Parasomnia Timeline Thread

[Progmaniac1988]

Jordan goes a bit further into DT16 in this new interview. Confirms James is recording as we speak. Says he sounds great. JP outdid himself with solos. Feels the Portnoy Energy. Sounds like Classic DT.

[MetropolisWatches]

I'm hoping the new album is genuinely reinvigorating... and not simply BC&SL part 2.

[Progmaniac1988]

I'm hoping the new album is genuinely reinvigorating... and not simply BC&SL part 2.

I'd be really surprised if it sounded like BC&SL pt 2. They all have matured their sounds quite a bit since then. I personally expect something like a cross between scenes, six degrees and TOT. I expect their more epic proggy side with a heavier edge maybe?? Just my feeling. I may be wrong lol

[MetropolisWatches]

I'd be really surprised if it sounded like BC&SL pt 2. They all have matured their sounds quite a bit since then. I personally expect something like a cross between scenes, six degrees and TOT. I expect their more epic proggy side with a heavier edge maybe?? Just my feeling. I may be wrong lol

My preference: it leans towards the spirit of Six Degrees and the vibe established on some of the best Falling Into Infinity tracks (New Millennium, Hell's Kitchen, Lines in The Sand, and Trial of Tears). I want to see DT do something genuinely experimental again -- with both the production and songwriting.

I also highly doubt the upcoming release will be a concept album (at least, one with a narrative like SFAM). Something with an overarching concept/theme like Octavarium or Six Degrees would be far more likely.

It's also time to retire the accompanying Portnoy vocal growls (the ones found all over SC and BC&SL).

[Progmaniac1988]

My preference: it leans towards Six Degrees and the vibe established on some of the best Falling Into Infinity tracks (New Millennium, Hell's Kitchen, Lines in The Sand, and Trial of Tears). I want to see DT do something genuinely experimental again.

I also highly doubt the upcoming release will be a concept album (at least, one with a narrative like SFAM).

It's also time to retire the accompanying Portnoy vocal growls (the ones found all over SC and BC&SL).

I'd be totally down with an album in that direction! I doubt Portnoy will bring back growls seeing how lot of DT fans were not crazy abt it lol. I expect him doing background singing tho.

[Setlist Scotty]

I'd be totally down with an album in that direction! I doubt Portnoy will bring back growls seeing how lot of DT fans were not crazy abt it lol. I expect him doing background singing tho.

I hope you're right as I'm not a fan, but my gut feeling is we'll see some. Hope I'm wrong.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I'd be really surprised if it sounded like BC&SL pt 2. They all have matured their sounds quite a bit since then. I personally expect something like a cross between scenes, six degrees and TOT. I expect their more epic proggy side with a heavier edge maybe?? Just my feeling. I may be wrong lol

Probably this. A LOT of time has gone by personally and professionally. I am not sure that is even where they want to pick up.

My best guess is an album that sounds like it makes sense coming out of View, except with drum parts that are very similar to the period that precedes the MM era. Based on these interviews that are coming out I expect JP to bring it and for the band to show musically why this band needed a change.

[evilasiojr]

Jordan goes a bit further into DT16 in this new interview. Confirms James is recording as we speak. Says he sounds great. JP outdid himself with solos. Feels the Portnoy Energy. Sounds like Classic DT.

"We survived fine...", he used the word "survived" a few times...

Wow, that bad huh?! It's funny because most of us here wouldn't agree saying DT (solely) "survived" these last years without MP, but it seems internally those guys were really in need of a major change, like MP coming back. He really seems to play a huge part in this band's vitality. Glad it happened then.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

My preference: it leans towards the spirit of Six Degrees and the vibe established on some of the best Falling Into Infinity tracks (New Millennium, Hell's Kitchen, Lines in The Sand, and Trial of Tears). I want to see DT do something genuinely experimental again -- with both the production and songwriting.

I definitely agree with all of that

It's also time to retire the accompanying Portnoy vocal growls (the ones found all over SC and BC&SL).

Yep, we've had enough of the cookie monster singing!

[MirrorMask]

About the direction, I hope it's gonna be something rich and varied like Dramatic was.

