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

[Paintbox]

If you expect epics going in to this album, you WILL be disappointed.

Unless you count the whole concept as one big Epic...

Then I'm a bit disappointed, I'd love to hear a new epic track because listening to one single track, even if 15-20 min long, will happen more often than listening to the whole 3h long album.
At least, if the tracks are short, I hope some of them will be connected (and not isolated like for example SDOIT)

[RoeDent]

Most rock operas have all the songs directly segue into the next one, so they flow as one continuous piece of music. For example, the only pause (and a very minimal one at that) on SFAM is between Through Her Eyes and Home, where Act 1 becomes Act 2. So a shorter interlude, when viewed from this context, would be like an instrumental break on a longer song. How hard is it to view the whole as one piece?

At least, if the tracks are short, I hope some of them will be connected (and not isolated like for example SDOIT)

Umm...all the 'tracks' on SDOIT are connected, even on Disc 1.

[MirrorMask]

I like too the unpredictability of the songs length, I think we'll see a mix of everything: Nomacs songs will be the shortest ones, there may be one or two intros like Through My Words, some more concise songs that serve as chapters of a bigger storyline like One Last Time, and "normal" songs with the occasional longer one. I predict too the title track will be the longest. But noxon said... all bets are off, and I like it!

[jayvee3]

I like too the unpredictability of the songs length, I think we'll see a mix of everything: Nomacs songs will be the shortest ones, there may be one or two intros like Through My Words, some more concise songs that serve as chapters of a bigger storyline like One Last Time, and "normal" songs with the occasional longer one. I predict too the title track will be the longest. But noxon said... all bets are off, and I like it!

This is what I'm leaning towards also. I don't necessarily think it will be a bunch of shorter songs, I just think there will be a pretty diverse range of track lengths. And while more concise tracks may allow for some lengthier tracks between the 6 and 10 minute mark (which is the range I really enjoy anyway), I don't necessarily feel there will be multiple, big epics. I'd say the title track may be the closest we'll get to that, but a with a concept of this scale, the whole darn thing is an epic. It's all guesswork at this stage of the game, and I'm actually really excited and really like where it all seems to be headed.

[JediKnight1969]

If you expect epics going in to this album, you WILL be disappointed.

Who need epics when you have concept? A concept album is the mother of all epics.

[mike099]

Maybe they'll pull a Pain of Salvation and premier their new concept album live before releasing the CD.

That would be a great idea.  Even better would be a live stream of the show.

[T-ski]

curious if they put out some kind of movie-like trailer soon.

[millahh]

People disappointed about the potential lack of an epic (or takes issue with overall shorter "songs") need to go listen to Tommy, then report back.  Seriously.

[fadetoblackdude7]

I'm expecting a lot of 3-6 minute songs with quite a few interludes. However, I'm HOPING for a couple 8-10 minute songs, as well a 15+ minute epic at the end.

[liran95]

curious if they put out some kind of movie-like trailer soon.

I'm curious about that one too. But I'm not sure I'll be watching it.
Since this album's gonna be a huge epic concept album, I promised myself I won't be listening to ANY bit of new music before I could listen to the whole piece.

Guess I'll have to wait and see if the 2 videos consist of new material, and if so, sucks to be me 

[Enigmachine]

People disappointed about the potential lack of an epic (or overall shorter "songs") need to go listen to Tommy, then report back.  Seriously.

I think Tommy is alright, but Quadrophenia crushes it. I think Tommy suffers from the annoying filler on the second half such as 'Fiddle About' and 'Tommy's Holiday Camp' while Quadrophenia never lost its focus like that. I don't mind transition songs as I like Pink Floyd's The Wall, as the quality of the music is never actually compromised (maybe despite ideas not being fully developed). I would like it to be modeled after Quadrophenia and The Wall on the Rock / Prog Rock side and Nightfall in Middle Earth (Blind Guardian) and The Human Equation (Ayreon) on the Metal / Prog Metal side.

[Darkstarshades]

The "main story" is most likely to end with Our New World/Power Down, and Astonishing is some kind of an epilogue.

Still, I hope it's long and features no plot twists.

