Is ADTOE Dream Theater's most technical album?

[chrisbDTM]

I certainly think so. Even with 3 ballads its still unbelievably technical. LNF/BITS/Outcry/BAI. all of them are pretty nuts, even for Dream Theater's standards. I just listened through specifically listening to JP's parts and even the rhythm parts are out of control. (Mangini's parts are obviously out of this world)




This is just my opinion, but i was wondering if anyone agrees/disagrees

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I'd say yes. The instrumental sections are not just entretaining, they are complex as fuck.

[Adami]

It might actually be. Lots of moments where it's really simple, but the complex stuff is just beyond insane.

[SystematicThought]

I'll give it another shot this week when I get the vinyl. I never really thought complex, but I might think so later.

[Knguro]

Yes, polyrthyms. Nuff said.

[johncal]

Yes, in pure notes per second, this album shits on everything else. TDOE looks like chopstix next to Outcry.

[cramx3]

Id say its definitely possible.  Im no music know it all or anything, but the complex stuff on this album sounds more complex than some of the stuff on previous albums.  However, this album does have three balads and a straight up single so the complexity isn't in every song, just when its there, its THERE. 

[Montsegur97]

Ya, some of those instrumental passages are beyond ridiculous.  What never ceases to amaze me though, within a couple days of some songs being released, bam, covered on youtube almost flawlessly.  Stuff like this isn't 100% accurate, but it's damn close https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6ih2GFl-E  I guess that's what practice will do for you... but god damn.

[BlobVanDam]

Maybe it's just me, but I'm not hearing it. Outcry has a long instrumental section, LNF and BITS have their little instrumental bits, and then there's the usual DT stuff here and there. It doesn't sound any more or less complex than any other DT album to me.

And I have a PHD in music so I'm right and you're wrong.

I'd go with SFAM as their most technical.

[chrisbDTM]

i think TDOE is pretty much the only technical song on sfam. that and the zappa section on BTL are the totally crazy parts of that album. although the end of home does come to mind


im still sticking with ADTOE

[BlobVanDam]

i think TDOE is pretty much the only technical song on sfam. that and the zappa section on BTL are the totally crazy parts of that album. although the end of home does come to mind

Yeah, that sounds about right, but I think that's a bit more than ADTOE has. Outcry is the only song I'd call exceptionally technical for DT overall. LNF and BITS no doubt have technical bits thrown in here and there,  but it's more of a sprinkling, and maybe a bit in OTBOA too. Aside from that, there's less focus on the technical, and more on the melodic.
I guess you can say the same for SFAM too. That also has more focus on the melodic/ballad than usual, but it feels more technical to me. Maybe it's because the technical stuff is a lot more upfront. I find the polyrhythms on SFAM are a lot clearer to spot than ADTOE. Maybe it's the low drum mix hiding the complexity.
Maybe ADTOE is more complex than I thought. It just doesn't *sound* as technical. Maybe it's just more subtle about it, and better at hiding it.

[gm5k]

Ya, some of those instrumental passages are beyond ridiculous.  What never ceases to amaze me though, within a couple days of some songs being released, bam, covered on youtube almost flawlessly.  Stuff like this isn't 100% accurate, but it's damn close https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6ih2GFl-E  I guess that's what practice will do for you... but god damn.

Geez...I just...uh... 

[darkshade]

i think TDOE is pretty much the only technical song on sfam. that and the zappa section on BTL are the totally crazy parts of that album. although the end of home does come to mind

Yeah, that sounds about right, but I think that's a bit more than ADTOE has. Outcry is the only song I'd call exceptionally technical for DT overall. LNF and BITS no doubt have technical bits thrown in here and there,  but it's more of a sprinkling, and maybe a bit in OTBOA too. Aside from that, there's less focus on the technical, and more on the melodic.
I guess you can say the same for SFAM too. That also has more focus on the melodic/ballad than usual, but it feels more technical to me. Maybe it's because the technical stuff is a lot more upfront. I find the polyrhythms on SFAM are a lot clearer to spot than ADTOE. Maybe it's the low drum mix hiding the complexity.
Maybe ADTOE is more complex than I thought. It just doesn't *sound* as technical. Maybe it's just more subtle about it, and better at hiding it.

Agreed. While ADTOE has some of their most technical material, I would say the new album is contains some of their most complex arrangements; and on just about every song. It almost gives the illusion of technical.

[kiwiclapton]

 
Yep, wonder what the tour will be like?

[3xodus]

Scenes is a far more technical album than this one imo...

