Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events

[AMBR]

What a joy! Had a chance to hear this over the weekend and I am thrilled with this album! This is the Dream Theater sound I fell in love with. This is Dream Theater showing all their instrumental skill in compositions that are fresh and focused. Mangini not only sets a groove but supports and directs the melodies in a way that is so stimulating and exciting. I nearly cried with happiness and relief to once again hear something from my first prog love that inspires and makes me want to play it over and over. Alas, the promo wasn't mine and I'll now have to wait to get the real deal when it's released.

Anyone else hear the promo? What are your thoughts?

 

[txprog]

Great news! I think many who have grown tired of DT over the years may come back into the fold. I have been a loyal fan, enjoying many great moments from their recent albums, but if what you and others say is true we may have something at another level here.

I, personlly, had grown tired of Portnoy. Great drummer, GREAT advocate for his band, but his influence and control was troubling: growling vocals, inconsistent song writing, covers (the Master of Puppets debacle in Chicago was handled horribly by Porntoy in my opinion.)

Whatever the case, a fresh start with JP and JR obviously in control, with hopefully more contribution from JM and JLB.

Looking forward to the release and to the shows with my boys in Dallas and Austin, the latter of which will be at the UT Performing Arts Center, one of the very finest venues in the entire country.

 

[Burke]

BEST news I have heard in a long time.

I loved the promo song - I heard about a minute of another track online and loved that.

My hopes were high - can't wait to hear the rest of the CD - thanks for the feedback!!

 

[ratanda]

(the Master of Puppets debacle in Chicago was handled horribly by Porntoy in my opinion.)

What's this all about then?

 

[VenomGA]

What a joy! Had a chance to hear this over the weekend and I am thrilled with this album! This is the Dream Theater sound I fell in love with. This is Dream Theater showing all their instrumental skill in compositions that are fresh and focused. Mangini not only sets a groove but supports and directs the melodies in a way that is so stimulating and exciting. I nearly cried with happiness and relief to once again hear something from my first prog love that inspires and makes me want to play it over and over. Alas, the promo wasn't mine and I'll now have to wait to get the real deal when it's released.

Anyone else hear the promo? What are your thoughts?

So does this mean it is a return to Images and Words type of sound?

 

[AMBR]

So does this mean it is a return to Images and Words type of sound?

You know, I was hesitant to put a comparison like that in my description because some people will definitely think so and then others won't and then there will be this huge debate. That will happen anyway, but better after everyone has heard it.

I personally think it does have a lot of the Images and Words feel to it, but not entirely. There are concise songs with focused melodies and a clear direction, but there are a few with more protracted prog sections in some of the songs as well. I think fans of all the different styles of their albums will find something to please them. That's my opinion anyway. I sure was pleased with it in its entirety.

 

[Justin G]

I wasn't thrilled by the one song they posted, but there's enough fanboy in me that I preordered the album. I guess I'm cautiously pessimistic at this point.

 

[1000 Faces]

What's this all about then?

I guess people were upset when they played Master of Puppets in its entirety during the second set of a three-hour show in Chicago in '02. I was there. I didn't have a problem with it, because I like Master of Puppets and I still got to hear 2+ hours of Dream Theater material.

I was not a party to the aftermath, though. How did Portnoy botch it?

 

[J-Dubya 777]

I guess people were upset when they played Master of Puppets in its entirety during the second set of a three-hour show in Chicago in '02. I was there. I didn't have a problem with it, because I like Master of Puppets and I still got to hear 2+ hours of Dream Theater material.

I was not a party to the aftermath, though. How did Portnoy botch it?

I don't remeember Portnoy botching it, but James threw a hissy fit over the teleprompters.......

 

[gilpdawg]

I don't remeember Portnoy botching it, but James threw a hissy fit over the teleprompters.......

Ha, I remember that now. He couldn't sing Battery because the prompter wasn't working so he just mumbled the whole thing.

And anybody who bitched about that show is a moron. Almost everyone around me at that show, was also at the show the night before, so most people had three totally different sets of DT music and they got mad because they did one set of covers. Come on.

 

[Justin G]

JUst preordered that crazy boxset of theres...I was losing interest as well with them over the last few yrs but Black CLouds really got me into them again bigtime with The Count of Tuscany being one of the best songs they have written in the last decade or so

See, I'd consider that one of their worst songs. Go figure.

 

[TribunalRecords]

I guess people were upset when they played Master of Puppets in its entirety during the second set of a three-hour show in Chicago in '02. I was there. I didn't have a problem with it, because I like Master of Puppets and I still got to hear 2+ hours of Dream Theater material.

