JAMES LABRIE Static Impulse LP. Beliau adalah vokalis DREAM THEATER
dan ini adalah album solo kedua beliau. Nak banding dengan DT, album
solo beliau lebih "metal" dan lebih "straight-forward" walaupun sekali
sekala terselitlah odd-tempo tu di satu dua tempat. Walaupun begitu,
pemuzik yang mengiringi semua hebat-hebat belaka. Antaranya drummer
Peter Wildoer (yang juga audition untuk Dream Theater masa Mike Portnoy
keluar itu hari).
Dibandingkan dengan ahli lain Dream Theater yang
juga punya projek solo/band, James punya projeklah yang paling heavy
(ok mungin Liquid Tension Experiment pun ada segmen yang heavy, tapi
bercampur aduk). Projek solo James, tidaklah menghampakan. Kiranya tak
rugi le beli LP ni bagi saya. CD sekali diberi percuma. A keeper to me.
"Static Impulse is the second solo album and fourth solo project by
Dream Theater lead singer James LaBrie released on September 28, 2010.
In late August 2010, LaBrie released two songs from the album titled
"One More Time" and "I Need You".
This album features a more
melodic death metal approach while still keeping the progressive
elements from the previous albums. The album features screaming vocals
by drummer Peter Wildoer, while James LaBrie performs his usual clean
vocals. In addition to the screaming vocals, and clean vocals, the album
also feature backing vocals by keyboardist Matt Guillory making this
the first album to feature his voice. Guillory also sang on the demo
versions of all the album tracks."
James LaBrie - lead vocals Marco Sfogli - lead & rhythm guitars, programming, additional bass, mixing Matt Guillory - keyboards, programming, background vocals, additional screams, Lead vocals on "Jekyll or Hyde (Demo)" Ray Riendeau - bass Peter Wildoer - drums, screaming vocals
Pengikut tegar blog ini mengetahui betapa sayangnya dan fannya saya kepada DREAM THEATER. Saya memiliki kesemua albumnya dalam bentuk CD dan beberapa dalam bentuk vinyl. Video DVD dan beberapa bootlegs. Saya mengambil berat akan keluarnya Mike Portnoy beberapa tahun lepas. Dan saya berdebar dan bergembira dengan kemasukan drum genius, Mike Mangini.
Sekarang saya menjadi risau. Setelah dua album bersama Mangini, saya merasakan DREAM THEATER telah hilang sesuatu. Drum groove dan progression Portnoy tidak terganti dengan Mangini sebenarnya. Mereka berdua memang drummer hebat, bukan untuk mengadili siapa yang hebat tetapi ada benda yang tak kena. Saya syak samada produksi menenggelamkan drumming Mangini ataupun produksi yang dijaga oleh Petrucci (dulu Portnoy DAN Petrucci) tidak menghasilkan result yang sepatutnya.
Cadangan, next album produksi diambil oleh orang lain atau nak tak nak, panggil balik Portnoy. Dia pun bukan buat pebende pun, projek semua separuh jalan dan tak menggunakan talent dia yang sepatutnya.
Antara album yang ditunggu selepas CARCASS Surgical Steel.
A Dramatic Turn of Events mempunyai masalah dari segi produksi yang kurang organik. Seolah-olah skripnya telah ditulis lama dahulu. Ini menenggelamkan bakat sebenar Mike Mangini yang menggantikan Mike Portnoy untuk posisi drum.
Saya harap album yang akan muncul ini lebih organik, lebih raw dan kebebasan sepenuhnya diberikan kepada Mangini untuk menyuntik idea beliau ke dalam muzik Dream Theater.
Saya tidak dapat memberikan penghakiman sepenuhnya kepada klip Along For The Ride kerana lagu ini adalah lagu ballad. Juga tidak dapat menilai tahap soniknya kerana terbatas dengan bunyian yang keluar dari speaker PC. Itu menghakiminya, sudah tentu perlu pada sistem audio hi fi (sambil tersengih).
Akhir sekali, saya harap promoter yang cerdik dapatlah membawa Dream Theater ke Malaysia. Bawa Lamb of God itu adalah kurang cerdik. Kita di Malaysia bukan di Norway. Jangan lepas ni ada pula yang nak bawak band God Dethroned.
In January, Petrucci said of Mangini's work: "When people hear the drumming on this album, they're gonna be pretty freaked out. On the last album, he did a great job, but he wasn't there for the writing process and he was interpreting drum parts that I had programmed. Even though he used his creativity, of course, to change them up and do his thing, I feel like now he's just Mike Mangini unleashed. It's all him. It's all his creativity, all his decisions and ideas and man, the guy's an animal."
