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

[GandL]

This:

1. Descent of the Nomacs

I. Dystophian Overture
II. The Gift of Music
III. The Answer
IV. A Better Life
V. Lord Nafaryus
VI. A Savior in the Square
VII. When Your Time Has Come
VIII. Act of Fayte
IX. Three Days

2. The Hovering Sojourn

I. Brother, Can You Hear Me
II. A Life Left Behind
III. Ravenskill
IV. Chosen
V. A Tempting Offer

3. Digital Discord (probably show up some more parts to this song)


Wouldn´t make sense if "Dysthopian Overture" was the 2:nd song, since it´s an overture...

Except that every title has its own assigned number..

1. Descent of the NOMACS (ok with this one)
2. Dystopian Overture (2, not "I")
3. The Gift of Music (3, not "II")
11. The Hovering Sojourn (11, not "2")
17. Digital Discord (17, not "3")

So the tracklist on DT's official page has to be a lie to make right your guess.. 

Well, this is my guess if the Nomac icon that are on songs 1,2,3 Are actually the songs...and the other "track names" are parts in those songs. Assuming they've just listed all the separate tracks/parts. 😊

So we should expect more tracks for ACT 1 ...

[alexofsweden]

This:

1. Descent of the Nomacs

I. Dystophian Overture
II. The Gift of Music
III. The Answer
IV. A Better Life
V. Lord Nafaryus
VI. A Savior in the Square
VII. When Your Time Has Come
VIII. Act of Fayte
IX. Three Days

2. The Hovering Sojourn

I. Brother, Can You Hear Me
II. A Life Left Behind
III. Ravenskill
IV. Chosen
V. A Tempting Offer

3. Digital Discord (probably show up some more parts to this song)


Wouldn´t make sense if "Dysthopian Overture" was the 2:nd song, since it´s an overture...

Except that every title has its own assigned number..

1. Descent of the NOMACS (ok with this one)
2. Dystopian Overture (2, not "I")
3. The Gift of Music (3, not "II")
11. The Hovering Sojourn (11, not "2")
17. Digital Discord (17, not "3")

So the tracklist on DT's official page has to be a lie to make right your guess.. 

Well, this is my guess if the Nomac icon that are on songs 1,2,3 Are actually the songs...and the other "track names" are parts in those songs. Assuming they've just listed all the separate tracks/parts. 😊

So we should expect more tracks for ACT 1 ...

Yes, read after song nr.3 😉😜

OR song no.3 is just one song with no "parts"...and that would mean that the first two songs are at least 20 min each 😄😂

[ToT-147]

This:

1. Descent of the Nomacs

I. Dystophian Overture
II. The Gift of Music
III. The Answer
IV. A Better Life
V. Lord Nafaryus
VI. A Savior in the Square
VII. When Your Time Has Come
VIII. Act of Fayte
IX. Three Days

2. The Hovering Sojourn

I. Brother, Can You Hear Me
II. A Life Left Behind
III. Ravenskill
IV. Chosen
V. A Tempting Offer

3. Digital Discord (probably show up some more parts to this song)


Wouldn´t make sense if "Dysthopian Overture" was the 2:nd song, since it´s an overture...

Except that every title has its own assigned number..

1. Descent of the NOMACS (ok with this one)
2. Dystopian Overture (2, not "I")
3. The Gift of Music (3, not "II")
11. The Hovering Sojourn (11, not "2")
17. Digital Discord (17, not "3")

So the tracklist on DT's official page has to be a lie to make right your guess.. 

Well, this is my guess if the Nomac icon that are on songs 1,2,3 Are actually the songs...and the other "track names" are parts in those songs. Assuming they've just listed all the separate tracks/parts. 😊

Why are you closing out the possibility of it being fewer tracks with a total of 17 (maybe up to 20 or w/e) movements? There's 0 confirmation on whether these are separate tracks or not.

