Wiki
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Release Date
28 January 2016
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Length
34 tracks
Background :
The Astonishing is the thirteenth studio album and second concept album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater , released as a double album on January 29, 2016 through Roadrunner Records. The album's story was conceived by guitarist John Petrucci in mid-2013, and its music was written throughout 2015 by Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess . Composer David Campbell was hired to assist with orchestrating the album's string lines and choirs. Recording was completed at Cove City Sound Studios in Long Island, New York, with the exception of vocals, which were recorded in Canada. Mixing and sound engineering were performed by the band's longtime collaborator, Richard Chycki, with Petrucci producing.
The Astonishing is set in a dystopian United States and follows the Ravenskill Militia, a band of rebels, in their efforts to defy the Great Northern Empire of the Americas using the magical power of music. It was inspired by contemporary fantasy and science fiction franchises such as Game of Thrones and Star Wars, as well Petrucci's observations on the ubiquity of technological automation in modern day society. In their effort to match the album's narrative, Dream Theater wrote songs in a wide variety of styles ranging from mellow ballads to their more conventional progressive metal sound.
Leading up to the The Astonishing's release, the band marketed the album with its own website, fan mailing lists, and trailers. Two singles, "The Gift of Music" and "Moment of Betrayal", have been released in support of the album. It has received generally favorable reviews and currently holds an average score of 80/100 on the review aggregator Metacritic.
Synopsis :
ACT I
In 2285, the northeastern region of the United States has turned into a dystopia ruled by the oppressive Great Northern Empire of the Americas. The only resemblance to entertainment that exists is the electronic noise of the NOMACS (Noise Machines). The empire is ruled by Emperor Nafaryus, Empress Arabelle, Crown Prince Daryus, and Princess Faythe. In a distant village called Ravenskill, a man named Gabriel possesses the natural ability to make music and sing ("The Gift of Music"). He has an older brother, Commander Arhys of the Ravenskill Rebel Militia, who has a son, Xander, with his deceased wife, Evangeline ("A Better Life").
Nafaryus hears a rumor about Gabriel being the savior of the people. He and his family travel to Ravenskill to see him for themselves ("Lord Nafaryus"). In the Ravenskill town square, Gabriel is performing for the people when the royal family shows up. He continues playing at the emperor's request ("A Savior in the Square"), nearly bringing them all to tears ("When Your Time Has Come"). As he plays, Faythe remembers how she found a music player when she was a child and kept it a secret all her life, and as she and Gabriel stare at each other they fall in love ("Act of Faythe"). Nafaryus, though briefly moved by Gabriel's song, sees him as a threat to his rule and gives the people of the town three days to deliver their savior to him, or he will destroy the town ("Three Days"). Arhys hides his brother and refuses to give him up ("Brother, Can You Hear Me?").
Back at the Emperor's palace, Faythe decides she must see Gabriel again. Disguising herself, she begins to travel back to Ravenskill. Arabelle, knowing about her daughter's intentions, instructs Daryus to follow and protect her. Daryus feels he has always been overlooked by his father in favor of his sister, so he travels to the town with his own intentions ("A Life Left Behind"). Faythe arrives in the town and finds Xander, who trusts her and leads her to his father Arhys. Faythe convinces Arhys that she can help, so he brings her to Gabriel's hideout. Gabriel and Faythe embrace, and she tells him that she believes she can convince her father to give up his hunt for Gabriel ("Ravenskill"). Gabriel tells her that if he could just meet with the Emperor, he could inspire him to restore peace to the land using his gift of music ("Chosen").
Meanwhile, Daryus finds Arhys' home and takes Xander captive. Daryus promises he will guarantee the safety and wealth of Xander in return for Arhys bringing Gabriel to him. Daryus does this hoping that it will gain him respect from his father ("A Tempting Offer"). Arhys is forced to say yes, remembering the promise he made to Evangeline, to protect their son ("The X Aspect"). Faythe travels back to her father's palace and learns that her music player once belonged to her father. After a while, Nafaryus bows to the pleas of his daughter ("A New Beginning") and agrees to meet with Gabriel at an abandoned amphitheater called Heaven's Cove ("The Road to Revolution").
