*Official* The Astonishing discussion thread

[Thematt202]

Amen to that!

[emtee]

Has anyone drastically changed their opinion either negative or positive with multiple spins under the belt?

[Enigmachine]

Has anyone drastically changed their opinion either negative or positive with multiple spins under the belt?

If going "This is pretty good" to "MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING" counts, then yes.

[Jinx]

Just looking at the map in the tour book (much clearer double page spread so you can actually make out everything). Doesn't it seem like a missed chance and, ultimately, pointless? There seems to be so many places spread out and really, the Palace and Ravenskill are not that far away.

Plus some of the names sound intriguing. Hell's Gateway? Lake of the Clouds? Sunken Hook?

[Shooters1221]

Has anyone drastically changed their opinion either negative or positive with multiple spins under the belt?

No, Loved it from 1st spin until present.

[TAC]

Has anyone drastically changed their opinion either negative or positive with multiple spins under the belt?

No, Loved it from 1st spin until present.

Same here. Great album.

[RoeDent]

Something that I haven't seen mentioned yet:

In the credits (if you look closely) it says "Nafaryus spoken vocal by Richard Chycki". Apart from lines in Lord Nafaryus and Three Days which I'm 99% certain are spoken pompously by JLB, there are no other spoken passages. Unless it refers to the crying section at the beginning of Losing Faythe. In which case, they could easily have got a woman from the choir to do Arabelle's crying, and Faythe's getting-stabbed sounds (which sound like an actual girl rather than JLB).

[Enigmachine]

Just looking at the map in the tour book (much clearer double page spread so you can actually make out everything). Doesn't it seem like a missed chance and, ultimately, pointless? There seems to be so many places spread out and really, the Palace and Ravenskill are not that far away.

Plus some of the names sound intriguing. Hell's Gateway? Lake of the Clouds? Sunken Hook?

I think there are various things they can do with this.

1. Multimedia expansion like how JP said that the NOMACS will be focused on in a future novelisation. (which is confirmed)

2. Songs on future albums or EPs telling the events leading up to TA. (would be cool, like a new 12 step suite sort of thing)

3. Full length 1CD prequel in a non-Rock Opera style, but still having some different aspects like more electronic or jazz fusion influence. (would probably work, though would have to wait at least 2 albums for it to be effective)

4. Another full Rock Opera prequel. (probably not going to happen, lol)

[SebastianPratesi]

Something that I haven't seen mentioned yet:

In the credits (if you look closely) it says "Nafaryus spoken vocal by Richard Chycki". Apart from lines in Lord Nafaryus and Three Days which I'm 99% certain are spoken pompously by JLB, there are no other spoken passages. Unless it refers to the crying section at the beginning of Losing Faythe. In which case, they could easily have got a woman from the choir to do Arabelle's crying, and Faythe's getting-stabbed sounds (which sound like an actual girl rather than JLB).

The way I hear them, the vocals to the spoken words you mention in "Lord Nafaryus" and "3D" don't seem to come from James, so maybe those are the ones Richard gets credited for. Although, I've only heard Richard's voice in the 'In the studio' clips released in 2013, so I'm not sure.

[vazquez]

 

[RoeDent]

If that's the case, Chycki sounds a hell of a lot like LaBrie then. Too much like him. And it's strange that JLB would stop singing just for those lines then come back in so quickly. He might as well sing/speak the whole thing.

[pantsofeternity]

Something that I haven't seen mentioned yet:

In the credits (if you look closely) it says "Nafaryus spoken vocal by Richard Chycki". Apart from lines in Lord Nafaryus and Three Days which I'm 99% certain are spoken pompously by JLB, there are no other spoken passages. Unless it refers to the crying section at the beginning of Losing Faythe. In which case, they could easily have got a woman from the choir to do Arabelle's crying, and Faythe's getting-stabbed sounds (which sound like an actual girl rather than JLB).

I think this has come up before, and folks have floated the theory that it's a misprint -- it's meant to be Arhys, and it's the spoken lines at the beginning of "A Better Life."

[MirrorMask]

That makes more sense, indeed.

[hefdaddy42]

2. Songs on future albums or EPs telling the events leading up to TA. (would be cool, like a new 12 step suite sort of thing)

I was thinking this very thing.  Given the sheer amount of work that recording this album entailed, I would imagine that a full prequel or sequel album is doubtful. 

But revisiting this world with individual songs on future albums would be pretty cool.

