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

[Enigmachine]

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.

I mean, it could change, but I don't see how. I think that because they're revealing track names, they must be REALLY close to being completely done and say if the album comes out Jan 22 and the band reveal artwork and begin the next stage of promotion on Nov 22, I wouldn't see any reason to delay the album. I wouldn't know that much about the way this works though.

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.

'Insider info' was definitely a poor word choice on my part, but what the promoters tell them is bound to be more correct than speculation on the part of a journalistic website such as MI which as far as I can gather, read the social media post about the tour then wrote the article taking the phrase 'debuting the album live' and not considering that it was talking about how the LIVE PERFORMANCE is going to debut on the 18th of February in London rather than the performance on the 18th being the first time the audience will listen to it.

I'm admittedly not really aware how any of this works and it's purely guesswork, but based on how far away late January still is, I would assume that everything is going according to plan. Well, apart from the title leak but I suppose that's what they get when they say they will perform the new album live without officially announcing the name. Do you know why DT announced the tour before the name?

[noxon]

Yes, but the venue has gotten information from the label and the promoters (and by proxy DT's management) with regard to the concert. After all, the name of the album and the poster was released by venues prompting the band to confirm the name - so they were definitively privy to information we were not.

[MirrorMask]

Do you know why DT announced the tour before the name?

I would guess that shows tickets start to sell far more in advance than the release date of the album, so tourdates comes first while the details about an album that is still month away can wait.

You do need to know now that in 6 months DT will play in your city to decide if you wanna go, you don't need for hype and marketing strategy to know with that advance all the details of an album you won't be able to buy for several months yet.

But again as Noxon said... they should have seen it coming when allowing venues to use posters with the album title all over it.

[bosk1]

Yes, but the venue has gotten information from the label and the promoters (and by proxy DT's management) with regard to the concert. After all, the name of the album and the poster was released by venues prompting the band to confirm the name - so they were definitively privy to information we were not.

Right.  And as you point out, they are privy to information about the concert--not necessarily the album itself.

[Kotowboy]

The Astonishing - Dream Theater's first Billboard Number 1 album.

[Kotowboy]

" DREAM THEATER WILL DEBUT THEIR NEW ALBUM LIVE IN ITS ENTIRETY

Dream Theater has announced new tour dates for a momentous European run that's set to kick off on February 18th at the Palladium in London, England. The tour will see the prog-titans delivering a one-of-a-kind show in which they premier their entire forthcoming album live. "

This sure looks like they're going to debut it live. But they can't DEBUT it at every show...

[ariich]

" DREAM THEATER WILL DEBUT THEIR NEW ALBUM LIVE IN ITS ENTIRETY

Dream Theater has announced new tour dates for a momentous European run that's set to kick off on February 18th at the Palladium in London, England. The tour will see the prog-titans delivering a one-of-a-kind show in which they premier their entire forthcoming album live. "

This sure looks like they're going to debut it live. But they can't DEBUT it at every show...

That just means first live performance.

[King Postwhore]

Rich, correcting people on DTF forever.

[Kotowboy]

" DREAM THEATER WILL DEBUT THEIR NEW ALBUM LIVE IN ITS ENTIRETY

Dream Theater has announced new tour dates for a momentous European run that's set to kick off on February 18th at the Palladium in London, England. The tour will see the prog-titans delivering a one-of-a-kind show in which they premier their entire forthcoming album live. "

This sure looks like they're going to debut it live. But they can't DEBUT it at every show...

That just means first live performance.

Well obviously. But they can't really debut & premier it at every gig. I actually don't think the album will be out during or after the tour either. It's just strange wording.

It's easy to see how it could be mis-interpreted.

[noxon]

Well, let's just say... I have some words that I've planned to write. And I know when I can do that...

[SuperTaco]

Well, let's just say... I have some words that I've planned to write. And I know when I can do that...

 

[sdfdsv]

Well, let's just say... I have some words that I've planned to write. And I know when I can do that...

[CDrice]

Well, let's just say... I have some words that I've planned to write. And I know when I can do that...

Will it be in three days?

[Mosh]

I think it'd be awesome if they premiered this live. I understand why that might not be the most practical idea, but it'd be bold and awesome. Plus DT live is remarkably close to the studio recordings so it would be really special to be in the audience for that, hearing the album for the first time played by DT themselves. Didn't Genesis tour The Lamb before that came out? WWGD

[ori.elias5]

Just thought about it- maybe the Nomacs signs next to the 3 songs hint they are instrumentals?

I was hoping that the band will give us a big piece of info on friday the 13th.. 

A suggestion: maybe the admin will add a Nomac smiley ? 

[Mosh]

Hey it worked!

[jsbru]

Anyone else wonder why there are little NOMACS next to some of the tracks? Maybe instrumentals?

Maybe it indicates spoken word sections, or maybe they'll become links to listen to some samples? No idea now.

With this many tracks, I think we'll get several either spoken word parts for the story, or maybe they've just split it into much smaller components, like the sections of their usual epics.

It could symbolize music from the NOMACS themselves.  The titles all suggest they could be.

[jsbru]

The deal with the NOMACs is a good excuse for Rudess to experience with some robotic dubsteish Bebot style noises, that could be fun if done right.