Beyond this life, strange deja vu, home has some absolutely insane parts, the dance of eternity.... Beyond that, they also had the lyrical technicalities. So yeah, it's a technical album for sure, but not the most technical. I'm not sure where it would rank for me yet.. Definitely below SFAM and 8VM. 8VM might have just been their most technical on the big giant nugget scale.

Also 6DOIT is more technical.. I consider technical to consist of lyrics as well.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't know if it's the most technical album overall, but it's definitely the most technical in some time.  And it's delicious.

[?]

It is technical, but more in terms of rhythms and time sig changes etc. than shredding.

[chrisbDTM]

Scenes is a far more technical album than this one imo...

Beyond this life, strange deja vu, home has some absolutely insane parts, the dance of eternity.... Beyond that, they also had the lyrical technicalities. So yeah, it's a technical album for sure, but not the most technical. I'm not sure where it would rank for me yet.. Definitely below SFAM and 8VM. 8VM might have just been their most technical on the big giant nugget scale.

Also 6DOIT is more technical.. I consider technical to consist of lyrics as well.

its definitely more complex than octavarium, the full circle section of the title song is obviously full of craziness, and other songs have their moments. also strange deja vu isnt technical. but to me ADTOE is consistently just 'difficult' on their respective instruments

[Progmetty]

More than SFAM? I don't think so. But close.

[Nat Eleison]

Ya, some of those instrumental passages are beyond ridiculous.  What never ceases to amaze me though, within a couple days of some songs being released, bam, covered on youtube almost flawlessly.  Stuff like this isn't 100% accurate, but it's damn close https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6ih2GFl-E  I guess that's what practice will do for you... but god damn.

What the Hell!  It's only been out for a week, that's nuts!  I just got it today!

[chrisbDTM]

i disagree with SFAM. great album, with moments here and there.

regression- negative
overture 1928 - nothing too crazy
strange deja vu - negative
through my words - negative
fatal tragedy - guitar solo, outro
beyond this life - zappa section
through her eyes - negative
home - solo section, end
TDOE - obvi
one last time - negative
spirit carries on - negative
finally free - negative

[InertSolo]

SFAM and Train of Thought come across as more technical to me. ADTOE does have sections that are pretty balls out but so does every DT album.

[senecadawg2]

TDOE looks like chopstix next to Outcry.

I think this might be a bit of an exaggeration.

[hefdaddy42]

TDOE looks like chopstix next to Outcry.

I think this might be a bit of an exaggeration.

Maybe a little.  But Outcry is probably the craziest they've been SINCE TDOE.

[orcus116]

Intervals?

[LCArenas]

Third option: "Maybe"

[reneranucci]

No.

[Kotowboy]

Ya, some of those instrumental passages are beyond ridiculous.  What never ceases to amaze me though, within a couple days of some songs being released, bam, covered on youtube almost flawlessly.  Stuff like this isn't 100% accurate, but it's damn close https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6ih2GFl-E  I guess that's what practice will do for you... but god damn.

Just highlights how evil sounding that first verse riff is. Especially when it goes to the "F"   

[johncal]

TDOE looks like chopstix next to Outcry.

I think this might be a bit of an exaggeration.

Maybe a little.  But Outcry is probably the craziest they've been SINCE TDOE.

I don't know. TDOE has a lot more structure and audible notes which makes it easier to keep time and follow. Outcry has all these dead spaces in it which means you have to remember every time signature without an external reference. That mean's everybody better have the exact same internal timing (and memory). NOT an easy thing to do. But they're both hard songs to do.

[livehard]

I would say SFAM was their most techinical...no? I mean that was just a freight train of talent nonstop for the whole album.  There are a good 3 songs here that aren't super techinical

[Jamesman42]

Intervals?

Intervals? I wouldn't call that technical.

[livehard]

right before intervals is pretty techinical

[Jamesman42]

Yeah I agree, but that's not part of Intervals. At least, it makes sense that Intervals starts when they hit the final chord of the instrumental and the organ goes for a few seconds before JLB starts singing.

Really the instrumental has always been its own little thing, in between Full Circle and Intervals. Not a part of either one.

[The Letter M]

Yeah I agree, but that's not part of Intervals. At least, it makes sense that Intervals starts when they hit the final chord of the instrumental and the organ goes for a few seconds before JLB starts singing.

Really the instrumental has always been its own little thing, in between Full Circle and Intervals. Not a part of either one.

I always felt that "Intervals" began right after the second verse of "Full Circle", which included the instrumental section that changes around a lot. It just made sense to me to include it, otherwise, the "Intervals" movement would be REALLY short. That instrumental section just makes more sense to be a part of "Intervals" than "Full Circle".

-Marc.

[wilgod3p]

most tech is systematic chaos