New Album “Distance Over Time’, First Set of 2019 Tour Dates announced!

[Pettor]

The song is already growing! The melody is very nice and happy to say Mangini sounds really good!

[bill1971]

The song is already growing! The melody is very nice and happy to say Mangini sounds really good!

Agreed, just listened to it back to back with headphones and sounded amazing. Mangini does some very cool things towards the end as well.

While listening to it I was thinking about Eddie Trunk talking about if Portnoy would rejoin DT. I seriously hope he never does. I love the last four albums and the direction the band is going in. Plus I look forward to Mangini's drumming on every track.

[ReaPsTA]

Pretty standardish song format that shines due to great execution. Reminds me of Breaking Benjamin, which I'm perfectly fine with.

I'm also pretty sure that this is one of the best mixed songs on any DT album. From the drums, I think this is everything you'd want (and the low rumble you get off of the kick and toms is awesome). I love how a lot of the keyboard lines are pushed back in the mix for color without getting smeary. Even in the parts where the bass isn't front and center, you can still hear the treble ringing and its deep bottom end. Unlike others here, I like the vocal mix. Nice and bright and at an appropriate level.

And I think this is the best JP has ever sounded. The guitars the tone has sonic color and is aggressive but without any of the feeling of compression making it too tight, which makes the actual sound absolutely massive.

[Majesti]

The song is already growing! The melody is very nice and happy to say Mangini sounds really good!

Agreed, just listened to it back to back with headphones and sounded amazing. Mangini does some very cool things towards the end as well.

While listening to it I was thinking about Eddie Trunk talking about if Portnoy would rejoin DT. I seriously hope he never does. I love the last four albums and the direction the band is going in. Plus I look forward to Mangini's drumming on every track.

1000% this! I get so giddy at the prospect of hearing Mangini’s creativeness on each track!

[bosk1]

And I think this is the best JP has ever sounded. The guitars the tone has sonic color and is aggressive but without any of the feeling of compression making it too tight, which makes the actual sound absolutely massive.

Yeah, I was just thinking earlier today that of all guitar mixes/tones on past albums, THIS is definitely the "chocolate cake" he was looking for on DT12. 

[ReaPsTA]

And I think this is the best JP has ever sounded. The guitars the tone has sonic color and is aggressive but without any of the feeling of compression making it too tight, which makes the actual sound absolutely massive.

Yeah, I was just thinking earlier today that of all guitar mixes/tones on past albums, THIS is definitely the "chocolate cake" he was looking for on DT12.

Funny you say that. I pulled up Enemy Inside and I can hear a lot of the same things in the guitar sound, but it doesn't translate the same way. And I *like* the DT12 mix.

[JRuless]

Its hard to even hear JLB enough to access his vocals.   They just drown him in effects.    Why they do this I have no idea.    Nobody on this board seems to want those effects on his vocals. 

I think it is obvious why.  I have always been a big fan of JLB's voice, and while his occasional live struggles were usually no big deal to me since he could always bring it in the studio, based on what I have heard from the three songs released, the days of JLB killing it on a regular basis in the studio are likely over. And to be fair, he is 55 now, and has abused the crap out of his voice for nearly three decades now (think of how many shows DT has done and how long their shows often are), so a decline was inevitable.  I know I will get push back on this, but it's what my ears are telling me.

Edit: I thought Paralyzed was a solid tune. No more, no less.

Never mixed vocals i guess or had any knnowledge about vocal recording.
In no way you can hide a vocal inability in a mix. In the mixes so far i hear a strong studio performance by Labrie with added FX to meet a more mechanic  'metalized' touch.

[bosk1]

And I think this is the best JP has ever sounded. The guitars the tone has sonic color and is aggressive but without any of the feeling of compression making it too tight, which makes the actual sound absolutely massive.

Yeah, I was just thinking earlier today that of all guitar mixes/tones on past albums, THIS is definitely the "chocolate cake" he was looking for on DT12.

Funny you say that. I pulled up Enemy Inside and I can hear a lot of the same things in the guitar sound, but it doesn't translate the same way. And I *like* the DT12 mix.