But there is confirmation on which number (whether be a track's number or a song's number) correspond to which name.. e.g: "Three Days" is track/song/movement 10.. I see it as a fact, since they have no reason to write a wrong tracklist and then change it for something like alexofsweden proposes, which is indeed interesting, but, again, contradictory with what we do know ("A Better Life" is 5 five, not IV or 4... something -track, song, whatever-)..

I remember when they revealed the DT12's tracklist, it was the actual and definitive tracklist.. It was like this:

1- False Awakening Suite
    I. Sleep Paralysis
    II. Night Terrors
    III. Lucid Dream
2- The Enemy Inside
3- The Looking Glass
           (etc)

It wasn't like this:

1- False Awakening Suite
2- Sleep Paralysis
3- Night Terrors
4- Lucid Dream
5- The Enemy Inside
6- The Looking Glass
            (etc)




[funny thing though that in DT12 there are also 17 different titles]

[MirrorMask]

To think that just a couple of months ago the situation was "In the era of social media DT is silent and they tell us nothing at all"... and now THIS!

I love how basically every speculation could be right at this moment, since everything is so unusual and, truly, never-done-before so we have nothing but our wild guesses to rely on.

[rumborak]

My guess is that Act II will all be about the battle between the Empire and the rebels.
I also get a distinct LOTR vibe from this, with maps depicting mountains ranges, one Chosen dude who will (likely) fell the Empire etc

EDIT: Ravenskill = Rivendell ? 

[Sacul]

[Train of Naught]

But there is confirmation on which number (whether be a track's number or a song's number) correspond to which name.. e.g: "Three Days" is track/song/movement 10.. I see it as a fact, since they have no reason to write a wrong tracklist and then change it for something like alexofsweden proposes, which is indeed interesting, but, again, contradictory with what we do know ("A Better Life" is 5 five, not IV or 4... something -track, song, whatever-)..

I remember when they revealed the DT12's tracklist, it was the actual and definitive tracklist.. It was like this:

1- False Awakening Suite
    I. Sleep Paralysis
    II. Night Terrors
    III. Lucid Dream
2- The Enemy Inside
3- The Looking Glass
           (etc)

It wasn't like this:

1- False Awakening Suite
2- Sleep Paralysis
3- Night Terrors
4- Lucid Dream
5- The Enemy Inside
6- The Looking Glass
            (etc)




[funny thing though that in DT12 there are also 17 different titles]

Yeah you got a point, it should be me proving you wrong rather than you proving me wrong, because yours is more logical with the information given, I just can't understand how they'd do it the way you describe, but I'm not going to think too much into it, just waiting on more info.

[emtee]

Maybe like Dog and Butterfly. One side mellow and more acoustic and the other balls and chunk. Doubtful though...

I predict a banjo makes it's first DT appearance 

When I think about it I envision Ian Anderson circa Thick As A Brick era on stage in tights.

[nattmorker]

As a side note, I'm glad all this talk about this rock opera/ 17 tracks sounding like with ayreon the theory of everything made me pick up that album for the first time... I'm really liking it!


Damn.. I'm just at Progressive Waves.. I'm Like.. who is this key/synth player ?? ...  went to wikipedia and mind blow!!!!!!!! Emerson and Rudess!!!

Glad to see another DTF person who started to appreciate Ayreon. The Theory of Everything is one of my favourite albums ever, despite being released only two years ago. It just connects with me in a way not a lot of albums do.

I really love The Theory of Everything, I like how there are 40 something little tracks, it's fun. But my favorite Ayreon album is The Human Equation, actually it is one of my favorite albums of all time, everything on it is perfect to me.

[BlackInk]

Why are you closing out the possibility of it being fewer tracks with a total of 17 (maybe up to 20 or w/e) movements? There's 0 confirmation on whether these are separate tracks or not.

I've always assumed that the "tracklist" is meant to "list the tracks". Act I might be a continuous peice of music, or 3, but I'm fairly certain that there are in fact (at least) 17 tracks.

[ToT-147]

To think that just a couple of months ago the situation was "In the era of social media DT is silent and they tell us nothing at all"... and now THIS!