After the gamble they took with The Astonishing, to "compensate" they did two albums in a row going all in with the heaviness: d/t has six heavy songs, one ballad and two epics, View has 5 heavy songs, an epic an an "happy sounding" lighter tune. Not enough variety.

Criticize all you want the details you don't like of the Jordan / Mike I era, but from SFAM to Octavarium it was one hell of a ride: classic concept, experimental album, heavy album, mellow proggy album.... the third album in a row chock full of heavy stuff and a bloated epic or two just won't do for me.

[Progmaniac1988]

About the direction, I hope it's gonna be something rich and varied like Dramatic was.

After the gamble they took with The Astonishing, to "compensate" they did two albums in a row going all in with the heaviness: d/t has six heavy songs, one ballad and two epics, View has 5 heavy songs, an epic an an "happy sounding" lighter tune. Not enough variety.

Criticize all you want the details you don't like of the Jordan / Mike I era, but from SFAM to Octavarium it was one hell of a ride: classic concept, experimental album, heavy album, mellow proggy album.... the third album in a row chock full of heavy stuff and a bloated epic or two just won't do for me.

Hey man, I could never knock that era... I love all DT, but personally for me Scenes thru Black Clouds is my fav and most listened to DT albums!

[crystalstars17]

the third album in a row chock full of heavy stuff and a bloated epic or two just won't do for me.

Some of us really, really love these albums (and the last five in general), though...

Whatever we get, I just hope they don't throw away the formula that's been working. I would like to see a forward-looking culmination of where they've been AND where they've been headed.

[Awaken]

Jordan goes a bit further into DT16 in this new interview. Confirms James is recording as we speak. Says he sounds great. JP outdid himself with solos. Feels the Portnoy Energy. Sounds like Classic DT.

This has me (more) excited

[KevShmev]

About the direction, I hope it's gonna be something rich and varied like Dramatic was.

After the gamble they took with The Astonishing, to "compensate" they did two albums in a row going all in with the heaviness: d/t has six heavy songs, one ballad and two epics, View has 5 heavy songs, an epic an an "happy sounding" lighter tune. Not enough variety.

Criticize all you want the details you don't like of the Jordan / Mike I era, but from SFAM to Octavarium it was one hell of a ride: classic concept, experimental album, heavy album, mellow proggy album.... the third album in a row chock full of heavy stuff and a bloated epic or two just won't do for me.

You're being quite generous with the word if you are considering Barstool Warrior and At Wit's End to be "heavy" songs. 

[MirrorMask]

Yeah I kinda forgot that Barstool Warrior was a thing, sorry 

[Herrick]

It's also time to retire the accompanying Portnoy vocal growls (the ones found all over SC and BC&SL).

The only "growling" I remember is that one part in A Nightmare to Remember. But yeah, I wouldn't want to hear that on this new album.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

The only "growling" I remember is that one part in A Nightmare to Remember. But yeah, I wouldn't want to hear that on this new album.

A Rite Of Passage and ITPOE Part 1 are some others that I can think of

[illusionist]

My guess is that we'll get something progressive with the guitar on the forefront, and beautiful keyboard sounds.
Something about the grand piano inclines me towards Gutter Ballet vibes, we'll see.
The new epic(s) will be as epic as they can get, and i expect something really interesting in terms of the structure of the album.
And finally, since they have never done one, i expect a red themed cover artwork, they have way too many blues in their catalog.

[geeeemo]

Am I the only one who likes the growls? I think its fun, surprising and gives some extura texture to the songs. I like what James did with Nightmare without Portnoy, but when I hear it, I miss the Portnoy growl.

[MinistroRaven]

My guess is that we'll get something progressive with the guitar on the forefront, and beautiful keyboard sounds.
Something about the grand piano inclines me towards Gutter Ballet vibes, we'll see.
The new epic(s) will be as epic as they can get, and i expect something really interesting in terms of the structure of the album.
And finally, since they have never done one, i expect a red themed cover artwork, they have way too many blues in their catalog.

They have Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) which is a red cover artwork, plus they have the autobiography (1st edition) which was and all red cover bookcase

[Progmaniac1988]

Am I the only one who likes the growls? I think its fun, surprising and gives some extura texture to the songs. I like what James did with Nightmare without Portnoy, but when I hear it, I miss the Portnoy growl.

