Dream Theater - The Astonishing

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rikkertje
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Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by rikkertje » Sun Dec 13, 2015 3:00 pm

Didn't see a topic about this here yet so I thought I'd start one.

Anyone else looking forward to this? When they first announced it was going to be a concept album I was very sceptical, but now I've heard the first single I'm ready for this to be released.

"This album cover extends an ominous invitation into the retro-futurist dystopian setting of The Astonishing. The deceptively beautiful yet chillingly totalitarian image is a bold harbinger of the visual components and ideas presented by the sonic story that is our most ambitious creative work to date. We are very proud to soon bring you…The Astonishing."

Here's the single:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdPn1mCmqoE

More info:
http://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishing
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... p-20151203

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Empathica1928
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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by Empathica1928 » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:36 pm

The language in the emails is horrible and obnoxious so I hope whatever they have going on in the physical booklet is actually professional, otherwise this band whose native language is English is going to end up sounding like fucking Rhapsody. No disrespect to Rhapsody, they're just corny as fuck but get a pass because of a tenuous grasp on English.

The first single is not bad although I just don't like James LaBrie's voice anymore, even in studio. He needs to be kept away from the higher end, he sounds bad to me, and honestly I wish DT would get a new vocalist, but that probably isn't going to happen, so he's what I'm stuck with.

Can't stand the thick Christian overtones to this whole thing though. It's not even subtle. Characters named Gabriel, Faythe, Evangeline, lines about 'our savior' and 'the chosen one' give me a break. As long as the music is kickass I can get over it but otherwise it's going to make me grind me teeth.

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by rikkertje » Sun Jan 24, 2016 3:06 pm

The first two songs that they released.
It's really hard for me to have any opinion about them yet because the albums' concept. I want to hear the whole thing before I really rate the music.

But for now I can say I do like these songs quite a lot.

The Gift of Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdPn1mCmqoE
Moment of Betrayal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4BTQaENnY4

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rikkertje
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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by rikkertje » Tue Jan 26, 2016 12:42 pm

Just listened through the whole album in one go. My god. This album is everything it should be. :shock:

I'm without words right now. Will reflect on it at a later time. :D

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by Empathica1928 » Tue Jan 26, 2016 6:30 pm

The album was on a convincing fake DT bandcamp page this morning. I got through like 5 songs but I was barely awake and I already forgot what most of them sounded like. I remember the overture being very tasty, kind of similar to the Six Degrees overture but more... nightmarish.

I can't wait to hear this full thing.

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by AAAAAAAAAA » Wed Jan 27, 2016 8:13 am

The last few Dream Theater albums have been garbage. I'm extremely skeptical .... :roll:

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by rikkertje » Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:00 am

AAAAAAAAAA wrote:The last few Dream Theater albums have been garbage. I'm extremely skeptical .... :roll:


I didn't really like ADToE. I liked DT a bit more. But this album is something completely different. Give it a (unbiased) shot. It's really a masterpiece.

(And no I'm not a DT fanboy)

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by rikkertje » Wed Jan 27, 2016 12:45 pm

This review described the album best I believe. It's quite a read, but at the end you know exactly what you get.

http://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/1 ... tonishing/

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by Empathica1928 » Fri Jan 29, 2016 5:27 am

Wow. Best album since Six Degrees. I have not felt so giddy listening to a Dream Theater album since then. This one actually sounds inspired and fresh. I am so happy with it. Going to take many spins to sink in, but I am very pleased and can't wait to see them play it live!!

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by rikkertje » Fri Jan 29, 2016 9:34 am

Empathica1928 wrote:Wow. Best album since Six Degrees. I have not felt so giddy listening to a Dream Theater album since then. This one actually sounds inspired and fresh. I am so happy with it. Going to take many spins to sink in, but I am very pleased and can't wait to see them play it live!!
Agree again!

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by adrian9 » Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:54 am

Empathica1928 wrote:Wow. Best album since Six Degrees. I have not felt so giddy listening to a Dream Theater album since then. This one actually sounds inspired and fresh. I am so happy with it. Going to take many spins to sink in, but I am very pleased and can't wait to see them play it live!!
wait a sec. you didnt like train of tought? that was amazing
I wasnt a fan of octavarium or what came after.
I didnt like too much the gift of music, is a little bit to much like the newest rush for me.
i might give it another try later.
A9

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by Empathica1928 » Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:27 pm

adrian9 wrote:
Empathica1928 wrote:Wow. Best album since Six Degrees. I have not felt so giddy listening to a Dream Theater album since then. This one actually sounds inspired and fresh. I am so happy with it. Going to take many spins to sink in, but I am very pleased and can't wait to see them play it live!!
wait a sec. you didnt like train of tought? that was amazing
I wasnt a fan of octavarium or what came after.
I didnt like too much the gift of music, is a little bit to much like the newest rush for me.
i might give it another try later.
I like Train of Thought well enough for a DT album, but I do not enjoy it anywhere near as much as I like Six Degrees. I can't recall the last time I listened to anything off Train of Thought besides Vacant - just too much wanking, too much 'metal', I don't particularly enjoy that side of DT.

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by RazielSR » Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:46 am

A truly jewel. thats how I see it. Its true that sometimes the album gets a bit dense. But the first half of both cds are just fantastic. An album that needs time to comprehend. If you like DT of course. With time this gonna be a cult album. Its like an I&W meets 6degrees and Octavarium plus something new. Labrie shines more than ever maybe.

I guess they will come with something ala ToT for the next album. More in your face and more "metal".
...Faster than light, higher than the sky, stronger than steel...We´re the legions of the Twilight...

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by Rebel » Sat May 07, 2016 8:19 am

I refuse to listen to this. Dream Theater doesn't get those 2 hours of my life just because they sat down and recorded 50 ballads.
They let us have signatures on this forum???

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Re: Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Post by Empathica1928 » Thu May 19, 2016 3:33 pm

Rebel wrote:I refuse to listen to this. Dream Theater doesn't get those 2 hours of my life just because they sat down and recorded 50 ballads.
This is a dumb fucking post. "I won't listen to this album, but let me make a judgment on the content of said album."

There's a whole lot of tasty music on these discs. If you can only view it as "HEAVY!" or "BALLAD!" then you're dumb. Harsh but true.

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