I was not a party to the aftermath, though. How did Portnoy botch it?

isn't it well known that if they play the same city 2 nights in a row they TREAT that city to a special full album cover performance? i would have been counting my lucky stars to have been at that show! Although in '02 it might not have been proclaimed that they did the album cover. either way, i love the CD i have of the Metallica set.

 

[1000 Faces]

isn't it well known that if they play the same city 2 nights in a row they TREAT that city to a special full album cover performance? i would have been counting my lucky stars to have been at that show! Although in '02 it might not have been proclaimed that they did the album cover. either way, i love the CD i have of the Metallica set.

Well, Master was the first one that they did and Chicago was, I believe, the second time they did it. As I recall, they'd announced "something special" for the second set on the second night, but not specifically that it would be a cover of someone else's album. I had an inkling, as I'd heard about the previous Master show, but apparently some people were disappointed. I'm relatively sure that aside from when they played Master in New York a couple weeks later, they never did another covers show in the U.S., and now that Portnoy's gone, they're not going to be doing shows like that anymore.

 

[ThXinc]

As a well documented fan of Dream Theater since 1992, I guess I've been a little biased. No album has ever been 'bad' for me. They just each have had their own distinct feel or sound. I've been very accepting of what they've done, mostly because of what they've done for me in regards to how our stories have been parallel for so long and have allowed me to live vicariously through their music. This is definitely good news Amber as I eagerly await the new album as always.

As much as I admired Portnoy for so many years, (I'm even the 'Keeper of Blue Beard II from the LTE show in SF) I agree that he became somewhat overpowered with ego. My learnings in life have taught me the evils of ego and how it can interfere with relationships, creativity and humility. I could see this in recent years with MP.

I can imagine his departure will result in the band being able to restore some of the creative elements of some of the best song writers in the band, JM and JP as well as allow the influence of JM and MM to continue to push them forward as THE force to be reckoned with and continue to define PROGRESSIVE music.

Thanks for the early review, I'll have to pick up my copy in ATL as a regular consumer. Hope it'll be available at one of the distributor tables?

 

[Bamafan]

Dream Theater is the band that expanded my tastes to prog metal. I'm excited about the new album, especially after reading such a nice review. Thanks Amber!

 

[AMBR]

Another review. This from Drumhead Magazine.

Drumhead Magazine CD reveiw: Dream Theater's A Dramatic Turn Of Event
by Drumhead Magazine on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 4:55pm

Dream Theater’s new album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events, conjures up that feeling of anticipation and excitement brought on by the band’s early albums Images And Words and Awake. Evident in Petrucci and Rudess’s new compositions, Mangini’s abilities around the kit have allowed them to explore uncharted territories in the outer boundaries of serious and seriously enjoyable progressive metal. Able to match these two masters through his lightning-fast execution, true ambidextrous talent and Apex drum setup, Mangini often replicates their intricate lines both rhythmically and melodically note-for-note. Rising to the top of the Superdrummer heap, Mangini demonstrates the physical prowess and agility of a racehorse, stretching to play at the top of his talents and reining himself in to allow his bandmates to do the same. DToE is 2011’s five-star attraction.

-Mover / Smith



Copies of Drumhead’s Mike Mangini 18-page cover feature can be purchased at www.drumheadmag.com.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

Well, Master was the first one that they did and Chicago was, I believe, the second time they did it. As I recall, they'd announced "something special" for the second set on the second night, but not specifically that it would be a cover of someone else's album. I had an inkling, as I'd heard about the previous Master show, but apparently some people were disappointed. I'm relatively sure that aside from when they played Master in New York a couple weeks later, they never did another covers show in the U.S., and now that Portnoy's gone, they're not going to be doing shows like that anymore.

They did Number Of The Beast in the US. That was it.

Anyways, this album is surprisingly awesome. Their best since Scenes From A Memory without a doubt. Not top 10 worthy, and probably not even top 20 worthy (although who knows where my head is at in a few months), but a great effort that beats the crap out of their last two duds.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

edit: on second listen, this is definitely top 20 worthy. Where did they find this sense of melody that had felt lost for 10 years?

 

[dtfanatic]

They did Number Of The Beast in the US. That was it.

Anyways, this album is surprisingly awesome. Their best since Scenes From A Memory without a doubt. Not top 10 worthy, and probably not even top 20 worthy (although who knows where my head is at in a few months), but a great effort that beats the crap out of their last two duds.

They never did Beast in the States.

 

[nomisofsiman]

They never did Beast in the States.

That's the only official bootleg of theirs I wish they had never done. It just didn't work.