A Dramatic Turn of Events

[D.K.]

Given it a spin. I guess, if I still was much into DT and heavy overdriven prog metal in general I would very much like the album. Everyone plays great.

On a side note (so You don't have to read it) - it's just startling that there are periods in life when a whole genre becomes pretty uninspiring and predictable, even the best examples. I was so much looking forward towards this release and it's surely great and it's what one could expect from a great album by DT - but it does a lot less for me, than, say, less heavy and technically oriented "The Whirlwind" by Transatlantic. Or things like "The Unsung Heroes" by the Dixie Dregs. Mind You - I have all the albums DT has ever done, most of them preordered, and quite some other things they had - official bootlegs and fan club CDs and like. And yet - it seems right now that you can say so much more with music while not playing that much. Or is it too much asking DT to use technical skill wisely?

 

[Jason5150]

Given it a spin. I guess, if I still was much into DT and heavy overdriven prog metal in general I would very much like the album. Everyone plays great.

On a side note (so You don't have to read it) - it's just startling that there are periods in life when a whole genre becomes pretty uninspiring and predictable, even the best examples. I was so much looking forward towards this release and it's surely great and it's what one could expect from a great album by DT - but it does a lot less for me, than, say, less heavy and technically oriented "The Whirlwind" by Transatlantic. Or things like "The Unsung Heroes" by the Dixie Dregs. Mind You - I have all the albums DT has ever done, most of them preordered, and quite some other things they had - official bootlegs and fan club CDs and like. And yet - it seems right now that you can say so much more with music while not playing that much. Or is it too much asking DT to use technical skill wisely?

I get your review / feedback. Not sure I agree with the using technical skill wisely though. These guys are making music (that they and a lot of other people really dig) while playing what they want while getting paid to take it around the world. Don't get me wrong, I get what you're saying, I experience similar things listening to particular artists etc... just because I don't dig everything certain artists put out (too abstract or too many harmonic minor shredding solos etc etc..) doesn't mean it's not a wise use of their technical skills...after all those things are usually what make those artists/bands stand out from the rest of the crop. I hope I am not coming across as facetious...If so, I apologise, I do not mean it that way.

 

[D.K.]

Don't get me wrong, I get what you're saying, I experience similar things listening to particular artists etc... just because I don't dig everything certain artists put out (too abstract or too many harmonic minor shredding solos etc etc..) doesn't mean it's not a wise use of their technical skills...after all those things are usually what make those artists/bands stand out from the rest of the crop. I hope I am not coming across as facetious...If so, I apologise, I do not mean it that way.

Nope, You are absolutely right in what You are saying , I'm 100% with You on this one - thus the question if they could afford being less technical was not meant as a joke, actually - they are what they are and it would be unnatural and on top of that financially unsustainable for them to stop being what they are and what they are famous for - and technicality is a BIG part of that.

BTW, there are numerous examples of what I mean by using skill wisely in DT songs - Lines in the sand Solo, Trial of Tears, the great guitar melodic theme in Learning to Live, marvellous atmospheric solo in Raising the knife to name just very few.

I guess my main complaint came with the introduction of Jordan Rudess into DT - talking about bulldozing everything with technic and speed.

But enough bubbling - this is indeed a very good DT record, that has all that one could ask for as a DT fan.

 

[Jamie M]

this is all to deep for a simple englishman chaps lol!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jason5150]

Agree! It is a great record. And those songs you've listed (Trial of Tears etc...) killer choices!

 

[yellowv03]

Loving the new album. Great stuff. JP's tone just gets better and better.

 

[Strider]

wow this album is one of the best released yet!!!!! have a air to Images and word. so EPIC

 

[lumberjack]

Gonna get this one next week. Did anyone get the CD/DVD version? Is the DVD worth the extra price?

 

[fbecir]

Gonna get this one next week. Did anyone get the CD/DVD version? Is the DVD worth the extra price?

The DVD is just the movie that you can see on Youtube, but in a better quality.
In France there are just 2 euros of difference between the CD alone and the CD / DVD ... thus for 2€ I bought the CD / DVD edition.

 

[lumberjack]

The DVD is just the movie that you can see on Youtube, but in a better quality.
In France there are just 2 euros of difference between the CD alone and the CD / DVD ... thus for 2€ I bought the CD / DVD edition.

Cool thanks for the information.

 

[ThatsAgood1jay]

Just finished my first listen through, Was not paying too much attention because I am doing physics homework. But my initial impression is it is obvious MP was wrangling in Jordan Rudess, there is alot more synth experimentation in this album. Not a bad thing, but its a very different direction on some of the tracks.

I found the guitar tones.....a bit boring actually. He used alot of the same crunch sounds heard on the last album which I was really not a fan of. The clean tones are amazing though. Tone-wise, I kinda wish JP would lean back more towards the Awake and Falling into Infinity, but thats just me.

