DT16 Timeline Thread - James starts recording vocal parts

[MirrorMask]

Ok, epic closing track all but confirmed 

[The Letter M]

Closing epic is all I needed to hear, but this could be anything from 11 minutes to 50 minutes given their examples. 

I suspect another side-length epic in the 18-24 minute range, probably Side D of the double vinyl they'll be putting out. So far it seems like they've written at least 5 or 6 songs, and there's at least one epic (the closing track). Sounds like a typical DT album, but I'm hoping the music is a progression of where they've been going since DOT and AVFTTOTW, mixed with some classic DT flare.

-Marc.

[hefdaddy42]

OK, 8 tracks.  First 7 total 15 minutes.  Track 8 = 60 minutes.

[TAC]

Track 8 = 60 minutes.

With each part indexed so we can endlessly argue whether it's actually one song or a collection of songs.

[HOF]

DT just posted on IG

Big DT Milestone: this week we just wrapped the writing on what will likely be the closing track on #DT16
The closing track on a DT album being an epic is a tradition going on over 30 years now! Here's a handful of em...which are your favorites? (SWIPE

1992 - Learning To Live (11:32)

1995 - A Change Of Seasons (23:10)

1997 - Trial Of Tears (13:07)

1999 - Finally Free (12:00)

2002 - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (42:02)

2003 - In The Name Of God (14:15)

2005 - Octavarium (24:00)

2007 - In The Presence Of Enemies Pt 2 (16:38)

2009 - The Count Of Tuscany (19:15)

2013 - Illumination Theory (19:57)
(20:23)
2021 - A View From The Top Of The World
#dreamtheater #dt16 #dreamtheater2024

Wait a minute, this is not a closing track!

[gzarruk]

With each part indexed so we can endless argue whether it's actually one song or a collection of songs.

Oh please no!

[The Letter M]

With each part indexed so we can endlessly argue whether it's actually one song or a collection of songs.

Is it a suite? A single song? A song cycle? A medley?!

-Marc.

[TAC]

Is it a suite? A single song? A song cycle? A medley?!

-Marc.

Let's have a poll. Where's WildRanger?

[Setlist Scotty]

Wait a minute, this is not a closing track!

It is. And it's the opening track. All those live tracks were just bonus tracks.   

[Dream Team]

Wait a sec, didn't MP just post that they were STARTING to write it?!?

[Schurftkut]

i would've closed I&W, so there's that as well

[emtee]

Exciting news!

[evilasiojr]

Wait a sec, didn't MP just post that they were STARTING to write it?!?

10 days ago MP posted they were about to start Song 6.

I think is also important to note that it doesn't mean they are done writing the album, but that what seems like the closing track was written.

[Schurftkut]

JLB  reposted that with the comment that writing is done for the new album, so the next phase will probably be recording overdubs and writing lyrics.

[MirrorMask]

Yeah, it's confusing.

DT's page message clearly states that they finished writing the closing epic. James reposted that saying generically "it's a wrap".

I hope it's not just 6 songs. Unless the excitement of the reunions made them do six A Change of Seasons 

[TAC]

I hope it's not just 6 songs. Unless the excitement of the reunions made them do six A Change of Seasons 

So...More Black Clouds and Extra Silver Linings?

[TheCountOfNYC]

I hope it's not just 6 songs.

Why not? The last album they wrote with only six songs is the universally praised Black Clouds & Silver Linings.

[Schurftkut]

you forgot to make "universally liked" green

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

OK, 8 tracks.  First 7 total 15 minutes.  Track 8 = 60 minutes.

60 minutes is enough time to fit in some Rhapsody in Chungus samples

[Schurftkut]

send them a fax so they don't forget!

[Jamesman42]

universally praised Black Clouds & Silver Linings.

uhhh you sure about that?

[gzarruk]

But some of you guys are assuming they only wrote 6 tracks. Mike posted about starting track 6 more than a week ago, and then about working on another epic later that week. Those could be completely different songs.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

uhhh you sure about that?

lol yeah...I don't remember that being the case at the time but maybe I am remembering incorrectly.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Wait a minute, this is not a closing track!

Hah I noticed that too. I incurred way too much brain damage thinking about this but I was on the bus and had some extra time to contemplate. I wondered if Pale Blue Dot should be on there given its epic nature. Yes, Viper King is the last song but it really is a bonus track so arguably understood to sit apart from the core vibe of the album just as the songs that follow ACOS sit apart. If anything I think PBD has much more of an epic vibe than a song like Trial of Tears-- song length being the only thing that appears to earn the latter this classification.