Oh, yeah, I don't dislike the DT12 mix either.  But I think the guitar tone just sounds better here.

[ReaPsTA]

And by the way, of course, listen on Spotify if you can. The mix goes from an A to like an A-/B+ with Youtube's compression.

Youtube Commenter: "The Diary of LaBrie"

ololol

[cramx3]

  I still haven't listend yet, but if this sounds like Breaking Benjamin, that's not the worst thing in the world.  I actually really like them, but I know that's a very generic rock band so I can see why prog peeps would think that comparison is bad.

[ReaPsTA]

Breaking Benjamin... that's a very generic rock band

[cramx3]

You think they aren't that generic?  I like them, but all their songs are very similar. 

[Adami]

I've only heard a few songs, but based on those few songs, I would not call them generic.

I'd call them Tool.

[KevShmev]

A friend of mine from Turkey who listens the album says At Wit's End, S2N and Out Of Reach have extremely satisfaying vocal melodies and James delivers them just perfect. He thinks it's like hearing SDOIT, SC and I&W in his style.

So I hope "the day" is not yet come too. Because, for me James is the main reason I love this band and what I seek first is the satisfaying vocal melodies.

Same here.  And I hope your friend is right. 

Never mixed vocals i guess or had any knnowledge about vocal recording.
In no way you can hide a vocal inability in a mix. In the mixes so far i hear a strong studio performance by Labrie with added FX to meet a more mechanic  'metalized' touch.

To clarify, by no means do I think JLB has "lost it"; I just think his voice isn't quite what it used to be, which I can't imagine anyone would disagree with.  Good luck finding a singer who sings in that style who sounds as good as 55 as he did at 25, 35 or even 45. 

[ReaPsTA]

You think they aren't that generic?  I like them, but all their songs are very similar.

Within their own catalog I guess there's not a huge difference, but relative to other bands I think they're pretty recognizable.

[cramx3]

You think they aren't that generic?  I like them, but all their songs are very similar.

Within their own catalog I guess there's not a huge difference, but relative to other bands I think they're pretty recognizable.

I dont know, their music is super catchy to me and I love Ben's vocals, but I've never seen them as anything other than generic hard rock personally.  Not really trying to take a shot at them, I do like them.  I've seen them three times, first time in 2004 before they were famous at a small club in PA.  Even when I was introduced to them with thier first album, my thoughts were "this is pretty generic, but I love it."  And I've felt the "generic" part is why they are so popular because it's just easy music to consume.  To each their own, I don't think I'll change your opinion so just trying to explain how I see it.

[Kocak]

Wow wow wow. I'm loving Paralyzed.
The mix fits the song really well, better than the other previously released tracks I'd say.

Mangini is the hero of this track for me, seconded by JP's guitar tone.

So far, I'm looking forward to the rest of the album in 2 weeks.

[TAC]

I surely hope that's the worst track off the album. I've listened three times and other than Mangini going off, this really isn't doing it. And I am voting against that guitar tone.

[cramx3]

I surely hope that's the worst track off the album. I've listened three times and other than Mangini going off, this really isn't doing it. And I am voting against that guitar tone.

No chocolate cake?

[KevShmev]

TAC is more of a poundcake kinda guy.

[TAC]

I love chocolate cake. I'm not an expert on tuning, but to me, this feels low and is really right on my threshold of enjoyment.

[PixelDream]

Dream Theater are sounding more robotic than ever (something which I don’t prefer from the Mangini era), but on this song the roboticness actually works in their favor. That riff is dope af and the overall track sounds like it has direction to it. Loved it, didn’t expect a song this good from DT going on the previous singles.

[ytserush]

#teamIWantToHearTheAlbumOnlyAfterIt'sOut

I'm in too.

B.Lee

I still haven't heard a note. I've kind of avoided any reviews but I'm not really putting much effort into it. There's plenty of music to enjoy in the meantime.
I'm going to assume I'll like it.  The only ones I don't enjoy much are about half of Train Of Thought, most of Systematic Chaos and the lyrics to The Astonishing.

[Dedalus]

I don't know what world I live in. I've never heard of Breaking Benjamin before Paralyzed.