ACT II
Arhys informs Daryus that Gabriel will be at Heaven's Cove that night ("Moment of Betrayal"). As Arhys waits at the amphitheater, he changes his mind, and when Daryus shows up, they start a fight. Daryus overpowers Arhys and kills him ("The Path That Divides"), unaware that Xander followed them and saw the whole scene. As Xander runs to his father's dead body, Daryus sees the silhouette of someone approaching him. Assuming it to be Gabriel, he attempts to kill him, realising too late that it is actually Faythe ("The Walking Shadow"). Gabriel arrives at the scene and sees his dead brother and the dying Faythe. Covering Xander's ears, he unleashes a scream that causes Daryus to go deaf and that is heard by Nafaryus, Arabelle, and the entire town ("My Last Farewell").
Nafaryus and Arabelle arrive and beg Gabriel to use his gift to save Faythe ("Losing Faythe"), but Gabriel is unable to sing after screaming so loud ("Whispers on the Wind"). The people, attracted by the scream, show up and start singing, giving Gabriel hope. He finds his ability to sing and brings Faythe back to life ("Hymn of a Thousand Voices"). Nafaryus, realising what he has done, decides to end the conflict with Gabriel and shuts down the NOMACS for good ("Power Down"). Daryus is forgiven for his actions, and Gabriel and Faythe raise Xander as a family ("Our New World"). Nafaryus promises to govern the empire as a fair leader in a new world where music is appreciated again ("Astonishing").
Composition:
The Astonishing was inspired by Petrucci's love of fantasy and science fiction franchises such as Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars, as well as his observations on the role of technology in modern-day society. In an interview with Billboard, he explained, “I was thinking of all of the things now that people used to do that they don’t do anymore because they’re automated or done by robots: lots of jobs, self-driving cars coming right around the corner … My thought was, ‘What would happen if with all the advances in technology in music that music all artificial?’”
Described as an "honest-to-God rock opera" by Rolling Stone, The Astonishing has been compared to The Who's Tommy, Pink Floyd's The Wall, and Queensrÿche's Operation: Mindcrime. In writing music to match the album's narrative, the band ended up playing in a wide variety of styles, with Loudwire observing, "The nearly three-dozen tracks run the gamut from short interludes to cinematic instrumentals to mellow ballads to Dream Theater’s patented prog metal. It’s an enormous amount of music to absorb in one sitting, but when you think about it, most movies are around two hours in length, and The Astonishing is very much like a movie in the way it delivers the storyline." The album features a real orchestra and choir, and is the first Dream Theater album to use bagpipes.
Track List:
ACT I
1. "Descent of the NOMACS" (NOMACS instrumental) 1:10
2. "Dystopian Overture" (Instrumental) 4:50
3. "The Gift of Music" 4:00
4. "The Answer" 1:52
5. "A Better Life" 4:39
6. "Lord Nafaryus" 3:28
7. "A Savior in the Square" 4:13
8. "When Your Time Has Come" 4:19
9. "Act of Faythe" 5:00
10. "Three Days" 3:44
11. "The Hovering Sojourn" (NOMACS instrumental) 0:27
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" 4:19
17. "Digital Discord" (NOMACS instrumental) 0:47
18. "The X Aspect" 4:13
19. "A New Beginning" 7:40
20. "The Road to Revolution" 3:35
ACT II
1. "2285 Entr'acte" (Instrumental) 2:20
2. "Moment of Betrayal" 6:11
3. "Heaven's Cove" 4:19
4. "Begin Again" 3:54
5. "The Path That Divides" 5:09
6. "Machine Chatter" (NOMACS instrumental) 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" 3:38
12. "Our New World" 4:12
13. "Power Down" (NOMACS instrumental) 1:25
14. "Astonishing" 5:51
Personnel:
James Labrie - Lead vocals
John Petrucci – guitar, production, story and concept
Jordan Rudess – keyboards
John Myung – bass
Mike Mangini – drums, percussion
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