AVFTTOTW First Single - The Alien 👽- Friday the 13th! (Pre-Orders as well!)

[geeeemo]

Sounds similar to the first song from LTE3 "Hypersonic".   Which is a good thing. 

With faster drums.

Will Mangini do something like the holy s**t moment in this video

https://youtu.be/AUD7VRgDFfs

Looked like he was feeling it there!...

[PixelDream]

Lol, Awake is my favorite sounding DT album. It sounds colorful, full-bodied, dynamic and heavy. And cheesy 90's reverb, but that's okay.

This new snippet indeed sounds like this album could easily be the best sounding MM era album. It has always eluded me why they have never really gotten it 'right' so far in the MM era. There's always something (weak drums / bad snare / overcompressed).

[wolfking]

Lol, Awake is my favorite sounding DT album. It sounds colorful, full-bodied, dynamic and heavy. And cheesy 90's reverb, but that's okay.

This new snippet indeed sounds like this album could easily be the best sounding MM era album. It has always eluded me why they have never really gotten it 'right' so far in the MM era. There's always something (weak drums / bad snare / overcompressed).

I think I agree.  I've always thought that album sounded absolutely incredible.

[Polarbear]

Lol, Awake is my favorite sounding DT album. It sounds colorful, full-bodied, dynamic and heavy. And cheesy 90's reverb, but that's okay.

This new snippet indeed sounds like this album could easily be the best sounding MM era album. It has always eluded me why they have never really gotten it 'right' so far in the MM era. There's always something (weak drums / bad snare / overcompressed).

I think I agree.  I've always thought that album sounded absolutely incredible.

Also agree with the bolded part! Awake indeed sounds really good!

As for the new sample, it sounds promising, but can't say more than that at this point.

[wolfking]

I have always found Awake just perfect in its sound.  The mix is great and you can hear everything evenl,y nothing sounds cluttered or any instruments trying to outdo each other.  Everything is placed nicely and the tones on everything just sound sharp and strong.  Love JP's tone and the vocal production on James here is fabulous.

[JLa]

Glad to see some love for Awake. I too think it sounds really good, both music- and production wise.

The music in the Alien teaser didn't click with me, but it's only 30 seconds of an entire album so I don't mind.

[Öxölklöfför]

Posted by Moncho Enchiburu on this FB post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dreamtheaterworld/permalink/1054323665100705/. Hilarious.

[Kotowboy]

Agreed. But I think most Dream Theater albums sound pretty good anyway.

Agreed.  I think everybody except Kowtow thinks that.  Other than Awake, the only albums that sound a bit wonky are some of the live albums (Luna Park and Breaking the Fourth Wall come to mind).  But the studio album mostly all sound great.

Nope. I like how all DT albums sound. With the exception of how hot Systematic Chaos is and the snare sound on Dream Theater.

[erwinrafael]

What is the problem with the sound of Awake? Given that my musical awakening is in the mid-90s, I don't find any problem with it.

[KevShmev]

What is the problem with the sound of Awake? Given that my musical awakening is in the mid-90s, I don't find any problem with it.

Nothing at all.  If you crank it up on a good stereo, rather than your iPhone or computer, it sounds fantastic.  We, in fact, used to do that all the time back in the 90's at a buddy's, who had a super duper awesome system.  He was very much an audiophile and he used to marvel at how incredible Awake sounded.

That is why the sound and mix of some of the newer albums is frustrating, as we know DT is capable of making great sounding albums, yet they have gone in the opposite direction. Same thing happened with Rush on their last few albums as well.  It's almost mind-numbing.

That said, the sound of this teaser, again, does give me hope that the new album will be a vast improvement over most of the mixes we have gotten in the Mangini era. 

[devieira73]

I have always found Awake just perfect in its sound.  The mix is great and you can hear everything evenl,y nothing sounds cluttered or any instruments trying to outdo each other.  Everything is placed nicely and the tones on everything just sound sharp and strong.  Love JP's tone and the vocal production on James here is fabulous.

Perfect description! I also love Awake's sound!
I think that DT has overall very good sounding albums with very different production styles, I guess because they resonate a bit with the trends of the times they were made. Yes, there's some occasional true flaws, like WDADU and the drums sound on I&W, ADTOE and DT12, but it's forgivable if we consider the extension of their discography. I've heard this week D/T and, although being a more wall of sound/modern kind of production, I think it is one of their best sounding albums. It has a nice puch and distintion between all the instruments.

[dream416]

This sounds awesome!!!!!! Bring it on!!!!!

[hefdaddy42]

Agreed. But I think most Dream Theater albums sound pretty good anyway.

Agreed.  I think everybody except Kowtow thinks that.  Other than Awake, the only albums that sound a bit wonky are some of the live albums (Luna Park and Breaking the Fourth Wall come to mind).  But the studio album mostly all sound great.