I was thinking the same thing.  There's potential for disaster here, but if done right, it could be really cool.

Aside from prog metal, I'm a pretty big electronic music fan--but I'm pretty picky about it.  No cheesey trance or bro house.  Chroma Key is awesome.

[RMGadelha]

The deal with the NOMACs is a good excuse for Rudess to experience with some robotic dubsteish Bebot style noises, that could be fun if done right.

I was thinking the same thing.  There's potential for disaster here, but if done right, it could be really cool.

Aside from prog metal, I'm a pretty big electronic music fan--but I'm pretty picky about it.  No cheesey trance or bro house.  Chroma Key is awesome.

I think I only like electronic music in action movies, haha xD like the club shootout scene in John Wick.

[erwinrafael]

I think it takes guts for Dream Theater to sell shows for an album that nobody has heard yet.

[BlobVanDam]

Nefaryus

Now I'm onto you. Well played.

[jsbru]

I don't think the mega-tracks theory makes much sense.  Or if there are mega-tracks, the titles haven't been released yet.  Because they wouldn't number the titles as if they were tracks right now.  There's just no reason for them to do so.

I think there's a good chance this album has a layout similar to The Wall.  We all know how much Pink Floyd has influenced these guys (they did an entire album live).  That album is 13 tracks on each side, and it doesn't even push the limits of the CDs length-wise.  There's just a lot of 1-2 minute atmosphere/segue pieces mixed in.

No reason why 2112 has to be the only influence on this album...this could be a combination of both, plus other stuff.

[IDontNotDoThings]

I don't think the mega-tracks theory makes much sense.  Or if there are mega-tracks, the titles haven't been released yet.  Because they wouldn't number the titles as if they were tracks right now.  There's just no reason for them to do so.

Maybe they split them into multiple tracks, like Six Degrees.

[Nearmyth]

Mind blown.

Either a lot of interludes like Blind Guardian's Nightfall in Middle Earth, or we really do get a double album of 140 minutes.

Now imagine the tracklist for ACT II:

18. THE ASTONISHING

And that would be it. People would go freaking nuts 

Holy shit that would make me lose my mind  Don't get me too excited

[Laughingplace56]

When they put out DT12, they mentioned wanting to have the album out for a few months before going on tour, so people could digest the new material. That was for a 69 min album, and they didn't even play the whole thing. Now, for a seemingly 100+ min massive concept album, they're going to start touring with the entire concept mere weeks (if that) after it's release date. I find that kind of ironic 

This concept has me more excited than any album ever has. It seems HUGE, and I trust the guys to make it interesting, fully developed, and above all, incredible in terms of musicianship. Really hoping for a single (that doesn't spoil a major plot point) real soon!!

[BlackInk]

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

[Evermind]

When they put out DT12, they mentioned wanting to have the album out for a few months before going on tour, so people could digest the new material. That was for a 69 min album, and they didn't even play the whole thing. Now, for a seemingly 100+ min massive concept album, they're going to start touring with the entire concept mere weeks (if that) after it's release date. I find that kind of ironic 

Well, it's going to be a theater performance, with hopefully clearer sound and all, making it easier to digest. People won't need to sing along there, and I guess it'll be more like a real presentation of the album instead of a usual live show.

[The Stray Seed]

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

Guys... maybe you skipped this post.

[Zydar]

I know for a fact that the album will be out.

[Cyclopssss]

Can´t help but thinking part of this stems from Labrie´s enthousiasm of working on Ayreon´s theater performance.  Guess it rubbed off on the other guys.

[Evermind]

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

Guys... maybe you skipped this post.

they're going to start touring with the entire concept mere weeks (if that) after it's release date.

I don't see what's so contradicting to noxon's statement.

[hadi-persian]

we need 3 more nomacs beside the tracks that working with the NOMACS! the act ll give to us another 3 nomacs!

[Train of Naught]

we need 3 more nomacs beside the tracks that working with the NOMACS! the act ll give to us another 3 nomacs!

Wow! Because 3+3=6 and 6:00 is the first track of Awake, the first album cover to have a CLOCK on it? Great thinking man, you're 3 steps ahead of me.

[Kotowboy]

we need 3 more nomacs beside the tracks that working with the NOMACS! the act ll give to us another 3 nomacs!

Wow! Because 3+3=6 and 6:00 is the first track of Awake, the first album cover to have a CLOCK on it? Great thinking man, you're 3 steps ahead of me.

[noxon]

Can´t help but thinking part of this stems from Labrie´s enthousiasm of working on Ayreon´s theater performance.  Guess it rubbed off on the other guys.

The timing is kinda off though. They started writing the material for this album during DT12 tour. They went into the studio in january, and was pretty much done recording the backing tracks (guitars, drums, bass and keys) in june. When I spoke to them in July, what was missing at that point were vocals, overdubs and "effects" (i'm guessing narration and embellishments). The Theater Equation was at the end of september. Last day of recording was september 25th. There's no way that the theater performance had any influence on the album.

If anything influenced the band, it'd be older stuff like the obvious (2112, The Wall) - but I also see newer stuff being in their arsenal (like Circle of Illusion's Jeremias, which was one of JRs featured albums back in may, or Ayreon's Theory of Everything which JR appeared on).