New Prog Releases: Dream Theater "The Astonishing"

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Dream Theater "The Astonishing"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Roadrunner Records
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: January 29, 2016
Tracklist:

ACT I

1. Descent Of The NOMACS (1:11)
2. Dystopian Overture (4:51)
3. The Gift Of Music (4:00)
4. The Answer (1:53)
5. A Better Life (4:39)
6. Lord Nafaryus (3:28)
7. A Savior In The Square (4:14)
8. When Your Time Has Come (4:19)
9. Act Of Faythe (5:01)
10. Three Days (3:44)
11. The Hovering Sojourn (0:28)
12. Brother, Can You Hear Me (5:11)
13. A Life Left Behind (5:49)
14. Ravenskill (6:01)
15. Chosen (4:32)
16. A Tempting Offer (4:20)
17. Digital Discord (0:48)
18. The X Aspect (4:13)
19. A New Beginning (7:41)
20. The Road To Revolution (3:35)

Total Act I time 79:58

ACT II

1. 2285 Entr’acte (2:20)
2. Moment Of Betrayal (6:12)
3. Heaven’s Cove (4:20)
4. Begin Again (3:54)
5. The Path That Divides (5:10)
6. Machine Chatter (1:03)
7. The Walking Shadow (2:58)
8. My Last Farewell (3:44)
9. Losing Faythe (4:13)
10. Whispers On The Wind (1:37)
11. Hymn Of A Thousand Voices (3:39)
12. Our New World (4:12)
13. Power Down (1:25)
14. Astonishing (5:51)

Total Act II time 50:38

Line-up:
James LaBrie - vocals
Jordan Rudess - keyboards
John Petrucci - guitars, backing vocals
Michael Mangini - drums
John Myung - bass
With
Eric Rigler - bagpipes (1.18)
David Campbell - orchestral and choir arrangements
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

Description/Reviews

The Astonishing is a much more accessible album than Dream Theater has become known for the past decade or so. First of all, it consists of all very short and concise songs. Every song of the 34 songs is its own work, with a beginning and an end – with the notable exception of one track which flows into the next seamlessly. This also means that the music is much more constrained. For the people looking for long epics with extended sections of soloing and back and forth between instrumental dueling instruments, there is very little of that here. In my opinion, this allows the focus be on the story. ...

This is the most varied Dream Theater album released to date. Where else can you find an album that goes from ballad to theatrical prog metal tango, to melodic rock, with bag pipe sections, violin sections, 20s swing sections that go straight into blast beats, to soaring guitar solos, beautiful piano pieces and an orchestra that just embellishes the music to a level above all else.