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

[ResultsMayVary]

I think we just lost Bosk everyone. How sad.

[chwik]

Yogi Berra had something to say about predictions: "Predictions are difficult, especially about the future". He also said when asked by his wife about where to be buried:"Surprise me!" 

[RMGadelha]

Man, I'm extremely anxious for the album, but I'm not really worried about getting an update or not at this point. Almost there

[bosk1]

Regarding additional updates and information, I predict

[Enigmachine]

Regarding additional updates and information, I predict

Those predictions sound pretty accurate.

In all seriousness, do we even need anymore updates at this point? I mean, the album is only 9 days away. A Moment of Betreyal official video would be nice, but if we don't get anything else, we don't have that long to wait anymore so it's fine.

[YouMakeMeSick]

Regarding additional updates and information, I predict

Nothing. Just like I suspected. But it's almost release time, it's all good. Plus, I have the new Megadeth to blast while I wait.

[pcs90]

I imagine if there's any update it will be an official release for MoB...

[RMGadelha]

I think JP and JR mentioned during the Eddie Trunk show that more updates will be made in the website during the release day. I think he also mentioned texts explaining the songs.

[ariich]

Regarding additional updates and information, I predict

Seems like PMU Syndrome is spreading these days, almost like a

[pcs90]

The impression I got was that stuff wouldn't be released until the album is out, though. Not before.

[RMGadelha]

The impression I got was that stuff wouldn't be released until the album is out, though. Not before.

Well, yeah, that's what I got as well from listening to the Eddie Trunk show.

[Progmetty]

I was just watching THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDTYWwqchhQ and it made me like Mangini a little more actually. He is playing with a lot of passion and a good sound (!!!!) and you will discover a lot of details in his playing.

What a monster! This man was born to be with JP in the same band, amazing!

Why can't the drums on DT12 sound like this?

People have been blaming that on Mangini? I always thought it was a production problem and that's why I really hoped JP would have the freakin production towel and sit this one out with The Astonishing but oh well, people have been saying good things about TA sound so we'll see.

[TH1RT3EN]

Regarding additional updates and information, I predict

Seems like PMU Syndrome is spreading these days, almost like a

Yeah, that's exactly what I

[James.v6]

I was just watching THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDTYWwqchhQ and it made me like Mangini a little more actually. He is playing with a lot of passion and a good sound (!!!!) and you will discover a lot of details in his playing. Why can't the drums on DT12 sound like this?
I like the TA drum sound better than DT12 (at least what I have heard in the trailer and TGOM), but it's still nothing compared to FII wich imo was the best drum sound DT ever had.

Can anyone please describe Myungs Bass sound on MoB (since I'm not gonna listen to it) please? Couldn't really hear that much Bass in TGOM. Is it like DT12? I always felt that the Bass on that album had a little too many frequencies in the middle section (sry for my English). if you listen to Clockwork Angels, now that's what I call an awesome Bass sound.

Ohhh god. DAT sound. Absolutely different from record and that passion !

[Kotowboy]

Well obviously drums will sound good on that vid. The drums are way up front and the song is way in the background AND it's live.

[jakepriest]

I don't get it. The drums on that video sound equally as bad as on ADToE, yet everyone is praising them. BTFW is still Mangini's best drum sound when it comes to DT.

[TempusVox]

I predict that the Astonishing will be loaded with music.

[ResultsMayVary]

I predict that the Astonishing will be loaded with music.

Bold.

[Eren]

I predict that the Astonishing will be loaded with music.

Actually, it will really be loaded with music - and shut people up saying it's too technical whatever and not musical. It's just pure, beautiful, heartfelt music.

[Darkstarshades]

I predict that the Astonishing will be loaded with music.

Actually, it will really be loaded with music - and shut people up saying it's too technical whatever and not musical. It's just pure, beautiful, heartfelt music.

Oh hi Eren, regards.
Just saw BTFW a few hours ago, would have loved to be there and hear how was it really.

[erwinrafael]

Anyone here who got a copy of the Feb 2016  DRUM! Magazine issue released this January? There might be interesting tidbits in the Mike Mangini interview, especially because they wrote the lead like this:

"Most drummers would feel shortchanged if they had to record their band’s double concept album without even hearing the songs first. Mangini isn’t like most drummers. BY ANDREW NUSCA"

The article seems to be long, starts with page 26, next article starts at page 39.

And there seems to be a notation of TGOM drums, as can be seen in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znlb1OIGlyA

I love how Nate Brown showed that ther eis much more going on in that section. The slowed down groove is really cool. 

[Vandalism]

Awesome video. Checking others out now........

[TH1RT3EN]

I predict that the Astonishing will be loaded with music.

Actually, it will really be loaded with music - and shut people up saying it's too technical whatever and not musical. It's just pure, beautiful, heartfelt music.