[Cool Chris]

I don't know what world I live in. I've never heard of Breaking Benjamin before Paralyzed.

Neither had I, and I'm going to assume TAC hasn't either. So don't feel alone.

[EPIC Outro]

I just saw a snippet of what appeared to be a Viper King music video on my Facebook feed. I wish I hadn't heard it before release day, but it sounds like it'll be a fun song.

[jayvee3]

What I’m really enjoying about paralyzed, is how well the song builds. Starting riff is great, James sounds solid, and we get one “I am Paralyzed” line in the first chorus. The next chorus has two “I am Paralyzed “ lines, builds into a solo, and by the time we hit the ripping outro, “I am Paralyzed” gets 5 treatments, with the third the impetus for Mangini and co. to turn it up a notch and go nuts to round out the song. I just really love the buildup over a shorter time period and I keep noticing nuances every listen. Definitely get some whiffs of BMUBMD and some Impermanent Resonance vibes but executed even better in my book. Great track and super placement between the other two singles to kick off the album pretty frenetically... 

[theanalogkid7]

I'm really digging Paralyzed, but the video feels... well, I don't really know how it feels. Like it just "is", but that's it. Generic, maybe? I don't know. I like the song, which is really all that matters. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[BeatriceNB]

I didn't love Paralyzed on the first listens, but it clicked later, and now I love it. Cool track, with a LaBrie solo albums vibe, which I love. It has a modern Prog/Djent vibe too, IMO, and I really like that.

Second favourite single, so far, 'cause I'm not a fan of Light besides the Metallica parts (intro and bridge), and Untethered Angel is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and the lyrics are something I truly needed in my life, and it's coming from one of my heroes and biggest inspirations (all I can say is "thank you, John Petrucci").

Edit: LaBrie sounds incredible in all the singles, if you ask me. I guess I'm biased, tho, LaBrie is my favourite singer -by miles-, and I love vocals with tons of effects and/or layers (Altered State by TesseracT comes to mind).

[majo]

Only heard it once this morning, but really did dig it. Definitely sounds like James Labrie solo album only better slightly worse.

fixed some minor mistakes for you 

[majo]

I'm really digging Paralyzed, but the video feels... well, I don't really know how it feels. Like it just "is", but that's it. Generic, maybe? I don't know. I like the song, which is really all that matters. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

NOD Antivirus stock footage or product placement 

[Mladen]

I find it odd that people comment on vocal effects like there have never been any before. I think Octavarium was the album with the most effects on the vocals - The Root of all evil, Panic attack and Never enough are the best examples. It's a fine choice artistically and it sounds cool most of the time. I didn't come from listening to Untethered angel thinking they went too far with the vocal effects, it sounded very familiar to me.

[RandalGraves]

I find it odd that people comment on vocal effects like there have never been any before. I think Octavarium was the album with the most effects on the vocals - The Root of all evil, Panic attack and Never enough are the best examples. It's a fine choice artistically and it sounds cool most of the time. I didn't come from listening to Untethered angel thinking they went too far with the vocal effects, it sounded very familiar to me.

You're absolutely right, as "vocal effects" are generally used all the time. I think it may have more to do with the poor mixing this time around, and possibly the type/extent in which they're used.

[lovethedrake]

Well octavarium is one of my least favorite dt albums so the vocal effects for me has always been an issue.   

[adamack]

You think they aren't that generic?  I like them, but all their songs are very similar.

Within their own catalog I guess there's not a huge difference, but relative to other bands I think they're pretty recognizable.

I dont know, their music is super catchy to me and I love Ben's vocals, but I've never seen them as anything other than generic hard rock personally.  Not really trying to take a shot at them, I do like them.  I've seen them three times, first time in 2004 before they were famous at a small club in PA.  Even when I was introduced to them with thier first album, my thoughts were "this is pretty generic, but I love it."  And I've felt the "generic" part is why they are so popular because it's just easy music to consume.  To each their own, I don't think I'll change your opinion so just trying to explain how I see it.

I really think this is dead on. Unless their lesser known songs are drastically different than the songs I’ve heard, they are a cool band,  but not really one who stood out as anything totally unique among the other alt rock bands in their class.