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Dream Theater - Dream Theater |OT| It's actually a good album guys

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AzureSkies

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Release Date:

September 16th Japan
September 24th Worldwide

Members:
James Labrie - Vocals
John Petrucci - Guitar
John Myung - Bass
Jordan Rudess - iPad
and keyboards
Mike Mangini - Drums

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1. False Awakening Suite 2:42
2. The Enemy Inside 6:17
3. The Looking Glass 4:53
4. Enigma Machine (Instrumental) 6:03
5. The Bigger Picture 7:41
6. Behind the Veil 6:53
7. Surrender to Reason (Lyrics by Myung) 6:35
8. Along for the Ride 4:45
9. Illumination Theory 22:17
I. "Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire"
II. "Live, Die, Kill"
III. "The Embracing Circle"
IV. "The Pursuit of Truth"
V. "Surrender, Trust & Passion"

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Want to listen to the album before buying? You're in luck.
The entire album's available to stream right now:

North America
UK and possibly Europe
it also leaked hours before the streams became available lol

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Dream Theater's official website is selling a $100 limited edition.
a $30 vinyl edition and cheaper deluxe and standard editions.

Prices and items may change by region.

Don't like the album?
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Credits:
fiveeight for making me believe that there was a leak every five minutes and making the wait for the album absolutely hilarious. Simms and OnettHansen for putting up with my blind speculation and expected hatred of the album for months.
 
It leaked already?! *Looks at calendar* Holy shit where did September go?

Looking forward to this one :D
 
Need more listening but so far it's pretty good. Some nice arrangements and Ilumination Theory seems to be a real killer track.
 
My main complaint is the lack of memorable riffs, melodies and solos. Sure, there are some very technically impressive parts but all of them are forgettable.
 
TheFeedingHand said:
My main complaint is the lack of memorable riffs, melodies and solos. Sure, there are some very technically impressive parts but all of them are forgettable.
Click to expand...

I think there are quite a few. It was intentional though, going by what they've said in interviews.

My biggest gripe right now is that, for an album more focused on songwriting over technique, the vocal melodies are VERY lacking. There are no big, epic choruses and they lack hook overall.

The rest of the album is pretty good. I'm only on my second listen and it's clicking a lot better already.
 
I'm surprised some aren't liking it.

Really feels like a nice throwback to their early work to me, which was exactly what they needed to make.
 
Haven't heard anything beyond the two singles yet, and I'm not going to until the album is released and I have it in my hands. But I'm pretty excited! DT is the band above all others for me, and they've never really disappointed me (except for a song here and there, but eh).
 
I'm listening to it now and I'm being very pleasantly surprised. It's not going to dethrone Haken's The Mountain as my AotY, but yeah, it's pretty good. I actually think going into it without any expectations helped quite a bit, and the two singles they had previously released curiously enough I think are the 2 weakest tracks on the album.

The throwback and Rush-like songs are incredibly welcome.

Edit: This all coming from a fan who thought their last 3 albums have been their weakest (although ADToE definitely put them back on track - I'm really glad Portonoy's gone).
 
Krowley said:
I'm surprised some aren't liking it. .
Click to expand...

I don't like Awake that much, for example.

Opinions, etc...

Fireblend said:
I'm listening to it now and I'm being very pleasantly surprised. It's not going to dethrone Haken's The Mountain as my AotY, but yeah, it's pretty good. I actually think going into it without any expectations helped quite a bit, and the two singles they had previously released curiously enough I think are the 2 weakest tracks on the album.

The throwback and Rush-like songs are incredibly welcome.

Edit: This all coming from a fan who thought their last 3 albums have been their weakest (although ADToE definitely put them back on track - I'm really glad Portonoy's gone).
Click to expand...

RESPECT!
 
I was thinking yesterday, There's a new DT album coming out... Ah it must be in november or something.

Fuck! Didn't realise it was already here.
 
Haha, amazing OT. Thanks for that. Nice shout out to Fiveeight as well. I hate/love those guys.

BTW, does anyone here post on DreamTheaterForums.org? I post there as Shadow2222 as well (same avatar and everything).
 
Shadow2222 said:
Haha, amazing OT. Thanks for that. Nice shout out to Fiveeight as well. I hate/love those guys.

BTW, does anyone here post on DreamTheaterForums.org? I post there as Shadow2222 as well (same avatar and everything).
Click to expand...

Yup I post there as well, I think I use the same name there.

As for the album its good but it didn't hook me the first time like ADTOE did. It doesn't hit the same highs that the last album hit( bridges in the sky, outcry, breaking all illusions) but it also doesn't have the same lows ADTOE had. On my 2nd listen now. :)
 
Just gave the stream a listen, pretty decent.