It generally takes me 3 or 4 listens to really internalize and formulate an opinion of an album though, so ill post more once I do that haha.

 

[cm_17]

Got it today. Not sure how some folks think it's reminiscent of Images & Words. But again, as also others have stated, I usually need a few focused listening runs to fully appreciate all. Some songs immediately stuck out to me, On the Backs of Angels and Outcry. Love the soloing and lead tone in these. Definitely great synth work on the whole album, I've been missing that in the past.

Curious to see them live here in Boston soon! Hard to digest that it's been almost 20 years since the first time I saw these guys...

 

[Mr Wallin]

Is it just me or is this album pretty undynamic? It's so much strings and choir all the time. And most of the time when Jp plays the lead it's also a distorted guitar in the back to make it sound bigger. Sometimes it just get to intense for me.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Got it today. Not sure how some folks think it's reminiscent of Images & Words. But again, as also others have stated, I usually need a few focused listening runs to fully appreciate all. Some songs immediately stuck out to me, On the Backs of Angels and Outcry. Love the soloing and lead tone in these. Definitely great synth work on the whole album, I've been missing that in the past.

Curious to see them live here in Boston soon! Hard to digest that it's been almost 20 years since the first time I saw these guys...

I agree. It's more SFAM than IAM and heavy like TOT. I do love the crunch tone. What I like more is that the percussion isn't so glaringly in your face so Myung actually cuts in the mix. Not as much as I'd like but it's a start. Also Labrie is much better here. If you listen to Static Impulse it's interestIng how much range he has and how absent it was from BcSL and SC. It's a step up for sure.

 

[RocketRalf]

One word: WOW!

At the beginning I was a bit meh, specially since I already knew the opening single pretty well. But it just builds up after that one, track after track of new material and different facets to each of the band members that were not present before. JP is more JP than ever, Rudess shines like never before, I didn't know he could be so tasteful. We can hear Myung. James brings his trademark melodic lines from his solo output which can only be a good thing. The mix is their best by far. The ballads are also their best, very touching. And to top all that, the concept is amazing, I was a bit scared when I read about it, but they totally pulled it off, and it makes for a few unpredictable twists which are very welcome on what was becoming a very stale formula. I love how the re-imagined some of the classic melodies and harmonies to come out with something so fresh.

 

[Roubster]

I love how everyone is a critic. Not only here, but on the JP forum. I would love to see all these guys criticizing and comparing one album to another pull off anything remotely as tight as this!

That said, I feel that this is a very solid album from beginning to end. And as the guys said themselves a new chapter for DT. So far MY personal favorite is Breaking All Illusions. If that tune is not classic DT and the epitome of prog I don't know what is.

Oh yea, and Mangini did a nice job !

I'm on my 5th listen since I bought it early this morning .

 

[BrosphsMystic80]

I love how everyone is a critic. Not only here, but on the JP forum. I would love to see all these guys criticizing and comparing one album to another pull off anything remotely as tight as this!

That said, I feel that this is a very solid album from beginning to end. And as the guys said themselves a new chapter for DT. So far MY personal favorite is Breaking All Illusions. If that tune is not classic DT and the epitome of prog I don't know what is.

Oh yea, and Mangini did a nice job !

I'm on my 5th listen since I bought it early this morning .

Im with you on Breaking all Illusions (I've listened to that song half a dozen times just by itself). That nice little melodic line by JP I think before and after the solo break (he plays it up an octave after the solo) is definitely classic DT without question. IMHO of course

 

[whitestrat]

I love how everyone is a critic. Not only here, but on the JP forum. I would love to see all these guys criticizing and comparing one album to another pull off anything remotely as tight as this!

I think it's not so much about being a critic, but rather, realising the similarities in the song structures between the 2 albums. I'm not fully getting what Thiago is saying in his posts, but I do see a very similar structure between OTBOA and PMU. So similar in fact that they really do seem to have exactly the same structure.

That's totally cool. But not what makes a hit album. you can't recreate a hit album just by recreating structures. The content matters too, and I think DT have done it impressively well with ADTOE. And yet, the only persons involved in IAW back then still present were the 2 Johns and James.

To be able to have this close a coincidence wth Jordan involved is almost mystical, but knowing how talented these guys are, I really wouldn't be surprised if it was intentional, and I highly applaud the effort considering their music aren't 3 min Greed Day songs.

Have to wait for the rest of the album to arive in 1 or 2 weeks from Amazon though. Damn... I hate waiting.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Breaking All Illusions is fracking amazing. JP's solo is so well phrased and BLUESY. Haven't heard that in a while. Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!!

 

[BrosphsMystic80]

Breaking All Illusions is fracking amazing. JP's solo is so well phrased and BLUESY. Haven't heard that in a while. Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!!

It reminded me alot of Lines in the Sand with the slow breakdown mid-song with a nice bluesy solo and then another build up. Def my favorite track!