Well, that's a man with whom I cannot argue
Nice to see such statement coming from you, Eren!

[CoT67]

I don't get it. The drums on that video sound equally as bad as on ADToE, yet everyone is praising them. BTFW is still Mangini's best drum sound when it comes to DT.

First, the drums in ADTOE sound like that because they were probably mixed in raw, which in in my opinion is almost better than having an overproduced and compressed sound.

That being said, the sound in the video is not a studio quality tone (there's even clipping on the snare hits during the first couple minutes), but it proves that Mangini can definitely sound good while not being affected by the production at all... I think the reason everyone (including me) is praising it has more to do with the fact that you can hear very well the energy and dynamics Mangini brings in his playing without having to suffer through insane amounts of reverb/compression/gating, etc that cover up the nuances, not because the drums in TA should sound exactly like that.

[Fritzinger]

I don't get it. The drums on that video sound equally as bad as on ADToE, yet everyone is praising them. BTFW is still Mangini's best drum sound when it comes to DT.

ADToE and L@LP still have the best Mangini DT drum sounds for me. Not because they are particularly good, but just because they don't annoy me. DT12s snare sound annoys me at some point. So does BtFW. The sound in ADToE at least is natural, and so is the drum sound in the video..

[RoeDent]

I imagine if there's any update it will be an official release for MoB...

I hope so. If a band does radio and plays a brand new song, they should officially release it on Youtube a few hours later, so it's fair game for all of us (especially those in countries where the show airs overnight) to discuss.

[Panar]

Interesting that Spotify, iTunes etc lists TGOM with 4.07 in length instead of 4.00 which is actually in the official CD. I wonder if this will change upon the release date.

[Fritzinger]

Interesting that Spotify, iTunes etc lists TGOM with 4.07 in length instead of 4.00 which is actually in the official CD. I wonder if this will change upon the release date.

I don't understand how the length could just be changed. The song would have to be cut off, or not?

#edit: Just checked again, the song actually stops at 4:01 or so.

[Panar]

Interesting that Spotify, iTunes etc lists TGOM with 4.07 in length instead of 4.00 which is actually in the official CD. I wonder if this will change upon the release date.

I don't understand how the length could just be changed. The song would have to be cut off, or not?

#edit: Just checked again, the song actually stops at 4:01 or so.

Yeah, and in general, songs lengths are determined in the final stage (in the final master they send out for manufacturing), so having a 7 seconds difference with the allegedly "official" release tells me that the TGOM single came from an "early" master. So it might sound different in the actual cd.
At this point, only Noxon and a few others can confirm this.

[Fritzinger]

Interesting that Spotify, iTunes etc lists TGOM with 4.07 in length instead of 4.00 which is actually in the official CD. I wonder if this will change upon the release date.

I don't understand how the length could just be changed. The song would have to be cut off, or not?

#edit: Just checked again, the song actually stops at 4:01 or so.

Yeah, and in general, songs lengths are determined in the final stage (in the final master they send out for manufacturing), so having a 7 seconds difference with the allegedly "official" release tells me that the TGOM single came from an "early" master. So it might sound different in the actual cd.
At this point, only Noxon and a few others can confirm this.

Don't you think if the single versions are mastered differently, the promo version could be as well?
I am very excited for the final album sound.

[Panar]

Interesting that Spotify, iTunes etc lists TGOM with 4.07 in length instead of 4.00 which is actually in the official CD. I wonder if this will change upon the release date.

I don't understand how the length could just be changed. The song would have to be cut off, or not?

#edit: Just checked again, the song actually stops at 4:01 or so.

Yeah, and in general, songs lengths are determined in the final stage (in the final master they send out for manufacturing), so having a 7 seconds difference with the allegedly "official" release tells me that the TGOM single came from an "early" master. So it might sound different in the actual cd.
At this point, only Noxon and a few others can confirm this.

Don't you think if the single versions are mastered differently, the promo version could be as well?
I am very excited for the final album sound.

Well, I don't think there is a reason for the single and the full length to be mastered differently except for rare occasions. I must mention that even from the bad quality rip for MOB the mix is somewhat different. The bass is more pronounced and the whole mix just RIPS. If the whole album sounds like this, I'll be floored!

[RoeDent]

... and shut people up saying it's too technical whatever and not musical.

I doubt it. They'll find something to moan about...

[Kotowboy]

I asked Rich Chycki on Twitter whether The Gift Of Music was pre or post final master and he said post master.

[Panar]

I asked Rich Chycki on Twitter whether The Gift Of Music was pre or post final master and he said post master.

So, I guess it's a mystery then!
 

[Kotowboy]

I'm not worried about it sounding like DT12.

To fit an orchestra and a choir in the mix - the album needs to be a lot more dynamic. I've heard from a few people on this board that is.