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

[CDrice]

So Ravenskill is called the way it is because their people literally have skills at riding giant ravens? Am I getting this right?

[bosk1]

I'm just glad that I don't have to eat my man-meat! 

No!  Eat your meat until you're breathless!

[noxon]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

[Mark Levinson Jr.]

The animations remind me a bit of the cartoons in the show Cosmos (the new one with Neil DeGrasse Tyson). One that show, the animations were sort of simple, but really stylish. To me, the DT video looks like it has a certain style to it, as apposed to appearing like they just didn't have the budget for CGI.

[SystematicThought]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

I'm glad you said that because after I watched the trailer, I thought: Sounds exactly like DT, nothing new here 

[rab7]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

I'm actually glad they did this. I've been reading all your mentions of clean melodic music, and I'm really excited that when I hear it on the 29th, it'll be for the first time.

[MustActFastToCoverUp]

You know, I often see the same argument about the general fantasy books with magic and dragons and whatever. I mean, if you dislike the setting, then fine, alright, maybe it's not for you, but in a lot of cases isn't not about the setting at all. It could be some fantasy medieval world, it could be a sci-fi dystopian world, it could be another planet and another race entirely, it could be a realistic setting in a World War II, it could be anything - the story isn't about the world. The setting, the world are just the instruments to fledge out the story. It could be a pickingant dramatic tale about the struggle of two opposite factions and how it affects people - something that often happens in the real world, hell, something that happens in some countries right now - despite the fact it's set in some future with the flying orbs that play weird noise music. You make it sound like "pure fantasy world fiction" can't be relevant to many many people around the world.

Of course, it could be a total cheese-fest, but I don't know how you can discard an important aspect of the album released by one of your favourite bands just after you found out about the setting. I'll avoid judging the story before I've heard the full story.

And yeah, SFAM is indeed a classic concept album for many of people here, but for me it's definitely not because "it dealt with a subject that was very real world". For what it's worth, all the SFAM very "real world" was just a setting too, and the story wasn't exactly about that.

FTFY

[metrojam]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

Despite being extremely underwhelmed by the animations and storyline, I AM very excited and stoked for the music but that's a little disappointing to hear you say that, especially when you say it "ENTIRELY MISREPRESENTS" the album

[Shadow2222]

I don't think I saw anyone mention that the "clock kid" is now revealed on the site as well. His name is Xander.

EDIT: Also, the map is complete.

[Aythesryche]

Man, those Nomacs look super pissed.

[BlackInk]

Where is the Glock Guy though?

[RMGadelha]

Places tab next week maybe? Or next video? :0

[cramx3]

I don't think I saw anyone mention that the "clock kid" is now revealed on the site as well. His name is Xander.

EDIT: Also, the map is complete.

And the video is updated with the trailer, so one video left, assumed (or known to be) a music video right?

[Enigmachine]

Man, those Nomacs look super pissed.

 

The NOMACS look pretty cool throughout the entire video IMO.

[Jinx]

I'm thinking I hear some Machine Chatter in there 

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

First off, I've noticed that after watching the trailer, some of you have said things to the effect of "the concept is gonna be bad". You can't honestly judge the story off of the animation style, no matter how wonky and clunky it looks. You just can't. I'm sure the story is gonna be sweet.

It looks to me like the only significance the clock has to the story is that Xander (and possibly his family) are living/hiding inside it for some reason. Anyone else kinda gather that from the trailer?

[RoeDent]

And the video is updated with the trailer, so one video left, assumed (or known to be) a music video right?

Inb4 they troll us and just stick the Gift of Music 'video' in that slot. 

[Evermind]

You know, I often see the same argument about the general fantasy books with magic and dragons and whatever. I mean, if you dislike the setting, then fine, alright, maybe it's not for you, but in a lot of cases isn't not about the setting at all. It could be some fantasy medieval world, it could be a sci-fi dystopian world, it could be another planet and another race entirely, it could be a realistic setting in a World War II, it could be anything - the story isn't about the world. The setting, the world are just the instruments to fledge out the story. It could be a pickingant dramatic tale about the struggle of two opposite factions and how it affects people - something that often happens in the real world, hell, something that happens in some countries right now - despite the fact it's set in some future with the flying orbs that play weird noise music. You make it sound like "pure fantasy world fiction" can't be relevant to many many people around the world.

Of course, it could be a total cheese-fest, but I don't know how you can discard an important aspect of the album released by one of your favourite bands just after you found out about the setting. I'll avoid judging the story before I've heard the full story.

And yeah, SFAM is indeed a classic concept album for many of people here, but for me it's definitely not because "it dealt with a subject that was very real world". For what it's worth, all the SFAM very "real world" was just a setting too, and the story wasn't exactly about that.

FTFY

Right.

[Awaken]

Looking forward to hearing more of the solo that begins around 1:02 . . . .