Yeah, totally.. In fact that was just three weeks ago.. Wasn't in late October when they put the "The path will soon divide" thing on their page?..

[Evermind]

As a side note, I'm glad all this talk about this rock opera/ 17 tracks sounding like with ayreon the theory of everything made me pick up that album for the first time... I'm really liking it!


Damn.. I'm just at Progressive Waves.. I'm Like.. who is this key/synth player ?? ...  went to wikipedia and mind blow!!!!!!!! Emerson and Rudess!!!

Glad to see another DTF person who started to appreciate Ayreon. The Theory of Everything is one of my favourite albums ever, despite being released only two years ago. It just connects with me in a way not a lot of albums do.

I really love The Theory of Everything, I like how there are 40 something little tracks, it's fun. But my favorite Ayreon album is The Human Equation, actually it is one of my favorite albums of all time, everything on it is perfect to me.

The Theory of Everything was #5 in my list of my favourite albums of all time, and The Human Equation was #4, so yeah, I agree with you indeed.

And live performance of The Human Equation this autumn was the best thing I've ever seen. I'm a big fan of Ayreon, yep.

Anyway, let's get back to new DT.

[RoeDent]

I find it funny that people are suddenly saying TA will be like The Theory of Everything. Can't accept the idea of 17+ shorter songs instead of 8-9 longer ones? Maybe this is the "change in the universal flow" that JR referred to.

[lucasembarbosa]

I find it funny that people are suddenly saying TA will be like The Theory of Everything. Can't accept the idea of 17+ shorter songs instead of 8-9 longer ones? Maybe this is the "change in the universal flow" that JR referred to.

Or maybe he's just building up more hype on us, using the generic unrelated speech that's usual before every new album release...

[hefdaddy42]

Or maybe no one really knows.

[Crow]

i'm getting less and less hyped for this by the second 

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

Seems like it could be a 2112 inspired story, taking it up a notch.

2113

Already done by Coheed & Cambria on their second album. That's the title of the hidden track.

[RoeDent]

Or maybe no one really knows.

Except the band, and the record label... 

It's pretty cool though, all of this. They're generally defying our predictions/expectations for this. I'm not only excited by the prospect of hearing new DT music, but I'm also gripped by how the storyline will pan out.

[Bertielee]

Something strange I hadn't read (hope this hasn't already been posted. If so, feel free to delete dear admins). On yourmajesty.net, someone posted the following info as found on metalinjection :

"Dream Theater will be releasing its new album The Astonishing sometime early 2016 and, if you live in Europe, you can hear the whole thing in its entirety played live before the release date."

Here is the link to the entire article :

https://www.metalinjection.net/tour-dates/dream-theater-announce-new-double-album-rock-opera-the-astonishing-will-play-new-album-live-in-full-on-its-2016-european-tour

What do you guys think? Playing The Astonishing live before releasing the album? Wow! A bold move if true.

B.Lee

[Train of Naught]

Don't know how they would get that information, but it's certainly the first time I've read that around here, and very plausible, but I still like to think we're only 3 months away from the album release max.

[noxon]

I know for a fact that the album will be out before the shows in february.

[Bertielee]

I know for a fact that the album will be out before the shows in february.

Thanks, Noxon. Don't know where they got that info.

B.Lee

[Enigmachine]

I know for a fact that the album will be out before the shows in february.

Yeah, this website says the release date will be late January:
https://www.cirkus.se/evenemang/visa/dream-theater#fndtn-event

I've quoted this about 3 times now and people still say that it's possible for DT to release the album after it's been played live. They won't do it. I'm pretty sure that the venue would be more aware of insider info than Metal Injection. Also, if they did play it live before release that would be a little dumb, as nobody has any clue if they will like what they hear and crowd participation would be impossible considering the audience will not know the songs.

I find it funny that people are suddenly saying TA will be like The Theory of Everything. Can't accept the idea of 17+ shorter songs instead of 8-9 longer ones? Maybe this is the "change in the universal flow" that JR referred to.

