting or Dream Theater moving forward without him.

[Dellers]

I heard John Myung on the first listen! That's awesome. I wasn't even listening specifically for the bass, it just was there in the mix. Drums could be a bit louder, except for that this sounds far better than the last few albums.

[Chrissalix]

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

Because it doesn't sound anywhere near the earlier stuff. Maybe a little of Pull Me Under but that's about it. I relate this more to SC than anything.

There's WDADU all over this.

[Blackfield]

Why does it matter if it sound like I&W or not? It's a great fucking song and it just absorbs every part of me (whatever that means).

[yesrushdt]

Why does it matter if it sound like I&W or not? It's a great fucking song.

Agreed.  End of thread.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Oh, by the way, did anyone else notice that the song continues from where TCOT ended ? Really cool transition, especially when you cut the fade out in TCOT 

Funny, cuz i was gonna joke last night in a post predicting that the song would do that.  And it almost does (not quite though)

[Pols Voice]

Honestly, if you don't like this song I can only think of three explanations:

1. You've moved on beyond being able to enjoy this type of things anymore
-
AND/OR
-
2. Your expectations are unreasonably high.
-
AND/OR
-
3. You're still just hard-up about Mike quitting or Dream Theater moving forward without him.

1. The band's music has changed considerably over the past three albums. I find it harder to enjoy that style than their earlier stuff, but there are still some good songs here and there and I thought BC&SL was a step up from Octavarium and SC.

2. I had somewhat low expectations.

3. Way off. I'm actually glad he left.

[ReaPsTA]

I heard John Myung on the first listen! That's awesome. I wasn't even listening specifically for the bass, it just was there in the mix. Drums could be a bit louder, except for that this sounds far better than the last few albums.

I sorta know what you mean.  I was listening for the bass just naturally, but not in a "how will John Myung sound on this album?" kind of way.  Then the music broke in and I was like WOWOMG BASS!

[chrisbDTM]

i think we just take petrucci for granted cause he does it all the time, but he is absolutely owning this track

[Aquila Chrysaetos]

The part just after 6:47 reminds me of I&W. So awesome!

Exactly this!!! AWESOME!!
And indeed I hear some Static Impulse too!

[jdprsaga]

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

Because it doesn't sound anywhere near the earlier stuff. Maybe a little of Pull Me Under but that's about it. I relate this more to SC than anything.

There's WDADU all over this.

Completely agree, i find tons of WDADU and LTE all over the song.  I like the Light Fuse and Get Away reference @ 2:22, everytime i hear that part in lfaga i think.. why they don't do that more often (or at least once).

[Vajra]

This song is fucking amazing.

[rumborak]

Man, what a difference a proper listen to the track makes. I was about to come in and say I didn't like it that much, but now that I did a "focused listening" of it, that is a solid tune, damnit. Has a lot of AROP elements in it I find.

rumborak

[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.

Hurr hurr...Bieber.

This song doesn't sound much at all like earlier DT to me, so I don't really get your point.

The good news is that I thought AROP was the worst song from the last album, and that was the first single. So just because I don't like this new song much doesn't mean the whole album will be bad.

Well one thing that jumps out is that you can hear each member of the band very distinctly with less of the newr JMx distortion (more clean fast riffing in the likeness of I&W, Awake and WDADU).  The transitions between prhasings are more in the vibe of the earlier stuff.  I am not trying to say that it is EXACTLY like thier earlier work however, it just kind of makes me put this song in line with the pre TOT era stuff

[chrisbDTM]

LTE and DT have become one. and i like it




i like uhh-lot

[Gadough]

1st listen = liked it; 2nd listen = loved it.

Great, great song. I'm very pleased.

[dongringo]

For me this song sounds like a mixture of old and new, not one or the other.

[chknptpie]

For me this song sounds like a mixture of old and new, not one or the other.

I would agree. They seem to have found a nice middle ground for me.

[MajorMatt]

I wish they'd release a high quality download of it - Youtube downloads sound terrible.

Also, anyone curious as to what that woman is saying at the start of the track? It's as if its being played backwards, I wonder who it is as well....

[tri.ad]

For me this song sounds like a mixture of old and new, not one or the other.

Yup, definitely. And a good mixture at that, I might add.

[rumborak]

One thing that bugs me a bit is JP's somewhat uninspired riffage during verses, which kinda muddles up whatever the underlying chords are supposed to be.

rumborak

[dongringo]

I wish they'd release a high quality download of it - Youtube downloads sound terrible.

Agreed. Some people are already mentioning the production, but it's really just the quality of the youtube clip. The album will most definitely sound much better.

Edit: I meant Mix, not Production.

[ReaPsTA]

i think we just take petrucci for granted cause he does it all the time, but he is absolutely owning this track

I actually think Rudess is the MVP of this track.  The keyboards are so prominent and effective.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I love how the octobans sound so DT-ish. 

[Aramatheis]

Some people have mentioned that the chorus (and overall melodies) seem a little lackluster... but after having given the song a second and third listen, I'm really starting to dig the chorus, especially the "Tears fall from the shameless"  

The song's pretty easy to sing along to as well, so that's always fun  

[Bacong]

I did a quick and terrible photoshop job to see how this labum cover would look without the clown and airplaen

[Dellers]

Damn I can't wait for a CD version of this. The more I listen, the more I think the mix is far better than the usual. Not too trebly, enough bass, bass drum doesn't sound like a snare (the difference between the snare and bass drum on BC&SL was at times almost nothing)

[PixelDream]

One thing that bugs me a bit is JP's somewhat uninspired riffage during verses, which kinda muddles up whatever the underlying chords are supposed to be.

rumborak

True, a couple of progression related notes would've been welcome there.

I like how the focus here is almost solely on melody, proggy/symphonicness and energy. I love the new direction, and how awesome are the re-introduced old school elements. The heaviness is dosed pretty well, with the heavy ending being extremely theatral. Damn. It's just a great fookin' song I guess.

[chrisbDTM]

wait til its off youtube, the mix will sound better