Sons of Apollo (feat. Portnoy & Sherinian)

[TAC]

He could've set the bar low, and it still wouldn't have lived up to it.

[cramx3]

Remember that SOA was going to be the best progressive metal band mankind has ever known?

In all fairness tho, those comments were made *before* they started working on the album. It was what they intended to do, but once they got started, it wasn't exactly the direction they ended up going in, and they admitted that being the case in later interviews.

You're right about the musical direction, but that doesn't change the fact that he was completely overhyping the band. Whether the album was "prog metal" or not, he still set the bar unrealistically high and, obviously, the album didn't live up to that.

And lets not forget about the shots at DT in the process. This band got off on the wrong foot before releasing any music sadly.

[Cool Chris]

Remember that SOA was going to be the best progressive metal band mankind has ever known?

In all fairness tho, those comments were made *before* they started working on the album. It was what they intended to do, but once they got started, it wasn't exactly the direction they ended up going in, and they admitted that being the case in later interviews.

He made those comments *before* the band started working together? Yikes.

[gzarruk]

He could've set the bar low, and it still wouldn't have lived up to it.

That too

Remember that SOA was going to be the best progressive metal band mankind has ever known?

In all fairness tho, those comments were made *before* they started working on the album. It was what they intended to do, but once they got started, it wasn't exactly the direction they ended up going in, and they admitted that being the case in later interviews.

You're right about the musical direction, but that doesn't change the fact that he was completely overhyping the band. Whether the album was "prog metal" or not, he still set the bar unrealistically high and, obviously, the album didn't live up to that.

And lets not forget about the shots at DT in the process. This band got off on the wrong foot before releasing any music sadly.

They alienated a lot of their potential fanbase before releasing anything, but, to be fair, that was mostly Derek (Mike contributed, a lot, but Derek was/is the primary source for that).

[SystematicThought]

I remember when Derek started ripping on me on Facebook when I commented that it’s sad to see former band members rip on their former bands and that it wasn’t smart business to do so. After that, I decided to never listen to a note of Sons of Apollo. I broke that rule, but what I heard never really got me interested to investigate further. Happy to see others enjoy it though

[DTA]

That clip sounds like shit. The mix is bizarre and the vocals sound really out of place. Does anyone listen to the final version of these mixes anymore or is everything just sped up to get something released quickly?

[Madman Shepherd]

Remember that SOA was going to be the best progressive metal band mankind has ever known?

In all fairness tho, those comments were made *before* they started working on the album. It was what they intended to do, but once they got started, it wasn't exactly the direction they ended up going in, and they admitted that being the case in later interviews.

He made those comments *before* the band started working together? Yikes.

  In all fairness, they made those comments before they knew what they were talking about. 

That clip sounds like shit. The mix is bizarre and the vocals sound really out of place. Does anyone listen to the final version of these mixes anymore or is everything just sped up to get something released quickly?

There's something up with Jeff's voice. He's obviously a good singer but he sounds pretty strained. They need to add some reverb or something

[Architeuthis]

Yep, the vocals sound way too dry on the sound clip. I hope the overall quality is better than that..

[Lynxo]

Yeah, I was really surprised how strained Jeff sounds. It sounds like he had a bit off an off night. And the mix certainly doesn't help either.
I really can't believe they would release something that sounds like this.

[The Walrus]

Sons of Appallo 

[Adami]

Yea, beyond the mix, Jeff sounds really rough. It sounds like he lost a whole lot of his range and maybe singing songs like The Shot Must Go On isn't a great idea.

[MinistroRaven]

MP posted this at FB:

HOLY SHIT!! I was sent the @sonsofapollo1 Plovdiv Blu-Ray “check disc” to approve all the navigation, authoring, bonus features etc
Just watched in my theater and was BLOWN AWAY!!
This shit is Fucking AMAZING...
One of the greatest shows and live releases of my career!!
I am sooo proud of this release and can’t wait for you all to experience it!!!!!
(Shhh...I think @insideoutmusic may have your first taste coming soon...😉)

https://www.facebook.com/116713035013014/posts/3151268681557419?s=517009568&v=e&sfns=mo

One Person commented:

“Was the mix fixed... Different from the last promo posted?”

