Interesting...
Jun. 19th, 2009 09:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
clappamungusAccording to all the sources available, Dream Theater's new album isn't out until 23 June. Usually these dates pertain to the Northern Hemisphere, therefore the release date for us southern plebs is about a week later.
But I got a tip-off from a fellow fan yesterday, and just moseyed on in to JB tonight...
And look what I got!
For once, we got something before everyone else did. Or the label is playing funny buggers and released it to all stores all around the world simultaneously.
So far, I'm pretty impressed. Yes, I'm only on the first song, but it's 16 minutes long people, so already I can get a good impression as to what the rest of the album's like! So far, it's better than Systematic Chaos was. And I really liked that album at first, but grew sick of it very quickly, even the eponymous epic that everyone loved, "In The Presence of Enemies" . This one sounds like it'll have better longevity. This song flows beautifully. Even though it's made up of disparate parts like almost every DT song, they all meld very well. And I love the gothic sort atmosphere that pervades this track.
Although I'm not impressed by Mike Portnoy thinking that he has any right to put a vocal line on any song. Ever.
Anyway, we'll see what the rest of it's like. Still a fair way to go.
Wait, what the fuck? Is that a blast beat I hear???
OK, even the mandatory power ballad, "Wither", is great. Yes, it's a bit predictable, and I was playing along on my guitar to the vocal line without ever having heard the song before, but it's still beautifully written. I think I know why I'm liking this album so much - it harks back to their prog rock roots without just copying the greats, and so far has there's minimal modern shit that they threw in during Systematic Chaos. Definitely more Awake than Train of Thought.
Though here comes the final installment in the AA Saga ("The Shattered Fortress"). As it's a Portnoy song, no doubt it'll sound more like Slipknot than Rush. Oh, ok. They're going over all the previous AA Saga songs. Makes sense, I suppose...Oh god WHY DOES PORTNOY FEEL THE NEED TO SULLY CD SPACE WITH HIS TERRIBLE HALF GROWL???...wow, it's like Portnoy just got bored and decided to rehash every single AA Saga song rather than write an original riff for the finale. Typical. This is probably the most redundant song DT has ever written. DOn't get me wrong: it's still good. It's just redundant.
On last track, and I've been really impressed with everything besides "Shattered Fortress" and parts of "A Rite of Passage" (Jordan Rudess should not emulate DragonForce. No no no. He's too good for that...). The last track, "The Count of Tuscany", reminds me of "In The Presence of Enemies", ie. it's a 20+ minute track that seems to aimlessly wander through its paces. I know that doesn't make sense, but you'd understand if you know both songs. It's not as bad as I've heard people make out on various forums, but it's definitely not the strongest song on the album. The different parts do not flow as well as the first excellent track....but it ends well. It ends really well. It's emotional and strong and...yeah. It works
Final thoughts? I'm so glad I stuck to my guns and did not listen to the leaked version. There are a few bands I'll do that for. Dream Theater is one of them, for a reason. Even though Mike Portnoy is the biggest wanker since Phil Anselmo and Zakk Wylde combined and for some unknown reason thinks that he can sing, they're still one of the few "mainstream" metal bands that can put together a decent album, decent enough to actually buy. Even if they occasionally try to mimic the latest poser band for a couple of seconds in a song, they still have enough talent to remain true to their own sound.
Verdict? Much better than Systematic Chaos. Probably their best since Awake.
Interesting tidbit - I picked up the three-disc edition, with the full album, a disc full of various covers, and...a disc of the instrumental mixes.
...
Now why the fuck would anyone want those??? Unless they're vastly different to the album versions, then it seems pointless. More major record label marketing bullshit...oh, wait. That rant's for another post.
But I got a tip-off from a fellow fan yesterday, and just moseyed on in to JB tonight...
And look what I got!
For once, we got something before everyone else did. Or the label is playing funny buggers and released it to all stores all around the world simultaneously.
So far, I'm pretty impressed. Yes, I'm only on the first song, but it's 16 minutes long people, so already I can get a good impression as to what the rest of the album's like! So far, it's better than Systematic Chaos was. And I really liked that album at first, but grew sick of it very quickly, even the eponymous epic that everyone loved, "In The Presence of Enemies" . This one sounds like it'll have better longevity. This song flows beautifully. Even though it's made up of disparate parts like almost every DT song, they all meld very well. And I love the gothic sort atmosphere that pervades this track.
Although I'm not impressed by Mike Portnoy thinking that he has any right to put a vocal line on any song. Ever.
Anyway, we'll see what the rest of it's like. Still a fair way to go.
Wait, what the fuck? Is that a blast beat I hear???
OK, even the mandatory power ballad, "Wither", is great. Yes, it's a bit predictable, and I was playing along on my guitar to the vocal line without ever having heard the song before, but it's still beautifully written. I think I know why I'm liking this album so much - it harks back to their prog rock roots without just copying the greats, and so far has there's minimal modern shit that they threw in during Systematic Chaos. Definitely more Awake than Train of Thought.
Though here comes the final installment in the AA Saga ("The Shattered Fortress"). As it's a Portnoy song, no doubt it'll sound more like Slipknot than Rush. Oh, ok. They're going over all the previous AA Saga songs. Makes sense, I suppose...Oh god WHY DOES PORTNOY FEEL THE NEED TO SULLY CD SPACE WITH HIS TERRIBLE HALF GROWL???...wow, it's like Portnoy just got bored and decided to rehash every single AA Saga song rather than write an original riff for the finale. Typical. This is probably the most redundant song DT has ever written. DOn't get me wrong: it's still good. It's just redundant.
On last track, and I've been really impressed with everything besides "Shattered Fortress" and parts of "A Rite of Passage" (Jordan Rudess should not emulate DragonForce. No no no. He's too good for that...). The last track, "The Count of Tuscany", reminds me of "In The Presence of Enemies", ie. it's a 20+ minute track that seems to aimlessly wander through its paces. I know that doesn't make sense, but you'd understand if you know both songs. It's not as bad as I've heard people make out on various forums, but it's definitely not the strongest song on the album. The different parts do not flow as well as the first excellent track....but it ends well. It ends really well. It's emotional and strong and...yeah. It works
Final thoughts? I'm so glad I stuck to my guns and did not listen to the leaked version. There are a few bands I'll do that for. Dream Theater is one of them, for a reason. Even though Mike Portnoy is the biggest wanker since Phil Anselmo and Zakk Wylde combined and for some unknown reason thinks that he can sing, they're still one of the few "mainstream" metal bands that can put together a decent album, decent enough to actually buy. Even if they occasionally try to mimic the latest poser band for a couple of seconds in a song, they still have enough talent to remain true to their own sound.
Verdict? Much better than Systematic Chaos. Probably their best since Awake.
Interesting tidbit - I picked up the three-disc edition, with the full album, a disc full of various covers, and...a disc of the instrumental mixes.
...
Now why the fuck would anyone want those??? Unless they're vastly different to the album versions, then it seems pointless. More major record label marketing bullshit...oh, wait. That rant's for another post.