[Thematt202]

Darren Redick said last night on his One Man and his Prog show that we shouldn't worry if we didn't get to London this week, as the band WILL be returning to the UK with the Astonishing tour.  No further details were given, just that he "thinks he's allowed to say this now"....

[TAC]

Darren Redick said last night on his One Man and his Prog show that we shouldn't worry if we didn't get to London this week, as the band WILL be returning to the UK with the Astonishing tour.  No further details were given, just that he "thinks he's allowed to say this now"....

I hope the do another US leg as I am likely missing this one.

[hefdaddy42]

Darren Redick said last night on his One Man and his Prog show that we shouldn't worry if we didn't get to London this week, as the band WILL be returning to the UK with the Astonishing tour.  No further details were given, just that he "thinks he's allowed to say this now"....

I hope the do another US leg as I am likely missing this one.

Same here.

[Jinx]

Darren Redick said last night on his One Man and his Prog show that we shouldn't worry if we didn't get to London this week, as the band WILL be returning to the UK with the Astonishing tour.  No further details were given, just that he "thinks he's allowed to say this now"....

Maybe somewhere NOT London.

OR.. recording at the Palladium 

[energythief]

Has anyone drastically changed their opinion either negative or positive with multiple spins under the belt?

Unfortunately my opinion continues to change for the worse. I will keep plugging away at it because of loyalty. I'm hoping it clicks at some point because I want to be as into it as everyone else here.

[energythief]

Sorry, double post.

[Bacong]

seriously, how great is Dystopian Overture?

[jakepriest]

seriously, how great is Dystopian Overture?

Hands down my favourite DT instrumental. Knocked Stream of Consciousness down from its throne.   

[Prog Snob]

seriously, how great is Dystopian Overture?

It's really fucking great. It hasn't quite beat Dance of Eternity of SoC yet, but we'll see.

[Bacong]

Dance of Eternity can suck a dick imo

[pcs90]

seriously, how great is Dystopian Overture?

Easily in my top 3 DT instrumentals.

[Prog Snob]

Dance of Eternity can suck a dick imo

As long as it's my dick, and I get to listen to it at the same time, I really don't care.

[jakepriest]

Dance of Eternity can suck a dick imo

As long as it's my dick, and I get to listen to it at the same time, I really don't care.

  Holy fuck this made me laugh way more than it should.

[dparrott]

Dance of Eternity can suck a dick imo

Oh, you did NOT just dis The Dance Of Eternity!   

[Enigmachine]

seriously, how great is Dystopian Overture?

Absolutely perfect, it is. All those amazing themes, damn. The X Aspect theme is so beautiful , the Road to Revolution theme sounds glorious and that Nafaryus theme near the beginning sounds sinister as hell . Best DT overture IMO. So much variety and power.

Dance of Eternity can suck a dick imo

 
On the subject of that song: I've often found it strange that when DT play that song live, they don't follow with OLT even though the end of the song is a transition to it. So it just ends with DOOOO dut-dut-dut DA  DA  DA then, just stops like when people play The Mirror on its own. In the album, when you consider those two songs as one unit as Scene Seven, it works far better than playing either in isolation.

[dparrott]

It seemed to me that they did it that way for the CD split on SFNY. 

[Enigmachine]

It seemed to me that they did it that way for the CD split on SFNY.

Yeah, but that doesn't sound as good as a proper transition to OLT. IMO of course and I appreciate that the band may have needed a few moments to relax after TDoE.

[fadetoblackdude7]

Dance of Eternity can suck a dick imo

I wouldn't go that far, but I am quite sick of it myself.

[KevShmev]

The Dance of Eternity is a good tune, and I can see why fans of their more technical side gush over it, but it really does sound out of place on Scenes, and most of their other instrumentals are more interesting and better melodically.  I have said for years that if track 9 on Scenes was as awesome as the rest of the record, that could have been their best ever (and it is in some regards anyway, since Awake, I&W and Scenes are almost like 1a, 1b and 1c for me).

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Dance is a good 'OMG THEY PLAY FAST NICE BAND I'LL CHECK OUT MORE FAST STUFF BY THEM TR00 MUSICIANS' song.

Nothing more, nothing less.

[mike099]

Darren Redick said last night on his One Man and his Prog show that we shouldn't worry if we didn't get to London this week, as the band WILL be returning to the UK with the Astonishing tour.  No further details were given, just that he "thinks he's allowed to say this now"....

I am really hoping that DT does another tour, but a mixed set and not just 'The Astonishing'.  They could easily pick some gems off the new cd, the songs off of the self titled not yet played and a few other tunes.