I had to listen to The Enemy Within a few more times before moving on to the rest. When the solo's kick in after an already cracking track. \m/
 
Really stoked I saw this thread, didn't realize a new album was upon us all. I haven't been into them as much as a decade ago whenever Scenes from a Memory and Six Degrees came out.

Will definitely listen to the stream when I get home from work!
 
It's pretty awesome so far. Drums are mixed a little low though. I like their more Rush-influenced songs than when they try to be more metal.
 
That big string section in the middle of Illumination Theory reminds me of Saving private Ryan. And I love that piano/guitar of the last few minutes of that song.

I noticed small pieces during the album that kind of harken back to all of their previous albums all the way back to WDADU. Really cool.
 
Listening on a Denon DRA-N5 and Dali Zensor 1 bookshelf speakers from my PS3 over optical. Thoughts on first listen, track by track in real time yo!:

1) I'm sure I didn't accidentally pick Nightwish. Reminds me of that awesome prelude song on Helloween's "Better than Raw" (not as good obvs).
2) Ugh this is a familiar sound :\ Oh I've heard this song before. Carry on. Still got that sinister tonality from BCaSL, but I'm bored now. 4 mins to go... need a pee anyway.
3) This one sounds like it might have memorable melodies. Upbeat and feels 90s in a good way. I expect this to be one of my fave tracks on the album. Funkeh. Drags a bit so I'll just offer my standard "could do with a breakdown there really".
4) Heavy, squeal, riffs. More old schoolness. Widdly bit then some Ayreon sounds :D This is the track where they show off oh wait that's all of them.
5) Time for a slow one. Tempted to skip it. 8mins as well... still bored... nice song to fall asleep to.
6) Dem riffs. Didn't bother typing for a few mins. This is a great song. No particular reason, just well written and interesting to listen to.
7) There's more old school bits, but then it's back to the boring ass unmemorable chorus. LaBrie doesn't annoy me, but he is showing much less versatility than the band deserves.
8) I kinda want this song to end before it starts because I've been waiting for like an hour to hear the 22min song at the end. Nice melody, though. DT need more of this worked into their core/heavier stuff.
9) Boom! Here it is. Loving the deliberated drumming. Some super old school riffs going on here, really tying it together nicely. My speakers are having fun with this one :D Not the most elegant of segues.... nor was that one but it's funky. Okay yeah this bit is brilliant. Lots going on in this track, but it's missing the structure and pacing of their previous 'epics'.

After all that, there's only one track name I can look at and remember "oh yeah, that song". Prog isn't about catchy songs, but DT really would benefit from some hooks and memorable choruses rather than just 80 minutes of "well this is pretty good".
 
On my 3rd listen. It's good. I dig it, though I don't think it's hit me quite as much as ADTOE did. That could just be because ADTOE was such a huge turnaround, and this is following that.

One observation is that I don't really notice Rudess at all throughout.

Also, I really really love the softer and then symphonic part of Illumination Theory.

And the drums make the album sound kind of similar to I&W. It's probably the snare sound.

Mixing's pretty good for the most part, too. There are some good bass tones and parts throughout.
 
I really like it, but my dumb remarks are:

The snare is too bassy.

I'm not digging Petrucci's guitar tone on this one.

On the bright side, Labrie was sounding really old-school on Illumination Theory.
 
Will be buying as soon as it's available. Judging from the interviews this seems to be a DT album suited to my specific taste. Hopefully it's a grower.
 
I never thought I'd see the day a Dream Theater OT would appear on GAF. I'll be honest, the new songs aren't lighting my fire.

Edit: Not a fan of that snare at times or the toms. Also, opening track is giving me a strong SX vibe, which means it's giving me that 6DOIT vibe.
 
When it comes to this type of music I always avoid judging an album based on my first impression. With songs of this length and complexity you always need time to wrap your head around it.
 
Jethro said:
I'm happy that they broke out of that structure. They are still there, but more cohesive implemented.
Click to expand...

Even outside of that structure there are other ways for a keyboardist to be noticed. He could carry parts of the songs on his own or have a heavy part of the melody rest on the keyboards, for instance. I just don't notice him at all really.

I notice the bass a lot more on this album, though, so that's awesome.
 
It wasn't easy putting up with your bullshit I tell you what sonny.

You'll learn the art of tasteful album speculation when Tool's album eventually get's announced.

loljk, it never will.
 
RDreamer said:
Even outside of that structure there are other ways for a keyboardist to be noticed. He could carry parts of the songs on his own or have a heavy part of the melody rest on the keyboards, for instance. I just don't notice him at all really.

I notice the bass a lot more on this album, though, so that's awesome.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I'm fine with this. If they could some how form a power rock trio of John Petrucci, John Myung, and some talented singer/drummer guy like Nick D'virgilio, I'd be in heaven.
 
DT still does what they've been doing very well. Third track has a very strong Rush-feel going into the intro. I just do not like that slammy snare. A much more organic drum mix would've been great.
 
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