And MP replied: “Mark Walsh The Mix is fine...y’all need to the chill...this sounds AWESOME!”

Honestly it seems the vocal tracks has been improved/corrected/fixed even listening from a phone recording, there’s a HUGE difference between the trailer and this

[Art]

Soto does sound really bad on this preview.

[The Walrus]

If you read the comments on that post they aren't even that bad by any stretch. Just some people commenting that the vocals don't sound good, maybe like three or four people. Is that really all it takes to get under Mike's skin these days? Yikes.

[MinistroRaven]

If you read the comments on that post they aren't even that bad by any stretch. Just some people commenting that the vocals don't sound good, maybe like three or four people. Is that really all it takes to get under Mike's skin these days? Yikes.

Yeah, I noticed that. And none of those few comments seemed malicious.

[The Walrus]

If you read the comments on that post they aren't even that bad by any stretch. Just some people commenting that the vocals don't sound good, maybe like three or four people. Is that really all it takes to get under Mike's skin these days? Yikes.

Yeah, I noticed that. And none of those few comments seemed malicious.

I guess I just shouldn't be surprised, but here we are. (edit: Seriously, how is it that the guy who was all about 'teh nuggetz' for so many years is getting his panties in a wad because a couple people voiced mild dissatisfaction with the mix of the vocals and telling people to chill as if nitpicking this stuff is news to him 30+ years into his career?)

[MirrorMask]

What if he just reads this thread and when he goes on FB even the few comments exasperate him, because he finds confirmation that it's just not this forum who notices certain things? 

[nobloodyname]

All he said was "chill", wasn't it? I had a quick look at the thread on Facebook and really couldn't see anything weird about his response. I'm always getting told by my MD to chill, it's just a word he likes to use.

[cramx3]

What if he just reads this thread and when he goes on FB even the few comments exasperate him, because he finds confirmation that it's just not this forum who notices certain things? 

He probably then thinks its the same people

[The Walrus]

All he said was "chill", wasn't it? I had a quick look at the thread on Facebook and really couldn't see anything weird about his response. I'm always getting told by my MD to chill, it's just a word he likes to use.

The comment in and of itself isn't problematic, it's just another example of his thin-skinned reactionary behavior towards fans. Like when he shamed a fan who paid good money to come to his gig and had the gall to wear a Dream Theater shirt, or when he told a fan about "a little invention called an airplane" when he couldn't travel to another country just to see MP on stage, or how he goes out of his way to tell people he's blocking them on Facebook and Twitter, or how he lashed out at a hospital for not giving him the star #1 priority treatment... the list goes on and on. Someone asked a legitimate question about the mix and he responds with, "CHILL!!" - a lot of other artists, smaller and far less famous, tend to answer those questions happily without telling their fans to 'chill.' That said it's just a Facebook comment, not really a big deal. But, we're on DTF. Hence this longwinded post. 

[KevShmev]

Mike Portnoy is the Kanye West of the prog metal world, always patting themselves on the back.

[Architeuthis]

The updated clip sounded much better!   

[Adami]

Honestly, it wasn't so much the mix as JSS's performance that turned me off.

I liked him a lot in the past, but he really just feels like he's past his prime and lost most of his range. This would be fine except for the number of cover songs/DT songs that require a range that JSS just doesn't have anymore.

[MinistroRaven]

The updated clip sounded much better!   

It does

[cramx3]

Honestly, it wasn't so much the mix as JSS's performance that turned me off.

I liked him a lot in the past, but he really just feels like he's past his prime and lost most of his range. This would be fine except for the number of cover songs/DT songs that require a range that JSS just doesn't have anymore.

