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

[rumborak]

Eren was fired in the same way that Desmond Child was fired.

[Fritzinger]

I think it's okay hey "Hugh Syme'd" Hugh Syme. His work was very sloppy and not very creative on DT12. I can't believe no one saw the watermark on the one picture for example.
TA artwork looks pretty "typical" DT though.

[Peter Mc]

Bit harsh to say fired. He's a young kid who DT gave a great opportunity on both DT12 and BTFW.

This is a much bigger undertaking and they had the chance to work with one of the top guys in the world. This shouldn't be seen as any kind of reflection on Eren's work which was outstanding. You could argue that the move away from Hugh Syme after all these years is a bit of a statement but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back. I thought there was some awesome artwork on DT12, just not that keen on the actual cover on that or ADTOE.

[Sycsa]

I always found it curious that nobody ever really addressed the issue that the IT orchestra part on BTFW was completely overdubbed by the studio version. I once asked this on a thread where Eren was active, but got no answer.

[JRuless]

Just read this article. Might be some new information about a spring U.S. tour. Could be a different stage plan i.c. to the E.U. tour.

https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/dream-theatre-set-to-unveil-their-double-concept-album-the-astonishing-on-january-29th/55390

[wideworldofmike]

Just read this article. Might be some new information about a spring U.S. tour. Could be a different stage plan i.c. to the E.U. tour.

https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/dream-theatre-set-to-unveil-their-double-concept-album-the-astonishing-on-january-29th/55390

Awesome link

[RaiseTheKnife]

I always found it curious that nobody ever really addressed the issue that the IT orchestra part on BTFW was completely overdubbed by the studio version. I once asked this on a thread where Eren was active, but got no answer.

We've addressed it and others concurred.  The professional approach is not to bite the hand that feeds you, thus no further response.

[OpenYourEyes311]

Just read this article. Might be some new information about a spring U.S. tour. Could be a different stage plan i.c. to the E.U. tour.

https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/dream-theatre-set-to-unveil-their-double-concept-album-the-astonishing-on-january-29th/55390

Awesome link

Good to hear they'll do the whole album here in the US.

[shredd]

Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in about this supposed "voice manipulation" theory.
Seriously, it's totally possible to do that with vocal pitch without any form of digital manipulation, I tried singing the words that everyone is saying are autotuned and I can replicate it exactly using just my voice. What your hearing on "Lions'" is called Melisma and what your hearing on "Time" is called a vocal bend (downwards in pitch in this case)

Of course, alot of vocalists do use autotune and such to correct their pitch but if I myself can sing these phrases without pitch correction then I'm sure an incredible (not to mention professional) vocalist like JLB can do it too.

I don't want to piss anyone off by saying it's definitely not autotune, but that's just some stuff to consider. Maybe try singing it yourselves as well and you'll probably find that you can do it whether you're a singer or not.

[Darkstarshades]

I seriously hope they will come here at Mexico and perform it. I'm willing to travel to any city inside the country just to see them, but traveling to the U.S is beyond my current capabilities.

I'd be very very pissed off if they don't come. If they say they're only turning the Auditorio Nacional into TA scenario, I'll go there, but I hope they'll do.

Otros Mexicanos seguro estarán deacuerdo conmigo
(Other Mexicans will certainly agree with me)

[Nomaniac]

Just read this article. Might be some new information about a spring U.S. tour. Could be a different stage plan i.c. to the E.U. tour.

https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/dream-theatre-set-to-unveil-their-double-concept-album-the-astonishing-on-january-29th/55390

That is some great news!!!

[erwinrafael]

Will DT go down the route of melodic prog vs. metal to signify the difference between Ravenskill and the Empire? I hope they would release another teaser, this time an Empire song.

[nattmorker]

I seriously hope they will come here at Mexico and perform it. I'm willing to travel to any city inside the country just to see them, but traveling to the U.S is beyond my current capabilities.

I'd be very very pissed off if they don't come. If they say they're only turning the Auditorio Nacional into TA scenario, I'll go there, but I hope they'll do.

Otros Mexicanos seguro estarán deacuerdo conmigo
(Other Mexicans will certainly agree with me)

Yeah! It would  awesome to have the whole show in Mexico, let's hope that will be the case!

[Marion Crane]

 After many listens and much deliberation, I've decided that this is the best thing I've heard from them in years. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I feel like I've only heard the "Strange Deja-Vu" of the album so far.  I'm really hoping I don't get let down.

But if we get another 2 hours of this, I'll be happy.

On a side note, the last section of lyrics are the best thing they've written in years.

[Bertielee]

On a side note, the last section of lyrics are the best thing they've written in years.

Tbh, the lyircs there and the chorus with the choir are some of the best things they've written in years.

B.Lee

[BlackInk]

"Songbirds stop to listen when he sings" is pretty great, best in the song, but the rest isn't as impressive. It's not bad, it fits the concept and the tone of the track, but that's about it for the most part.

[Peter Mc]

A lot of lyrics are functional story telling lyrics and I'm guessing that this may be the first "song" on the album so they have to introduce the story and characters.  The two lines at the end though "Music is the gift he brings, the songbird stops to listen when he sings" are just awesome though and give me goosebumps every time especially when followed by that soaring Petrucci solo.  Really loving the song.

