Now Playing Thread

[Iggy]

NP Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events
Part three

9. Breaking All Illusions : Wow ! Innovative, fresh, melodic, a masterpiece 
10. Beneath The Surface : another ballad and another good one.

Temporary conclusion : it sounds good, I would say it's more pop/prog than metal (sorry Nicky  ). I feared a "free to put weird keyboards sounds everywhere" Rudess but he is discrete and melodic most of the time. Petrucci delivers a bunch of great solos, LaBrie's voice seems more forced than on BC&SL but it's still OK.

Finally, Tom could be right. Time will tell ...

I too hope it is a grower. I find myself agreeing more with Bupie than Tom. I really can't find anything new on the album apart from the beginning of Bridges in the sky.

[maddox]

Anathema ~ Judgement

[Teunis]

Anathema ~ Judgement

I have pre-ordered the 'new' one 'Falling Deeper'. Not totally new: 'Featuring brand new orchestral arrangements of material from Anathema's earliest days, Falling Deeper continues where the acclaimed 2008 release Hindsight left off.'
Growls from the early days are gone  (sorry Nicky  )

np: Neal Morse - Testimony Two

still my favourite 2011 release!

[maddox]

I have pre-ordered the 'new' one 'Falling Deeper'. Not totally new: 'Featuring brand new orchestral arrangements of material from Anathema's earliest days, Falling Deeper continues where the acclaimed 2008 release Hindsight left off.'
Growls from the early days are gone  (sorry Nicky  )

You know what, I feel a bit dissapointed that they renewed some old tracks, like they did on Hindsight.
The world had to wait for seven years to be treated with a gem like We're Here because We're Here and prior to that album there is Hindsight and afterwards they release this album, which also contains old tracks in a new coat.

I really hoped that they would come with something new this time.

And from what I have heard, the keyboard player, Les Smith, has decided to part ways.
It seems to be a mutual decision. ...
Musical differences.

NP> Faith no More ~ Angeldust

[maddox]

Finally!!!!

Arch/Matheos ~ Sympathetic Resonance

A continuation of the A Twist of Fate (2003) album with Arch, Matheos and Mike Portnoy but with members like Joey Vera, Frank Aresti and Bobby Jarzombek it's more a Fates Warning album without Ray Alder than an actual project between Jon Arch and Jim Matheos.

With a V8 engine!

Marvelous album, highly recommended!!! 

[Teunis]

You know what, I feel a bit dissapointed that they renewed some old tracks, like they did on Hindsight.
The world had to wait for seven years to be treated with a gem like We're Here because We're Here and prior to that album there is Hindsight and afterwards they release this album, which also contains old tracks in a new coat.

I really hoped that they would come with something new this time.

Of course I prefer a new album, but this is a good opportunity for me to hear their oldest music. And I do like it a lot  . In the booklet was some promotion from their record company KScope, they mentioned a new Anathema album for 2012 .

Today:
Anathema - Falling Deeper
Toto - Isolation
Neal Morse - Testimony

[Nicky007]

I too hope it is a grower.

Of course it's a grower. Have DT ever released a studio album that's not ?

Every album by DT has turned out to be a treasure trove of infinite discovery and joy. These guys work long and hard at creating their music. Keep that in mind, guys. To scratch at the surface of a DT-album and make general statements about it is very unprog. Aint that so, Tom & Mad 


NP  Not so far from DT:   Dominici: O3, Part 2

A few months ago I posted some links to this ingenious work, but since there has been so little response in the Room, I feel urged to post again. Here are two of the most catchy pieces on Part 2, the first and last track. Note Brian Maillard's guitar playing 

Monster     www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPAaBVTrMJU

A New Hope     www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhPtaGKZ70I

The lyrics on O3 are strong too 

Guys 


Great to see so much activity in the Room 

That's the way it should be always 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

Growls from the early days are gone  (sorry Nicky  )

Actually I don't either like much their early stuff 

From Eternity on it's pure joy 

And the addition of Lee Douglas on vocals is 

np: Neal Morse - Testimony Two

still my favourite 2011 release!

Well, Teunis, you'r pretty convincing ..... 

You know, I can still enjoy non-growly stuff 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP> Faith No More ~ Angel Dust

Another group that should get more attention in the Room, pantheon with me (no growl, only Mike Patton's snarls) 

Arch/Matheos ~ Sympathetic Resonance

Marvelous album, highly recommended!!! 

Sounds good, Mad. Thanx for yer recom, got it on my SL. I'm so much of a Matheos fan that I gotta have everything that he does (I have all the FW studios, the live double-cd (wonderful  ), and the first two OSI's) 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

This should interest DT-fans:

www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=jLj6VP9VA9Q

I can only say:  WOW !!!

Here is also one of the rare occasions where we can see JM show some of his wizardry 

And I think it's great that all members of DT, current and previous, are such good friends and respectful and helpful to each other, particularly knowing how painful some of their lineup changes have been 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

And some quality music

NP  Dominici:  O3, Part 1

This guy sings and strums yer pants off 

And man, what a story 

Guy-hiys 

Nicky.

[PH]

This should interest DT-fans:

www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=jLj6VP9VA9Q

I can only say:  WOW !!!

Yeah! That was pretty awesome!


I've listened to Dream Theater's latest and well it was undoubtly really good! One of the most highly anticipated releases for me this year.

From the first listen I knew "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" is a grower. And there are some songs on it which I think of as one of the finest Dream Theater songs. At least of the past ten years.