[King Postwhore]

People disappointed about the potential lack of an epic (or overall shorter "songs") need to go listen to Tommy, then report back.  Seriously.

I think Tommy is alright, but Quadrophenia crushes it. I think Tommy suffers from the annoying filler on the second half such as 'Fiddle About' and 'Tommy's Holiday Camp' while Quadrophenia never lost its focus like that. I don't mind transition songs as I like Pink Floyd's The Wall, as the quality of the music is never actually compromised (maybe despite ideas not being fully developed). I would like it to be modeled after Quadrophenia and The Wall on the Rock / Prog Rock side and Nightfall in Middle Earth (Blind Guardian) and The Human Equation (Ayreon) on the Metal / Prog Metal side.

millahh, you should have known you would get a response like this.

[Darkstarshades]

Leading the empire, brutal and heartless
Vanishing further into the darkness

[MirrorMask]

The "main story" is most likely to end with Our New World/Power Down, and Astonishing is some kind of an epilogue.

Still, I hope it's long and features no plot twists.

SFAM had a plot twist because it was a murder / mystery story, this looks like the classic rebellion against tyranny thing and it hardly fits a plot twist. Maybe a good guy being really evil but nothing mindblowing like SFAM.

Anyway, when the album is out, I think we should have a thread dedicated entirely to the storyline of the album, to help each other comprehend the whole story behind the record 

[Nomaniac]

Personally I would like a few songs that are 8-10 minutes just to listen to by themselves when I'm not in the mood to sit down and listen to a full album, but I don't think this needs a super long epic. If it does have one that's great, if not I won't be bothered. Like this guy said:

Who need epics when you have concept? A concept album is the mother of all epics.

No offense meant to anyone though, we can disagree and still be civilized

[Nomaniac]

Leading the empire, brutal and heartless
Vanishing further into the darkness

The Astonishing = Lost Not Forgotten Pt. 2 CONFIRMED!!! 

[Pax]

The only thing I'm hoping for is that they don't follow their idea from the last album (challenge themselves to make short songs)
There are great parts on the last album (i.e. surrender to reason riff, ) which appear only once and are not developed further
If that's not the case, I know I won't be disappointed

[Darkstarshades]

The Astonishing is clearly ADTOE sequel.

Americans are mentiones in OTBOA
This is the life, a better life, get it?

Lost not Forgotten is the tale of Nafaryus told by himself in his mind.
Outcry is the theme of the rebels.

It's very clear.

[ResultsMayVary]

I'm not one to be 'disappointed' at this juncture about what the album may or may not include. As long as it features the five guys from Dream Theater and they write the music like they want, then I'm cool with whatever they want to put out with the release.

This concept, in particular, is great for us. A rock opera which is likely a double album. That's a lot of music.

[ToT-147]

Well SFAM had Home and Finally Free, which even though they're not exactly epics, they're still above 10 minutes

You forgot the best of the three 10 minute songs of that album..

Personally I would like a few songs that are 8-10 minutes just to listen to by themselves when I'm not in the mood to sit down and listen to a full album, but I don't think this needs a super long epic.

At least my point was not to say that we need one, but that there's room for it..

[Nomaniac]

The Astonishing is clearly ADTOE sequel.

Americans are mentiones in OTBOA
This is the life, a better life, get it?

Lost not Forgotten is the tale of Nafaryus told by himself in his mind.
Outcry is the theme of the rebels.

It's very clear.

You know it actually doesn't sound that crazy when you put it that way . . . interested to see if there are more connections revealed 

[ToT-147]

I'm not one to be 'disappointed' at this juncture about what the album may or may not include. As long as it features the five guys from Dream Theater and they write the music like they want, then I'm cool with whatever they want to put out with the release.

This concept, in particular, is great for us. A rock opera which is likely a double album. That's a lot of music.

All this exactly..

[Nomaniac]

I'm not one to be 'disappointed' at this juncture about what the album may or may not include. As long as it features the five guys from Dream Theater and they write the music like they want, then I'm cool with whatever they want to put out with the release.

Great comment. Seriously!

At least my point was not to say that we need one, but that there's room for it..