I couldn't tell you about his past, but I can tell you he blew my mind with how good his voice was live the two times I saw him with SOA.  I'd share my clips with you as proof (he sounded sooo good in my videos my point being it wasn't just an in person thing) but youtube took them down. I didn't think he sounded good in that promo clip, but I'm not sure this is a good example to go off of how he actually sounds these days.

[Adami]

Honestly, it wasn't so much the mix as JSS's performance that turned me off.

I liked him a lot in the past, but he really just feels like he's past his prime and lost most of his range. This would be fine except for the number of cover songs/DT songs that require a range that JSS just doesn't have anymore.

I couldn't tell you about his past, but I can tell you he blew my mind with how good his voice was live the two times I saw him with SOA.  I'd share my clips with you as proof (he sounded sooo good in my videos my point being it wasn't just an in person thing) but youtube took them down. I didn't think he sounded good in that promo clip, but I'm not sure this is a good example to go off of how he actually sounds these days.

Uh huh. Totally not suspicious at all.

I actually had proof that Geoff Tate sounds amazing. But my dog ate it.

[The Walrus]

Saw Geoff Tate in May, can confirm he is awesome live

[cramx3]

Saw Geoff Tate in May, can confirm he is awesome live

Yup, and I can confirm he sounded good in NJ, and I DO have video of that 

This just made me want to find my buried tweet of Jeff that he enjoyed of his dance moves (and it's still up!)  https://twitter.com/Cramx3/status/997898913968476160

[Stadler]

Honestly, it wasn't so much the mix as JSS's performance that turned me off.

I liked him a lot in the past, but he really just feels like he's past his prime and lost most of his range. This would be fine except for the number of cover songs/DT songs that require a range that JSS just doesn't have anymore.

I couldn't tell you about his past, but I can tell you he blew my mind with how good his voice was live the two times I saw him with SOA.  I'd share my clips with you as proof (he sounded sooo good in my videos my point being it wasn't just an in person thing) but youtube took them down. I didn't think he sounded good in that promo clip, but I'm not sure this is a good example to go off of how he actually sounds these days.

He was great when I saw them in Worcester. 

[Adami]

I did point out that the major problem with his range seems to be from those cover songs. Were they playing The Show Must Go On and such at your shows? Cause they wrote the original material to be within his range.

[cramx3]

I did point out that the major problem with his range seems to be from those cover songs. Were they playing The Show Must Go On and such at your shows? Cause they wrote the original material to be within his range.

No, he did the Queen tribute during the tour which was an unbelievable vocal show off.  Maybe you have a point about that song, but I'll wait until the release to judge it.

[Adami]

I did point out that the major problem with his range seems to be from those cover songs. Were they playing The Show Must Go On and such at your shows? Cause they wrote the original material to be within his range.

No, he did the Queen tribute during the tour which was an unbelievable vocal show off.  Maybe you have a point about that song, but I'll wait until the release to judge it.

Yea. At no point do I consider anything in that clip to be awful or anything. But it just really emphasized his limitations, rather than his strengths. Overall, he sounds either good or okay/a bit weak. I'll probably still pick it up, depending on the one or two songs they're sure to release first.

[Ben_Jamin]

Hopefully its YouTube being Youtube, but JSS didn't sound like that at all at ProgPower.

[Max Kuehnau]

in case anyone is interested, this is Just Let Me Breathe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HdbG07nFfw

[Adami]

in case anyone is interested, this is Just Let Me Breathe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HdbG07nFfw

Listening now.

Drums sound good as always. Guitars are extremely quiet. The scream into it was cool. JSS sounds good on this track, it's good for his range.

Ohhhhh Bumblebee is singing. He sounds good! I hope he does more of that on the 2nd album.

Keyboard guitar duel is mixed odd. Guitar suddenly became much louder and keyboard kinda vanished.

JSS is a really entertaining front man. Digging it. The band, overall, are really entertaining to watch.

Steven Tyler scream at the end was cool.

Over all, really cool and fun. I'm just a bit confused why they chose a DT cover as the first thing to release, but nothing about this release has really screamed Son of Apollo as much "Mike Portnoy and Friends having Fun."