Never Bothered me. The Nightmare part really grew on me personally. I think there's a group of DT fans that never got into death metal or anything like that. So when DT started incorporating harsh vocals into their music (it was barely a growl more like thrash metal shouts) it just turned some fans off. DT's fan base is very vast. So everything always seems to be a split except that images and words is a classic. We all at least agree on that. I think lol, but yeah dude I'm with you. I dig the harsh vocals.

[gzarruk]

And finally, since they have never done one, i expect a red themed cover artwork, they have way too many blues in their catalog.

I'd be more excited, on the artwork topic, if they went with someone other than Syme this time, but I don't see that happening. Portnoy is a hugh fan ( ) of him too.

[SuperTaco]

Considering MP returned, and they've talked about continuing their path from 1999-2009, it would feel weird to have the album art done by anyone else.

These guys are on the back nine of their careers. I don't see them changing much from here on out.

[crystalstars17]

Never Bothered me. The Nightmare part really grew on me personally. I think there's a group of DT fans that never got into death metal or anything like that. So when DT started incorporating harsh vocals into their music (it was barely a growl more like thrash metal shouts) it just turned some fans off. DT's fan base is very vast. So everything always seems to be a split except that images and words is a classic. We all at least agree on that. I think lol, but yeah dude I'm with you. I dig the harsh vocals.

I don't mind them experimenting with harsher sounds either (as my musical tastes extend to black metal, metal core and thrash). I think it's part of how they show variety and the fact that they can do anything they put their minds to. I do prefer what James did with these vocals in ANTR, though. 

Now imagine if James started doing some high hiss-y screams like you hear in black metal?! It would be interesting, dare I say lovely, and I think I would cry for joy, as long as it didn't happen at the expense of his already precarious vocal health.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

JR described DT16 as a 'classic DT album' so I am pretty sure that is what we'll be getting.

[Jamesman42]

No growls please.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

Now imagine if James started doing some high hiss-y screams like you hear in black metal?! It would be interesting, dare I say lovely, and I think I would cry for joy, as long as it didn't happen at the expense of his already precarious vocal health.

Somehow, I don't think he'd be able to manage that!

[Progmaniac1988]

I don't mind them experimenting with harsher sounds either (as my musical tastes extend to black metal, metal core and thrash). I think it's part of how they show variety and the fact that they can do anything they put their minds to. I do prefer what James did with these vocals in ANTR, though. 

Now imagine if James started doing some high hiss-y screams like you hear in black metal?! It would be interesting, dare I say lovely, and I think I would cry for joy, as long as it didn't happen at the expense of his already precarious vocal health.

Nice! Yeah I'm a big melodic death metal fan myself so I like the experimentation with the heavy! But I'd pay to see Labrie to some hissy black metal screams 😂. Closest we got to that was "TRAPPED INSIDE THIS OCTAVARIUM!!!" Which I've come to love. Maybe live Mike and James will layer the Nightmare section together. Which might be very effective!

[Adami]

The high scream things from James I can remember are one of the verses in the background on In The Name of God, and the choruses to Build Me Up, Break Me Down. Both cool, but I didn't find them necessary.

[emtee]

Just watched the interview and got NO sense of what some people implied. Just that this is an important album in the band's history.

[crystalstars17]

The high scream things from James I can remember are one of the verses in the background on In The Name of God, and the choruses to Build Me Up, Break Me Down. Both cool, but I didn't find them necessary.

I love the screams in that song 😍 it's a lot like some of the screams he did in the Luna Park dvd, which I also love.

[Progmaniac1988]

I completely forgot about the screams in BMUBMD. Gotta agree I love the rare times James does this!

[naimad]

What are your expectations guys?

I'm happy if the new album is at the level of Distance Over Time. I don't expect something that will blow my mind at this point. What artist can do that in their sixteenth record?..

[CraftyCaleb2483]

What artist can do that in their sixteenth record?..

They could release an hour long epic to trump their longest song, I guess?!

[gzarruk]

They could release an hour long epic to trump their longest song, I guess?!

Basically a full album like A Pleasant Shade of Gray (FW) or The Whirlwind (TA).