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

[pcs90]

I wouldn't call that review negative, just not as excited by it as everyone else seems to be...and it seems like he was pretty confused by a lot of sections too.

[hefdaddy42]

People keep mentioning a spoiler.

If there is one, DON'T MENTION IT IN THIS THREAD.

[mikemangioy]

I'd say that it's poorly written, it just talks about the structure without giving away the actual vibe of the song.

here's the first part of the translation, it's not that perfect, but it's kinda late.

edit: ninja'd again. I must be slow or something.

edit part 2: now the link should work.

[hadi-persian]

ok. u r very graet DTF. the fans around the world needs ur idea aboaut DT arcives

[bosk1]

Please do not do that again.  The thread is already long enough as it is.  The nonsense posts have been deleted.

[RMGadelha]

Please do not do that again.  The thread is already long enough as it is.  The nonsense posts have been deleted.

Thanks. I apologize for taking the bait.

[Paintbox]

Actually there's not even need to write and post translations, english-italian and italian-english google translations are very reliable.
Anyway, reading the comments on Metalitalia I don't understand why DT had to add two dates in Milan, they all seem to hate them, those who follow DT apparently don't comment.

[phospheneSOI]

Actually it doesn't seen unnatural to me even the note sequence....two close instances I found are

Wait for sleep - Palm of her hand to my head

Metropolis - The city's cold blood teaches us to survive

maybe not the same notes but the same kind of drop.

I listened to both of you suggestions. I cannot stress enough how much I don't care if Dream Theater used manipulation or not, all I'm saying is that the way he sings "time" sounds absolutely mental and unnatural to my ears. Maybe it is real, but it's still weird. The examples you gave sound nowhere near as extreme as the "time" in question.

[pcs90]

This has probably been thought of before, but the band only said no vocal effects were used. So, this doesn't exclude the possibility that there were 2 recordings that were spliced together in the middle of a word, right?

[bosk1]

This has probably been thought of before, but the band only said no vocal effects were used. So, this doesn't exclude the possibility that there were 2 recordings that were spliced together in the middle of a word, right?

Possible, but the way it was explained to me is that it is exactly how James sang it, which implies that what we are hearing on that part is a single take that James did naturally (which is what I hear).

[Pragmaticcircus]

Actually it doesn't seen unnatural to me even the note sequence....two close instances I found are

Wait for sleep - Palm of her hand to my head

Metropolis - The city's cold blood teaches us to survive

maybe not the same notes but the same kind of drop.

I listened to both of you suggestions. I cannot stress enough how much I don't care if Dream Theater used manipulation or not, all I'm saying is that the way he sings "time" sounds absolutely mental and unnatural to my ears. Maybe it is real, but it's still weird. The examples you gave sound nowhere near as extreme as the "time" in question.

Come on DTF, you're STILL arguing over this??

[Prog Snob]

Actually it doesn't seen unnatural to me even the note sequence....two close instances I found are

Wait for sleep - Palm of her hand to my head

Metropolis - The city's cold blood teaches us to survive

maybe not the same notes but the same kind of drop.

I listened to both of you suggestions. I cannot stress enough how much I don't care if Dream Theater used manipulation or not, all I'm saying is that the way he sings "time" sounds absolutely mental and unnatural to my ears. Maybe it is real, but it's still weird. The examples you gave sound nowhere near as extreme as the "time" in question.

Come on DTF, you're STILL arguing over this??

You seem surprised. 

[Pragmaticcircus]

Actually it doesn't seen unnatural to me even the note sequence....two close instances I found are

Wait for sleep - Palm of her hand to my head

Metropolis - The city's cold blood teaches us to survive

maybe not the same notes but the same kind of drop.

I listened to both of you suggestions. I cannot stress enough how much I don't care if Dream Theater used manipulation or not, all I'm saying is that the way he sings "time" sounds absolutely mental and unnatural to my ears. Maybe it is real, but it's still weird. The examples you gave sound nowhere near as extreme as the "time" in question.

Come on DTF, you're STILL arguing over this??

You seem surprised. 

Oh Natalie    It shouldn't be, but after trailer I would expect these hippies' attention to be on that but it's DTF....

[Slipknot]

Our next album will be twice as big as The Astonishing and we'll make a movie with it too!
Now JUMP DA FUCK UP MOTHERFUCKER!!!! 

[Bertie_Wooster]

No more gift of music voice processing Nazi's   

[pcs90]

I bet 5 years from now people will  still be discussing "tiiiime".

[rumborak]

I find reading this subforum somewhat bewildering. People talk about the greatness of the people before having heard it.

[Bertie_Wooster]

Here it comes.   "those two notes in the apreggio JP played were on millionth of a hertz out of tune"

[Vandalism]

If there's one thing
You remember
Remember, I tried.

JLB Rules! 

[phospheneSOI]

I bet 5 years from now people will  still be discussing "tiiiime".

What I find weird is since I've pitched in, I've stated several times that I have no agenda. I just want to know how it sounds like it does and nobody has given me a real answer. I'm not accusing the  band or being liars, and even if some effects were used I wouldn't care because I'm not snobby about that.

What I do find bewildering is that some people in this forum seem to be in complete denial that it sounds and weird and unnatural as it clearly does to many other people, and as soon as it's brought up they're shot down in flames because some of you have decided the conversation is over.

However, why does it have to be over? It still sounds crazy so I happen to be super curious about it, even more so if it is natural and we have good reason to believe.