DT can be summed up in three parts:
The 'old' Dream Theater: "When Dream..." till "Falling..."
Then we have: "Scenes..." till "Octavarium"
And the 'new' DT: "Systematic Chaos" till "Dramatic Turn..."

I have to say, with "Systematic Chaos" DT entered a new course which I didn't particularly like. "Black Clouds And Silver Linings" was much better already, but with "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" DT is back in business!
Although some songs suffer the Systematic Chaos illness. I'll get back on all that when I'll do a track-by-track review like Bupie did.

[funkster]

Opeth - Ghost Reveries

In anticipation of treating myself to Heritage next week after i have been paid 

[maddox]

Opeth - Ghost Reveries

In anticipation of treating myself to Heritage next week after i have been paid

Ah, the vicious end-of-the-month syndrome.

[funkster]

You got that right Mad 

[maddox]

You got that right Mad 

I know all to well how it feels, Funkster.
I buy way to much cd's every month, but yet not enough since there's always one or two (or three) that I have to pass. Can't buy them all.

NP> Dream Theater ~ Train of Thought

[maddox]

Orphaned Land ~ The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR

[Nicky007]

there's always one or two (or three) that I have to pass.

Hm, I got about 300 of those (my SL) 

NP  Black Sabbath:  Best Of  (double cd up to 1990, but only three songs with Dio)

Dio-Sabbath sounds surprisingly different from Ozzy-Sabbath. Dio-S is more metal as we know it today, while Ozzy-S is quite special and covers several genres 

Until recently, I had only listened properly to rather few Sabbath songs, mainly from their first two albums. It's been a pleasant surprise to me to experience that Sabbath are a lot more exciting than I thought 

And I can hear grunge being prepared by early Sabbath 

Anyone else into Sabbath ?

Nicky.

[maddox]

Anyone else into Sabbath ?

Nicky.

Only the Dio and the Tony Martin-era.

The rest is spinal tap or history written and rewritten.

[Nicky007]

The rest is spinal tap or history written and rewritten.

Hey Mad, did you just smoke somethin real strong 


NP  Anubis Gate:  Andromeda Unchained

Thrilling, but demanding 

Mad, what do you think of it ?

Anubis have just released a new studio album, self-titled 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Hey Mad, did you just smoke somethin real strong 

Haha. 

No, not at all.
What I meant was that with Ozzy it's spinal tap and they set the pace for many bands to come (wrote history) but rewrote it also but in a eh...Spinal tappish way. :lol:

NP  Anubis Gate:  Andromeda Unchained

Thrilling, but demanding 

Mad, what do you think of it ?

Well since I do own the albums Andromeda Unchained (awesome piece of progmetal  ) and The Detached, I'd say that I do like them.
Could be a little brother of Circus Maximus; Dream Theaterish progmetal but a bit more melodic with a pretty good singer/producer, Jacob Hansen.

Anubis have just released a new studio album, self-titled 

Nicky.

On this album the vocal duties has been overtaken by bassplayer Henrik Fevre. Jacob has left through the gate.

But I didn't know that his album was already released! 

Another one to buy....

[Manatee]

Anyone else into Sabbath ?

I like me some Sabbath, particularly the older stuff.   Saw them once but with Dio not Ozzy.

JP:  Phideaux - Snowtorch        I really like this one.  I read somewhere or other that it's kinda sorta inspired by Jethro Tull's Thick As a Brick (one of my all-time fave albums).  I can see that somewhat in the structure of the album (it's essentially one big song), although the sound is its own thing, of course.

JP: Phideaux - 313    An older one -- not quite up there with their more recent gems but still a fun bunch of songs.

JP: Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring    Supposedly the "extra" songs from the Fear of a Blank Planet recordings, but IMO even better than FOABP.   I may have said that before.   

NP:Porcupine Tree - Signify   I think this may be about where they began to hit their stride.  Some really strong stuff but still a few songs that are a little spacier and more random sounds than I prefer.

[Iggy]

Of course it's a grower. Have DT ever released a studio album that's not ?

Every album by DT has turned out to be a treasure trove of infinite discovery and joy. These guys work long and hard at creating their music. Keep that in mind, guys. To scratch at the surface of a DT-album and make general statements about it is very unprog. Aint that so, Tom & Mad 

I do like most of DT but for som reason I just don't like Systematic Chaos.

A dramatic turn of events is sounding better each play. I wonder what it is with Systematic Chaos.

Now playing Symphonic Yes which is a cracking live CD.

[Nicky007]

I wonder what it is with Systematic Chaos.

Hm, I find it just as great as the others. That instrumental intro - whew !  Iggy, maybe your lady broke up with you while/because listening to SC 

Looks like the Room was down for a while. What happened, Cap ?


NP  Spheric Universe Experience: Unreal

Great French metal 

I suggest you listen to the YouTube Mix if ya don't know'm 

I'd say that France with groups like Gojira, Adagio, and SUE have joined the top-league of progmetal now 

Gratz Bups 

... together with UK, US, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Germany - imo.

The Poles are great on the musical side, but their lyrics aint yet quite up there. Denmark has Anubis Gate, but imo no other quite pantheon group. Finland has Amorphis ... and a bunch of saloon metal groups 

But let's put these countries in second league together with Netherlands, Ireland, Australia, and Brazil.

So, probably whipped up a storm here; let me hear what you think, guys 

Nicky.

[Teunis]

Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape