General Opinions on Dream Theater

Wayne wrote:

its the heaviest album since train of thought.

That's what I f*cking want to hear...!

FII is best

Awesome - looking forward to the new release!

I dig Dream Theater... But I do enjoy prog, being a Rush fanboy.... but DT is pretty stellar.... top 20 band for me.... Saw 'em on the last tour and thought they were FAB.....

So this was mentioned in Classic Rock magazine:

[quote]"#5 Dream Theater Illumination Theory

The epic closing track of the progressive-metal band's new self-titled album twists and turns like a twisty turny thing incorporating a symphonic segment and even a false ending that takes it past the 22-minute mark."[\quote]

Woah.

I'd say I'm a casual fan of the band. I have a few early releases and a few later releases with a buncha gaps in the middle. I have to be in the mood for them I guess. If the new albums sounds decent, I'll pick it up. If not, they're not a group that I have to purchase everything.

Twists and turns like a twisty turny thing? That's some stellar jounalism right there.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Twists and turns like a twisty turny thing? That's some stellar jounalism right there.

It was tongue-in-cheek; in the actual clipping there's a (©Blackadder) after the phrase. Still goofy, though.

There's definitely a touch of the symphonic with this new album. The opening track had a whiff of nightwish/JP's Nostradamus but trust me when I say I would not compare the album to anything nightwish have done nor would I compare it to Nostradamus, those where just points of reference to try and explain the symphonic feel that was aparant on some tracks.

The album as whole is heavy and nicely tight and focused. I kept thinking of symphony x in parts, especially the last couple of albums paradise lost and iconclast but again not as a direct comparison more a point of reference.

Overall it's heavy, focused, a touch symphonic in parts. contains some amazing drumming, a dollop of familiar dream theater prog but still offers enough new ideas to make this one hell of an album.

Wayne wrote:

There's definitely a touch of the symphonic with this new album. The opening track had a whiff of nightwish/JP's Nostradamus but trust me when I say I would not compare the album to anything nightwish have done nor would I compare it to Nostradamus, those where just points of reference to try and explain the symphonic feel that was aparant on some tracks.

The album as whole is heavy and nicely tight and focused. I kept thinking of symphony x in parts, especially the last couple of albums paradise lost and iconclast but again not as a direct comparison more a point of reference.

Overall it's heavy, focused, a touch symphonic in parts. contains some amazing drumming, a dollop of familiar dream theater prog but still offers enough new ideas to make this one hell of an album.

Sounds great... Now if only Petrucci could whip out some Romeo type riffs and they might be my fav band ever haha...

There's a track available on iTunes called 'the enemy inside'. Worth listening too as it nicely sums up the feel of the album.

Wayne wrote:

There's a track available on iTunes called 'the enemy inside'. Worth listening too as it nicely sums up the feel of the album.

I've heard that song and being that it's their first single, I hope the rest of the album is a lot more aggressive..

MetalRob331 wrote:

Wayne wrote:

There's a track available on iTunes called 'the enemy inside'. Worth listening too as it nicely sums up the feel of the album.

I've heard that song and being that it's their first single, I hope the rest of the album is a lot more aggressive..

Just going by memory some of the other songs might offer a tad more punch but not a lot. I thought the enemy inside was quite an aggressive track, certainly for a dream theater song anyway.

I would say the new album is about train of thought heavy.

Wayne wrote:

MetalRob331 wrote:

Wayne wrote:

There's a track available on iTunes called 'the enemy inside'. Worth listening too as it nicely sums up the feel of the album.

I've heard that song and being that it's their first single, I hope the rest of the album is a lot more aggressive..

Just going by memory some of the other songs might offer a tad more punch but not a lot. I thought the enemy inside was quite an aggressive track, certainly for a dream theater song anyway.

I would say the new album is about train of thought heavy.

Train of Thought was very heavy and prolly their least prog album in their catalog. If it's anywhere near that album I will love it. The songwriting is what really grabbed me on ToT...

I hate stirring things up here, and I'm most likely in the minority, but this is all disappointing news to me. My beef with DT with the last few albums is that's the top priority is being heavy. Just my opinion but I don't want a heavier Dream Theater. What I miss is the sophisticated prog with the unexpected changes and ambient flourishes. That seems to be lost now, most likely because they're seeking a wider audience. But their songs have become so...predictable. A good example is the new single. I'm sorry everyone, but I listened to it again and I can't honestly stand it. It's awful. It's the same old same old. Everything went about the way I expected it to be. I miss it when their music slapped me in the face and I would be blown away at every single turn. That's not the case here. My hope--and perhaps Wayne has some insight into this--is that the rest of the album doesn't follow suit. The blurb about the closing track gives me some hope.

I mean, sorry I'm not terribly enthusiastic about this but after being disappointed several times in a row my passion has been whittled down, especially after Black Clouds and Silver Linings (IMO the worst album in their catalog). I should mention I finally had a listen to Turn of Events, and it is miles better than Black Clouds, and Mangini does a killer job, so here's hoping...

Okay, everyone; fire away.

I want it to be better too. I don't dislike the new song, but does it say "Choose me!" over a lot of amazing prog metal bands that exercise compact songwriting, like Lanfear, Pagan's Mind, Threshold, and et al? Nope......... DT excels when they are actually branching out..

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I want it to be better too. I don't dislike the new song, but does it say "Choose me!" over a lot of amazing prog metal bands that exercise compact songwriting, like Lanfear, Pagan's Mind, Threshold, and et al? Nope......... DT excels when they are actually branching out..

You brought up Pagan's Mind, whom I've been listening to all day, and made my point.  

That's the thing, though...DT is in fact better when they branch out, when they takes risks--like SFAM and COS--and for some time now they've been rehashing. And getting heavier is not what I/we mean by "branching out."

corplhicks wrote:

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I want it to be better too. I don't dislike the new song, but does it say "Choose me!" over a lot of amazing prog metal bands that exercise compact songwriting, like Lanfear, Pagan's Mind, Threshold, and et al? Nope......... DT excels when they are actually branching out..

You brought up Pagan's Mind, whom I've been listening to all day, and made my point.  

That's the thing, though...DT is in fact better when they branch out, when they takes risks--like SFAM and COS--and for some time now they've been rehashing. And getting heavier is not what I/we mean by "branching out."

Dream Theater is def going away from their extreme prog roots. CORP it's time to put DT away and join us with Pagans Mind...

or some Andromeda  

That was another band I was thinking of. You especially can't go wrong with 'Extension of the Wish' or 'Chimera', Andromeda is fantastic.

I think DT feels a little forced when they try to be extremely heavy or what have you, they just need to let it flow and a good album should come out. I hope there's some more of that courtesy of Mangini.

corplhicks wrote:

My beef with DT with the last few albums is that's the top priority is being heavy. Just my opinion but I don't want a heavier Dream Theater. What I miss is the sophisticated prog with the unexpected changes and ambient flourishes. That seems to be lost now, most likely because they're seeking a wider audience. But their songs have become so...predictable. A good example is the new single. I'm sorry everyone, but I listened to it again and I can't honestly stand it. It's awful. It's the same old same old. Everything went about the way I expected it to be. I miss it when their music slapped me in the face and I would be blown away at every single turn.

All of this!!!!!!!

Also, tired of Ruddess' ragtime solo on... every... album.

chewie wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

My beef with DT with the last few albums is that's the top priority is being heavy. Just my opinion but I don't want a heavier Dream Theater. What I miss is the sophisticated prog with the unexpected changes and ambient flourishes. That seems to be lost now, most likely because they're seeking a wider audience. But their songs have become so...predictable. A good example is the new single. I'm sorry everyone, but I listened to it again and I can't honestly stand it. It's awful. It's the same old same old. Everything went about the way I expected it to be. I miss it when their music slapped me in the face and I would be blown away at every single turn.

All of this!!!!!!!

Also, tired of Ruddess' ragtime solo on... every... album.

Yeah it was cool on SFAM but the novelty wore off the more he implemented it. Like a bad joke.

Christmas present from Dream Theater - free live tracks from the last tour not included on the recently blu-ray. FLAC files:

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-releases-free-compilation-of-live-tracks/

rogressive metal giants DREAM THEATER have released the following statement:

"To our fans all over the world! It is because of all of you that 'A Dramatic Tour Of Events' was such a success. We enjoyed playing to you all each and every night on the road!

"As a special 'Thank You,' we are releasing a compilation of live tracks that were not included on 'Live At Luna Park'. With these now being available, you have a complete documentation of all the songs that were played during the tour (with the exception of cover songs.)

"Happy Holidays, and we look forward to having you 'Along For The Ride' in 2014."
CD1:

01. Under A Glass Moon (Phoenix, AZ 12/4/11)
02. Forsaken (London, UK 7/24/11)
03. Peruvian Skies (London, UK 7/24/11)
04. Endless Sacrifice (Austin, TX 10/26/11)
05. Drum Solo (Austin, TX 10/26/11)
06. YtseJam (Austin, TX 10/26/11)
07. The Great Debate (London, UK 7/24/11)

CD2:

08. Another Day (Austin, TX 7/7/12)
09. Through My Words/Fatal Tragedy (Montreal, QB 10/7/11)
10. To Live Forever (Huntington, NY 7/19/12)
11. Learning To Live (Tel Aviv, Israel 7/19/11)
12. The Count Of Tuscany (London, UK 7/24/11)
13. As I Am (Shibuya, Japan 4/24/12)

Concept: Rai "Weymolith" Beardsley
Produced by John Petrucci
Archive management and selection: James LaBrie, John Petrucci
Keeper of the archives: Maddi Shieferstein
Live sound engineer: Nigel Paul (Tracks 1-3, 7, 11-13)
Mixing and mastering: Richard Chycki
Artwork: Hugh Syme

This material included in this special holiday 2013 release has been copied and communicated to you by or on behalf of DREAM THEATER / Ytse Jams Inc and is copyrighted.

All music and lyrics by DREAM THEATER and published by Ytse Jams (ASCAP)

Distribution of this electronic file set is allowed as long as this information file is included and remains unaltered. Sale strictly prohibited.

Download the torrent here.


Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-releases-free-compilation-of-live-tracks/#fkqUo4Qq3rbAEo0t.99

I could never get into this band.

I do own some of their albums, but i must admit not being a fan of those long songs.

Not a big fan of progressive in general.