And there's me, who only likes how WDADU and Awake sound, and that's it

Well, there had to be someone.

[bosk1]

What is the problem with the sound of Awake?

I didn't say it was a problem.  I just said that it sounded very different.

[erwinrafael]

What is the problem with the sound of Awake?

I didn't say it was a problem.  I just said that it sounded very different.

Wonky

[ReaPsTA]

I can't say I am excited about Mangini's about speed and complexity,... I will stay positive and remain confident that the songs and melodies on this album will be there. 

Is this the new meta now where we come to a Dream Theater forum and talk about how the technicality of the music is a bummer? Yes I understand we don't want to go back to the era where the instrumental sections were twice as long as they needed to be and had nothing to do with the song's story, but this is like listening to people talk about how they read Playboy for the articles.

[Stadler]

I can't say I am excited about Mangini's about speed and complexity,... I will stay positive and remain confident that the songs and melodies on this album will be there. 

Is this the new meta now where we come to a Dream Theater forum and talk about how the technicality of the music is a bummer? Yes I understand we don't want to go back to the era where the instrumental sections were twice as long as they needed to be and had nothing to do with the song's story, but this is like listening to people talk about how they read Playboy for the articles.

I'm not Kev, but I get where he's coming from; it's a reaction.  Didn't we get three pages of "it's my opinion, I'm psyched, so leave me alone"?  Why can't someone NOT be psyched?  Are we now telling people what they should feel?

And if all that isn't accurate, so be it; at the very least, "not excited" is not the same thing as "bummed".  I'm not excited about his complexity either, because that's not what I look for in music.  That doesn't mean that I'm not excited for the work, or not looking forward to it. I'm just looking forward to other things than some here.   Like Kev, I look for songs and melodies. 

[Bertielee]

Won't listen to the single or any snippet. It'll be hard!!! lol

B.Lee

[ReaPsTA]

Won't listen to the single or any snippet. It'll be hard!!! lol

B.Lee

Isn't The Alien the first song on the album?

It's like you started listening to the album, and then you'll finish it in two months. So much anticipation!

[rab7]

I can't say I am excited about Mangini's about speed and complexity,... I will stay positive and remain confident that the songs and melodies on this album will be there. 

Is this the new meta now where we come to a Dream Theater forum and talk about how the technicality of the music is a bummer? Yes I understand we don't want to go back to the era where the instrumental sections were twice as long as they needed to be and had nothing to do with the song's story, but this is like listening to people talk about how they read Playboy for the articles.

I'm not Kev, but I get where he's coming from; it's a reaction.  Didn't we get three pages of "it's my opinion, I'm psyched, so leave me alone"?  Why can't someone NOT be psyched?  Are we now telling people what they should feel?

And if all that isn't accurate, so be it; at the very least, "not excited" is not the same thing as "bummed".  I'm not excited about his complexity either, because that's not what I look for in music.  That doesn't mean that I'm not excited for the work, or not looking forward to it. I'm just looking forward to other things than some here.   Like Kev, I look for songs and melodies.

From my experience, "not excited" has 90% of the time meant "I do not like". Yes i know the literal meaning of the words tend to neutrality, but it's idiomatic at this point, like how the phrase "more often than not" means "a lot"

[gzarruk]

Somebody posted this pic comment from MM about the song:

[ReaPsTA]

Somebody posted this pic comment from MM about the song:

[snipped out photo]

Please inject this straight into my veins

[KevShmev]

I can't say I am excited about Mangini's about speed and complexity,... I will stay positive and remain confident that the songs and melodies on this album will be there. 

Is this the new meta now where we come to a Dream Theater forum and talk about how the technicality of the music is a bummer? Yes I understand we don't want to go back to the era where the instrumental sections were twice as long as they needed to be and had nothing to do with the song's story, but this is like listening to people talk about how they read Playboy for the articles.

I'm not Kev, but I get where he's coming from; it's a reaction.  Didn't we get three pages of "it's my opinion, I'm psyched, so leave me alone"?  Why can't someone NOT be psyched?  Are we now telling people what they should feel?

And if all that isn't accurate, so be it; at the very least, "not excited" is not the same thing as "bummed".  I'm not excited about his complexity either, because that's not what I look for in music.  That doesn't mean that I'm not excited for the work, or not looking forward to it. I'm just looking forward to other things than some here.   Like Kev, I look for songs and melodies.

Well said, and back to Reap's post, I never said the technicality of the music was a bummer.  Like you, I am more about songs and melodies.  If someone is in it just for the playing, great, but I need more than that.  It would just be nice to see comments from the band where they talk about the songs or the melodies, rather a steady stream of talking about how hard this is to play or how intricate that is or how HEAVY the other is.

[ReaPsTA]

I can't say I am excited about Mangini's about speed and complexity,... I will stay positive and remain confident that the songs and melodies on this album will be there. 