I saw my West End friend last night but we were having too much of a good time for me to ask him about. I will follow this up though, so if it's annoying to any of you the best thing that you can do is ignore the conversation and let those of us who want to discuss it get on with it.

[Ben_Jamin]

I never heard anything wrong with time. And it doesn't bother me at all.

Although , my friend said he heard some pitch correction in The Shattered Fortress "I am ready, HELP me be" I was like really couldn't notice until live.

[jonny108]

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://www.metalhammer.it/interview.aspx/1179/dream-theater-il-track-by-track-di-the-astonishing/&prev=search

Another track-by-track from Metal Hammer Italy.  This a live review so he's only heard it once. 

[erciccio]

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://www.metalhammer.it/interview.aspx/1179/dream-theater-il-track-by-track-di-the-astonishing/&prev=search

Another track-by-track from Metal Hammer Italy.  This a live review so he's only heard it once.

This is the most negative so far.
Very similiar to the metalitalia one...
The guy was hoping for more traditional DT (!!) and for more metal, and complains for the too many ballads.

He appreciates the second disc more than the first, very good work by James and 6-7 great song, but overall negative vibe.

But reading the comments from some of his friends/ collegues, looks like they were expecting him to write something like this...

Sounds full of the traditional "let's bash DT" prejudices..

[MirrorMask]

Sounds full of the traditional "let's bash DT" prejudices..

On the Spazio Rock review one of the comments said that it would have been astonishingly boring and that he thought that DT ran out of creativity after SFAM, he was basically horrified at the idea of sitting through 34 songs... I mean... why even bothering with listening to DT anymore if it's 15 years that they let you down?

[Evermind]

Too many ballads is never a bad thing.

[Frankgate]

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://www.metalhammer.it/interview.aspx/1179/dream-theater-il-track-by-track-di-the-astonishing/&prev=search

Another track-by-track from Metal Hammer Italy.  This a live review so he's only heard it once.

I've known Pippo for a long time. He used to be quite reliable but in the last couple of years he changed a lot his musical tastes, I don't trust him anymore
He also disapproved Kamelot's last album which was very good indeed.

[Evermind]

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://www.metalhammer.it/interview.aspx/1179/dream-theater-il-track-by-track-di-the-astonishing/&prev=search

Another track-by-track from Metal Hammer Italy.  This a live review so he's only heard it once.

I've known Pippo for a long time. He used to be quite reliable but in the last couple of years he changed a lot his musical tastes, I don't trust him anymore
He also disapproved Kamelot's last album which was very good indeed.

I guess it comes down to tastes again, but I really don't think Haven was very good, more like ranging from great (Fallen Star, Citizen Zero) to good (Insomnia, Veil of Elysium) to painfully mediocre (Revolution, Under Grey Skies, End of Innocence), and there also was Beautiful Apocalypse that I skip every time I spin the album now.

[MirrorMask]

I think Haven is the best one since Epica actually... about the review, being italian I read it, it's clear that the reviewer was expecting something else, not so many soft moments and so little "prog metal". I think having too many expectations on a certain direction can hinder your enjoyment of something, at least from these review I know the first act is kinda slow so I won't be annoyed or preoccupied by the lack of heavy stuff!

[noxon]

And here you see directly why I have said the things I've said. Why I've been so adamant about stating that people should not expect a metal album.

I think this will be the reaction many have when they first hear the album - especially the people who prefer later DT.

[Evermind]

I think Haven is the best one since Epica actually... about the review, being italian I read it, it's clear that the reviewer was expecting something else, not so many soft moments and so little "prog metal". I think having too many expectations on a certain direction can hinder your enjoyment of something, at least from these review I know the first act is kinda slow so I won't be annoyed or preoccupied by the lack of heavy stuff!

The Black Halo was the best since Epica.

Carry on.

Edit: oh, also, come to Polls / Survivors sub-forum if you want to and join the upcoming Kamelot survivor. The link to the thread is in my signature.

[BlobVanDam]

Unless you have some instant revulsion at the mere thought of a ballad, it's not a bad thing at all.
There's variety within the ballads, with heavier sections, guitar leads/solos, orchestral stuff, and there are sections with just piano/acoustic/vocals. It's not corny/cheesy straight up radio type stuff, just beautiful softer stuff. They're like short epic ballads, I guess?

[RMGadelha]

I like soft Opeth and I like heavy Opeth. I like soft DT and I like heavy DT.

It looks like I'm im for a treat!

[Evermind]

Unless you have some instant revulsion at the mere thought of a ballad, it's not a bad thing at all.
There's variety within the ballads, with heavier sections, guitar leads/solos, orchestral stuff, and there are sections with just piano/acoustic/vocals. It's not corny/cheesy straight up radio type stuff, just beautiful softer stuff. They're like short epic ballads, I guess?

I totally love ballads and posts like these are increasing my faith in this album.

[MirrorMask]

It's not corny/cheesy straight up radio type stuff, just beautiful softer stuff. They're like short epic ballads, I guess?

In the vein of Meat Loaf maybe? would love that! piano was all over Meat Loaf's songs but it doesn't mean they were all sappy ballads.

[BlobVanDam]

It's not corny/cheesy straight up radio type stuff, just beautiful softer stuff. They're like short epic ballads, I guess?

In the vein of Meat Loaf maybe? would love that! piano was all over Meat Loaf's songs but it doesn't mean they were all sappy ballads.

I'm not familiar with Meat Loaf to compare them. I'm reminded more of stuff like Medicate (Octavarium) or The Bigger Picture than say AFTR. It's not predictable cliche pop ballads, it's softer arrangements.