[ErHaO]

Love the music and I like the premise. I kind of hate the word cheese actually, as people tend to use it as a dismissive term. Realistic/vague/depressing is not inherently better than fantastical stories or a more "in your face storytelling" in my opinion. Some of history's greatest pieces of art, be it musicals, rock operas, novels, or film, belong to the latter category.

That said, this is definitely over the top  I think the narrator overdid it a bit. And what visually bugs me about this trailer is the faces of some of the characters, I feel they fall in the wrong region between (well) stylized and realistic, which gives a somewhat "creepy" look (enhanced by the simple animations). So yeah, I wished the artist went a tad more towards a (serious looking) graphic novel artstyle (more stylized) instead of aiming at a more realistic look. That said, the assets are not necessarily bad; 1.03 onwards looks visually ace I think. Partially because the characters are displayed as silhouettes or under darker lighting, making them feel less out of place. I really think these visuals will work well for the show though!

This is an example of good storytelling with simple animations and art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8YUDfFtH2A (The Witcher III game intro)

[mikemangioy]

Despite the crappy animations (didn't expect more tho) I am
quite stoked. This sounds huge

[RMGadelha]

Yeah, I mean, the background art looks beautiful in my opinion.

[hefdaddy42]

Can't watch now.  Looking forward to seeing it later.

[jonny108]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

I'm liking the sound of this.  When does the embargo lift so you can post your review Noxon? 18 days 

[Enigmachine]

First off, I've noticed that after watching the trailer, some of you have said things to the effect of "the concept is gonna be bad". You can't honestly judge the story off of the animation style, no matter how wonky and clunky it looks. You just can't. I'm sure the story is gonna be sweet.

Yeah, I don't really understand the thought process of that. The concept sounds pretty good to me from what I've gathered.

[RMGadelha]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

I'm liking the sound of this.  When does the embargo lift so you can post your review Noxon? 18 days 

I think it's gone since there's a review up already. He's just waiting for his website to be ready.

[mike099]

Man, those Nomacs look super pissed.

 

The NOMACS look pretty cool throughout the entire video IMO.

They look like angry piranhas

[emtee]

As with all trailers of such short length it's impossible to form any opinion. It's just another step in the direction of finally hearing
the album. I will say it sounds pretty epic and cinematic and in that regard it feels like an extension of DT12.

[noxon]

Waiting implies i'm sitting idly by No, i'm frantically working to get it done asap. Hoping to have it done by friday... Just have 10 articles to write, a couple of biographies and then picking out a choice select amount of old school interviews and reviews...

SO that when the content is ready, the world will be launched...

[RMGadelha]

Maybe I should have said that the review is waiting. My bad.

[jakepriest]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

Well now you've gone and made me sad.  I've never been a fan of DT's ballads apart from a few standout gems.

[TL]

Yeah... really not feeling this.

I'll still absolutely be listening to this album when it comes out, but I think I'm going to have to ignore all of the marketing stuff if I want to have any chance of enjoying it.
I'm all for cheese in music; cheese can be a lot of fun. This is a whole other level though. Like, this is just my opinion, but I've found everything they've shown so far to be actively off-putting.

The bits of music we've heard have been promising, so I'm still cautiously optimistic about the album, but yeah, everything else about this whole thing is very much not for me.

[noxon]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

Despite being extremely underwhelmed by the animations and storyline, I AM very excited and stoked for the music but that's a little disappointing to hear you say that, especially when you say it "ENTIRELY MISREPRESENTS" the album

Which is EXACTLY why I'm making that statement! I mean, obviously these parts exist, but the trailer makes it seem like this is what the album sounds like. Its absolutely not. There's a lack of dynamics - theres no piano and orchestra solo parts, theres no violin or flute or bagpipe, no acousttic guitars - and yet, everyone ive spoken to have pointed out just how much of THAT there is on the album. How little of the metal side we see.

[Kyo]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

Yep, wise words - I've been listening to the album since mid-December and I was thinking the same thing when I saw the trailer.

[Bertielee]

The one gripe I have with the trailer is that it entirely misrepresents what the album is going to sound like. I get that it's because the melodic ballady stuff isn't exciting - but if you go out expecting a Prog metal bombastic album (which this trailer implies), well, you WILL be disappointed.

Despite being extremely underwhelmed by the animations and storyline, I AM very excited and stoked for the music but that's a little disappointing to hear you say that, especially when you say it "ENTIRELY MISREPRESENTS" the album

Which is EXACTLY why I'm making that statement! I mean, obviously these parts exist, but the trailer makes it seem like this is what the album sounds like. Its absolutely not. There's a lack of dynamics - theres no piano and orchestra solo parts, theres no violin or flute or bagpipe, no acousttic guitars - and yet, everyone ive spoken to have pointed out just how much of THAT there is on the album. How little of the metal side we see.

I totally get what you mean. The trailer sounds exactly like "normal" DT and doesn't give us the variety some of you have spoken about. I'm really really pumped for this album. I mean tango, bagpipes, flute, whole orchestra, choir? WTF?!? Bring it on, baby!

B.Lee