Is this the new meta now where we come to a Dream Theater forum and talk about how the technicality of the music is a bummer? Yes I understand we don't want to go back to the era where the instrumental sections were twice as long as they needed to be and had nothing to do with the song's story, but this is like listening to people talk about how they read Playboy for the articles.

I'm not Kev, but I get where he's coming from; it's a reaction.  Didn't we get three pages of "it's my opinion, I'm psyched, so leave me alone"?  Why can't someone NOT be psyched?  Are we now telling people what they should feel?

And if all that isn't accurate, so be it; at the very least, "not excited" is not the same thing as "bummed".  I'm not excited about his complexity either, because that's not what I look for in music.  That doesn't mean that I'm not excited for the work, or not looking forward to it. I'm just looking forward to other things than some here.   Like Kev, I look for songs and melodies.

Well said, and back to Reap's post, I never said the technicality of the music was a bummer.  Like you, I am more about songs and melodies.  If someone is in it just for the playing, great, but I need more than that.  It would just be nice to see comments from the band where they talk about the songs or the melodies, rather a steady stream of talking about how hard this is to play or how intricate that is or how HEAVY the other is.

disgustingly reasonable take

Posted by Moncho Enchiburu on this FB post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dreamtheaterworld/permalink/1054323665100705/. Hilarious.

god tier

[DreamerTV]

Posted by Moncho Enchiburu on this FB post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dreamtheaterworld/permalink/1054323665100705/. Hilarious.

I hope DT will get to know about this and use it someway during the tour.
It's just too good.

[Architeuthis]

   DT PHONE HOME!!!

[TAC]

   DT PHONE HOME!!!

[Dublagent66]

Agreed. But I think most Dream Theater albums sound pretty good anyway.

Agreed.  I think everybody except Kowtow thinks that.  Other than Awake, the only albums that sound a bit wonky are some of the live albums (Luna Park and Breaking the Fourth Wall come to mind).  But the studio album mostly all sound great.

Not familiar with the term "wonky", but at any rate those live albums sound pretty good to me for being live.  There's always going to be different dynamics live compared to studio.

[CDrice]

   DT PHONE HOME!!!

This E.T., it calls to me

[wolfking]

   DT PHONE HOME!!!

Outstanding.

[octobuss]

Man, I am digging this drum sound. It just sounds super developed. Not rushed into tracking IMO. Very thought out parts, all gelling very nicely!

[jayvee3]

I can't say I am excited about Mangini's about speed and complexity,... I will stay positive and remain confident that the songs and melodies on this album will be there. 

Is this the new meta now where we come to a Dream Theater forum and talk about how the technicality of the music is a bummer? Yes I understand we don't want to go back to the era where the instrumental sections were twice as long as they needed to be and had nothing to do with the song's story, but this is like listening to people talk about how they read Playboy for the articles.

I'm not Kev, but I get where he's coming from; it's a reaction.  Didn't we get three pages of "it's my opinion, I'm psyched, so leave me alone"?  Why can't someone NOT be psyched?  Are we now telling people what they should feel?

And if all that isn't accurate, so be it; at the very least, "not excited" is not the same thing as "bummed".  I'm not excited about his complexity either, because that's not what I look for in music.  That doesn't mean that I'm not excited for the work, or not looking forward to it. I'm just looking forward to other things than some here.   Like Kev, I look for songs and melodies.

Well said, and back to Reap's post, I never said the technicality of the music was a bummer.  Like you, I am more about songs and melodies.  If someone is in it just for the playing, great, but I need more than that.  It would just be nice to see comments from the band where they talk about the songs or the melodies, rather a steady stream of talking about how hard this is to play or how intricate that is or how HEAVY the other is.

I'm sure that will come. But at this stage we've heard 30 seconds of a 9+ minute song. It seems pretty obvious that MM is discussing more technicality for the drummers that visit his page, other than that, there have been a couple of one liners from JM and the 'badass' comment that got way too much grief  So I think like most album cycles, with everything still a couple of months away, all the meat and potatoes discussion/interviews will come in time.

I also know that with DT, heavy, technical, melodic and everything in between features on all their works, even the albums I listen to the least. My favourite part in ANTR is the "beautiful agony" section, and that's after starting particularly frantic. Peruvian Skies ends nothing like how it starts and is brilliant. So I guess I'm just saying there's no doubt going to be a bit of everything on the album - pretty much like there always is 

[erwinrafael]

Somebody posted this pic comment from MM about the song:

So The Alien is Mangini's baby like Paralyzed.

[TAC]

#writingcredit

[erwinrafael]

So while imagining where the song would go based on the snippet, I tried to remember where I heard this pattern in the intro of Jordan playing keyboard chords building up while JP, JM, and MM are slaying it. Then I heard it in the intro of Pale Blue Dot while I was washing dishes. I think I know where they're going with this!

"Who's out there to save us from ourselves?"

THE ALIEN

New meta-album cycle!