Breaking All Illusions is the 2nd to last song but just screams epic. Yes, I know that violates part of the post's criteria in a way that ACOS arguably does not. Just pointing out it is an epic and *almost* closes out the album.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Maybe it's time for DT to dust off The School Song, write some lyrics and add it as a Viper King-esque bonus track.   

[Setlist Scotty]

But some of you guys are assuming they only wrote 6 tracks. Mike posted about starting track 6 more than a week ago, and then about working on another epic later that week. Those could be completely different songs.

Exactly. No need to jump to conclusions just yet. Let's wait to see what the tracklisting is first.

Hah I noticed that too. I incurred way too much brain damage thinking about this but I was on the bus and had some extra time to contemplate. I wondered if Pale Blue Dot should be on there given its epic nature. Yes, Viper King is the last song but it really is a bonus track so arguably understood to sit apart from the core vibe of the album just as the songs that follow ACOS sit apart. If anything I think PBD has much more of an epic vibe than a song like Trial of Tears-- song length being the only thing that appears to earn the latter this classification.

Breaking All Illusions is the 2nd to last song but just screams epic. Yes, I know that violates part of the post's criteria in a way that ACOS arguably does not. Just pointing out it is an epic and *almost* closes out the album.

Both PBD and BAI also came to mind, as did Scarred, which all seem to fit the same general criteria. With PBD, it's the end of the album proper, and with BAI and Scarred, they were kinda added almost as afterthoughts – not that they were, but you kinda get the feeling that they didn't quite fit within their respective albums, so they were tacked on to the end almost as if they were bonus tracks..

[sfam2112]

Yeah, it's confusing.

DT's page message clearly states that they finished writing the closing epic. James reposted that saying generically "it's a wrap".

Except it doesn't. 🤪 Just what will be the closing track. I know. Semantics. With the post that info is included in, it highly suggests it's an epic. Or it could just be a way to engage the fan base on social media. "What's your favorite epic?" Am I reading too much into into it? Probably... 😁

[Progmaniac1988]

lol yeah...I don't remember that being the case at the time but maybe I am remembering incorrectly.

Personally I never got the hate BCSL got. Some amazing songs on there. Nightmare, Count, Best of times, Shattered fortress all great imo. Right of passage and wither are probably my least listened to on the album, but those are still solid songs too. 🤷 maybe I'm alone here, but never understood the hate.

[geeeemo]

Personally I never got the hate BCSL got. Some amazing songs on there. Nightmare, Count, Best of times, Shattered fortress all great imo. Right of passage and wither are probably my least listened to on the album, but those are still solid songs too. 🤷 maybe I'm alone here, but never understood the hate.

Its my number 2 record right now. No skips. Either, the heart is engaged or the head is banging.

[fadetoblackdude7]

Agreed, BC&SL is a fantastic album!

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

i've always been quite fond of that one

[Progmaniac1988]

Glad I'm not alone here! Lol over the years it has become one of my most listened to DT albums.

[gzarruk]

Maybe it's time for DT to dust off The School Song, write some lyrics and add it as a Viper King-esque bonus track.   

I wouldn't mind that at all

Exactly. No need to jump to conclusions just yet. Let's wait to see what the tracklisting is first.

Then we can jump to all the conclusions we want

[Jamesman42]

Personally I never got the hate BCSL got. Some amazing songs on there. Nightmare, Count, Best of times, Shattered fortress all great imo. Right of passage and wither are probably my least listened to on the album, but those are still solid songs too. 🤷 maybe I'm alone here, but never understood the hate.

I like the album enough. TCOT is a top 10 song. TSF is underrated as hell. Wither is a nice change of pace for them. ANTR and TBOT are okay once every few years, though both contain incredible bits (Beautiful Agony and the solo on TBOT) and some cringey stuff in those same songs. Forsaken could be deleted from history and no one would care. An album that could have been trimmed or edited some and maybe would be a top 3 album.

[faizoff]

MP commented on the post about epics

Mike Portnoy
For those asking: not to take away from Only A Matter Of Time, Space-Dye Vest, BTS or PBD as great album closers...they just don't fall under the double-digit "Epic" description (ex: 10+ Mins) that is the point of this post 😉