Yep and I'd definitely be thrilled if there was epics on the album - like I said really like your layout! 

Not trying to target anyone individually (don't get me wrong), just sharing my opinion 

[Kotowboy]

The Astonishing is clearly ADTOE sequel.

Americans are mentiones in OTBOA
This is the life, a better life, get it?

Lost not Forgotten is the tale of Nafaryus told by himself in his mind.
Outcry is the theme of the rebels.

It's very clear.

You know it actually doesn't sound that crazy when you put it that way . . . interested to see if there are more connections revealed 

An Astonishing Turn of Events

[millahh]

People disappointed about the potential lack of an epic (or overall shorter "songs") need to go listen to Tommy, then report back.  Seriously.

I think Tommy is alright, but Quadrophenia crushes it. I think Tommy suffers from the annoying filler on the second half such as 'Fiddle About' and 'Tommy's Holiday Camp' while Quadrophenia never lost its focus like that. I don't mind transition songs as I like Pink Floyd's The Wall, as the quality of the music is never actually compromised (maybe despite ideas not being fully developed). I would like it to be modeled after Quadrophenia and The Wall on the Rock / Prog Rock side and Nightfall in Middle Earth (Blind Guardian) and The Human Equation (Ayreon) on the Metal / Prog Metal side.

millahh, you should have known you would get a response like this.

Yeah   I'm not thinking that Tommy is the be-all-end-all, just trying to counter the people, who are pre-emptively slagging the album at the prospect of no traditional epics, all the while having no idea what a rock opera even is.

[Nomaniac]

The Astonishing is clearly ADTOE sequel.

Americans are mentiones in OTBOA
This is the life, a better life, get it?

Lost not Forgotten is the tale of Nafaryus told by himself in his mind.
Outcry is the theme of the rebels.

It's very clear.

You know it actually doesn't sound that crazy when you put it that way . . . interested to see if there are more connections revealed 

An Astonishing Turn of Events

 

It might be purely coincidental these connections, but hey whatever, I'm still keeping an open mind

[Enigmachine]

Yeah   I'm not thinking that Tommy is the be-all-end-all, just trying to counter the people, who are pre-emptively slagging the album at the prospect of no traditional epics, all the while having no idea what a rock opera even is.

Ah, sorry for missing your point there. I do think the album is a good example of a Rock Opera, even if I don't think it retains quality all the way through. On the subject of not having an epic, isn't 'Underture' an epic? A ten minute piece (which is certainly long for The Who) with changing moods and an atypical structure sounds quite a lot like an epic to me.

[YtseJamittaja]

An The Astonishing Turn of Events

FTFY

[RaasMah]

Im really curious how they would handle so many characters. Will James sing all of them? I know he did that in SFAM, and I never had a problem with, but I think a fresh voice here and there will be pretty cool.

[Kotowboy]

An The Astonishing Turn of FU 

FTFU

just kidding x

[Nomaniac]

Im really curious how they would handle so many characters. Will James sing all of them? I know he did that in SFAM, and I never had a problem with, but I think a fresh voice here and there will be pretty cool.

There's been some speculation . . . most not really that serious . . . that there'll be some guests on the album. Maybe it's all just joke and no reality, but it might be interesting if they have that in mind . . .

[Thematt202]

Remember, this is very different from anything DT has ever done. All bets are off.

I think the longest track you'll see on the disc is right around the 10 minute mark, and it's at the end of Act 2. The rest will be 3-6 minutes long, aside from the NOMACS tracks which will be half a minute to two minutes long. Some of the tracks will be kinda like through my words/fatal tragedy, but the vast majority of the tracks will be averaging 4 minutes. What we will see is a lot of repeating themes. Remember, this is a rock opera! It doesn't need a lot of long songs, because the short songs is a part of the whole.

If you expect epics going in to this album, you WILL be disappointed.

Is this hard facts, or speculation?

[Kotowboy]

FACTULATIONS

[fadetoblackdude7]

I can't wait til the band starts shedding some light on the story/world they've created via press interviews and the locked videos on the website. It'll be interesting to find out exactly what this album is about.