Eh, I can't really imaging a Prog Metal band doing a concept album where all of the songs are around four minutes long. I think a similar layout to SfaM would be likely, but with a higher ratio of interludes / spoken parts to songs explaining the higher track count.

[SwedishGoose]

It is not unheard of to play a concept album in it's entirity before it's released. I would love if they did that with this album, releasing it after the tour.

Pain of Salvation put up BE live about a year before the album was released. They did a run of shows in their hometown of Eskilstuna. One of the dates was filmed and later released on DVD. That concert was one of my favorite live experiences even though I had not heard a single sound before.

[MirrorMask]

Why would they let the audience sit through an entire unknown album at the shows, and having the first impression of said album given to the world by crappy YouTube videos? No way they're not gonna release this before the tour starts.

[hadi-persian]

10 tracks for act ll 100%
 

[Kotowboy]

10 tracks for act ll 100%
 

1. CLocks
2. CLocks
3. Clocks
4. Clocks
5. Clocks
6. Clocks
7. Clocks
8. Clocks
9. Clocks
10. The Astonishing Clocks
   i. clocks
   ii. clocks
  iii. clocks
   iv. clocks
    v. clocks

[Mosh]

It's kinda funny how everyone is mentioning Ayreon after looking at the tracklist. I remember when the DT12 tracklist went up, there were some comparisons to Symphony X in the song titles.

[Mindflux]

1. CLocks
2. CLocks
3. Clocks
4. Clocks
5. Clocks
6. Clocks
7. Clocks
8. Clocks
9. Clocks
10. The Astonishing Clocks
   i. clocks
   ii. clocks
  iii. clocks
   iv. clocks
    v. clocks

Wrong. There are 12 hours on an analog clock and 24 in a day. There are obviously 1224 tracks in ACT II.

[King Postwhore]

10 tracks for act ll 100%
 

1. CLocks
2. CLocks
3. Clocks
4. Clocks
5. Clocks
6. Clocks
7. Clocks
8. Clocks
9. Clocks
10. The Astonishing Clocks
   i. clocks
   ii. clocks
  iii. clocks
   iv. clocks
    v. clocks

https://youtu.be/I-5RgaYJNHQ

[Nothingface]

10 tracks for act ll 100%
 

1. CLocks
2. CLocks
3. Clocks
4. Clocks
5. Clocks
6. Clocks
7. Clocks
8. Clocks
9. Clocks
10. The Astonishing Clocks
   i. clocks
   ii. clocks
  iii. clocks
   iv. clocks
    v. clocks

Act II: Beating a Dead Horse

[Kotowboy]

[bosk1]

Yeah, this website says the release date will be late January:
https://www.cirkus.se/evenemang/visa/dream-theater#fndtn-event

I've quoted this about 3 times now and people still say that it's possible for DT to release the album after it's been played live. They won't do it. I'm pretty sure that the venue would be more aware of insider info than Metal Injection.

Okay, but two things:
1.  Even if we assume there is a definite release date in late January, it is only mid-November now.  It is VERY common in the music industry for release dates to get pushed back as the date approaches, and there are a LOT of reasons that that can happen.  Between now and late January, the date can change SEVERAL times, even if the band and label have a fixed date in mind right now.
2.  No, people at the venue are generally NOT aware of any inside information relating to the release of an album.  They have no idea of that type of information other than what the promoters tell them, and the promoters do not know anything other than what the label or management tell them.  People who run concert venues are not music insiders. 

That being said:

Also, if they did play it live before release that would be a little dumb, as nobody has any clue if they will like what they hear and crowd participation would be impossible considering the audience will not know the songs.

Very true.  For practical reasons, it does not seem like a good move to play the entire album live before it is released.  But you never know.  If they cut it close between the release date and the concert date, and circumstances beyond the band's control ended up pushing the release date out until after the show, the band might be upset, but there would not be much they could do about it.

[Pax]

i love you guys <33333333

[Kotowboy]