[mikeyd23]

On a side note, the last section of lyrics are the best thing they've written in years.

Tbh, the lyircs there and the chorus with the choir are some of the best things they've written in years.

B.Lee

I'd agree with this. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed the lyrics, I was assuming since the song was just a part of the overall story, the lyrics might not make much sense standing alone as a single. But knowing what we know about the overall story already, I thought the lyrics were a pleasant surprise, really enjoyable.

[BelichickFan]

TGOM has done nothing but raise my expectations.  Based on this single, The Astonishing has the potential (dangerous word) to be my favorite DT CD.  The melody, sound and feel is wonderful, even for a 4 minute track.  James sounds fantastic (as much as I liked IT, he's better off staying in today's range).  They're a different band now from I&W or SFAM but there's an ease and confidence about this that is very appealing.  Throw in that JP clearly had an inspiration for this and TGOM sounds so good, this could be an all time great.  Although I am a little nervous about James' female voices that we haven't heard yet.

As much as I like ItPoE, I'm glad that so far it's a more uplifting, melodic sound.  I was worried that we'd get two hours of ItPoE, which I love but this sound and feel is much more appealing for me right now.  I hope it's all this good and, yet, Bosk says that some of what he's heard is even better (paraphrased).  Which is really exciting.

[Zydar]

Do you think we'll be getting more news now this week, or did it peak with the release of TGoM?

[BlobVanDam]

Do you think we'll be getting more news now this week, or did it peak with the release of TGoM?

There's still some map left, and some characters, and a couple of videos, so I think it will probably continue as before until it's all revealed.

[chego_voice]

After many listens and much deliberation, I've decided that this is the best thing I've heard from them in years. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I feel like I've only heard the "Strange Deja-Vu" of the album so far.  I'm really hoping I don't get let down.

But if we get another 2 hours of this, I'll be happy.

On a side note, the last section of lyrics are the best thing they've written in years.

THIS!

[MegaDTSX]

Everyone can hate on Hugh Syme all they want, but always remember he made the awesome Megadeth "Youthanasia" album cover 

[Train of Naught]

Everyone can hate on Hugh Syme all they want, but always remember he made the awesome Megadeth "Youthanasia" album cover 

Come on, this is DTF, album covers with skies will never do any good here, so Youthanasia gets disqualified.











JK I love Youthanasia's cover.

[AboutToCrash]

I hope there's a nice mix on this album. I am a sucker for the melodic prog tracks like TGOM but would love some heavier TOT-esque songs too. Being 34 tracks long though I'm sure they can pretty much include every DT element possible and even expand into new horizons. This is an exciting thought... The fact that the album is supposedly 40 minutes longer than SDOIT is even more exciting, Let's hope they keep the quality up! The sheer amount of effort that must've gone into making this must've been insane.

[home]

Everyone can hate on Hugh Syme all they want, but always remember he made the awesome Megadeth "Youthanasia" album cover 

Wow thanks, that album came up as a suggestion on youtube once and I clicked on it because I loved the artwork. But I quickly closed it because I didn't like the music and then forget which album has this amazing artwork. Thanks, now I know again 

[Lowdz]

well the mixing is better
sounds uncomfortably rush-like to me tho

I don't have a problem with that as Rush stopped sounding like Rush a long time ago. At least the Rush I want to hear.

[The Stray Seed]

I have no problems with the (early) Rush-esque sound, actually I really like it. DT sounds perfect through this genuinely progressive uplifting vibe, and in my opinion The Looking Glass was the greatest song on the self titled.

[RMGadelha]

I hope there's a nice mix on this album. I am a sucker for the melodic prog tracks like TGOM but would love some heavier TOT-esque songs too. Being 34 tracks long though I'm sure they can pretty much include every DT element possible and even expand into new horizons. This is an exciting thought... The fact that the album is supposedly 40 minutes longer than SDOIT is even more exciting, Let's hope they keep the quality up! The sheer amount of effort that must've gone into making this must've been insane.

I'm willing to bet that Lord Nafaryus is a heavy track.

[TAC]

Do you think we'll be getting more news now this week, or did it peak with the release of TGoM?

I peaked!

[RMGadelha]

I just found out that "beacon" is one of my favorite English words to mistype. Shining like a BACON in the niiiiiiight! That's when you run to the fridge hungry at night and you're happy there's bacon.

Damn, I'm insane sometimes. 

[Zydar]

Do you think we'll be getting more news now this week, or did it peak with the release of TGoM?

I peaked!

The Gift Of Zydar.

[ResultsMayVary]

A new character (Evangeline) was revealed and a new section of the map!

[Kotowboy]

So that's 3 rebels now and 1 for The Great Northern Empire.

So now we know 29.01.2016 is the release date ( adjust for US ) - we can heartily laugh and point at Clock Guy who said 0112 would be a clue to the release date.

   
   
   

[thosava]

Now we can see where Ravenskill is located. If endless isleland is representing Long island, the location of Ravenskill fits with the location that JP grew up.