"Dream Theater" track listing: 01. False Awakening Suite I. Sleep Paralysis II. Night Terrors III. Lucid Dream 02. The Enemy Inside 03. The Looking Glass 04. Enigma Machine 05. The Bigger Picture 06. Behind The Veil 07. Surrender To Reason 08. Along For The Ride 09. Illumination Theory I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire II. Live, Die, Kill III. The Embracing Circle IV. The Pursuit of Truth V. Surrender, Trust & Passion
"Dream Theater" will be available in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard and special edition CDs, 180-gram double LP, and a limited-edition boxed set. Pre-orders are scheduled to launch in July at the Roadrunner Records webstore.
DREAM THEATER will be on tour in Europe in January and February 2014, and in North America in March 2014.
"Live At Luna Park", DREAM THEATER's live concert, which was previously scheduled for release in May via Eagle Rock Entertainment, will now drop in North America on November 5 as a Blu-ray, 2DVD, 2DVD + 3CD, Blu-ray + 3CD, deluxe edition with 40-page book, Blu-ray + 2DVD + 3CD, and digital video via iTunes.
"Live At Luna Park" was filmed over two nights in South America — home to one of DREAM THEATER's most ardent fanbases. The DVD was filmed August 19 and August 20, 2012 at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina after a 15-month world tour, hitting 35 countries.
Published in KARISMA magazine issue 24. This is the original reply in English. It took me some times to come up with the questions. I hope it add some extra information to your Dream Theater library. Replied by John Petrucci.
We know that John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy started this while attending the Berklee College of Music. What we don't know is that whether dropping out of college to play fulltime was a hard decision? How do you reflect it now? Will you suggest this decision to those who have the same urge? It was definitely a difficult decision to make. We were young and passionate but our parents wanted us to follow through with our degrees. It took some convincing! Fortunately it turned out to be the right decision but I don’t necessarily advocate dropping out of college for everyone.
Was the decision to play to a more progressive approach in Dream Theater due to the existing talents? How hard was it to be recognized when the album When Dream And Day Unite was released? We fell into our style very naturally right from the beginning. We were big fans of Rush and Yes as well as many prog/fusion artists. That, combined with our love of metal defined our sound. WDADU really didn’t receive much press. We also didn’t tour in support of it so a lot of people weren’t aware that it was out there.
In Images and Words, the direction of the band is more coherent resulting in the success of the album as well as the band. What was the main approach for that album? We really just honed in our writing and style for that album. We focused not only on the intricacies of the music, but on the compositions and melodies as well. As a young band, it was a huge help having David Prater produce us.
Awake is a bit dark and some says it was due to Kevin Moore's unwillingness to complete the album. Probably the band was in a difficult situation in trying to catch up with the success of Images and Words. Any reflections on that? The main contributing factor to the darker and heavier direction was the introduction of the 7-string guitar in our music. Kevin’s departure was certainly heartbreaking but he did complete the album. We had a great time recording in Los Angeles.
When David Prater produced A Change of Seasons, the production was a little bit thin although it fits with the overall compositions. The EP was a little bit out compare to the previous albums which are quite heavy. Was that an agreement between the band and the producer? David produced ACOS the way he heard it. I’m not sure why he changed direction a bit from IAW but I think in the end it could have been a bit more polished sounding. Although Falling Into Infinity was regarded as an album which is too commercial, it has many of the Dream Theater's progressiveness trademark. Portnoy hated it. Personally I loved it. To whom you are in agreement with (me or Mike)? Not speaking for MP but I highly doubt he hated it if I were to speculate. Every one of our albums is a proud moment in our creative lives and I think FII is no exception. Some of our best songs are on that album. Working with Kevin Shirley was an awesome experience that led to a long and great friendship.
Metropolis Part II is regarded as one of the best Dream Theater album. Does this album happen due to the frustration of Falling Into Infinity? Or was it because of Jordan Rudess joining the band? There was no frustration with FII. It was a great album in my opinion. Scenes is special for many reasons. It is the first album with Jordan, it is DT’s first concept album and it is the first one produced by Mike and I. The Great Debate in the album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is one of my favorite Dream Theater song in particular the lyric subject is very interesting. Do you strive to write lyrics which are extraordinary or were it simply because it affected you in some way? I like to experiment with a few different writing styles. Sometimes I tell stories, other times I reflect on emotions or personal events. This was an example of choosing a very controversial topic that would raise questions and get people talking. A reflection of the state of the world at that moment.
How was the guitar/keyboard solos in the song In The Name Of God was written? Amazing! It is a legato guitar line that I wrote and showed to Jordan. We had the idea of doubling it in unison in order to create a cascading flow of notes.
Octavarium was a little bit laidback. Some argued too many ballads. Was this intentional? The focus on Octavarium was on composition. Stripping down the external elements and getting to the core. It is a very thematic and melodic album.
Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds & Silver Linings had the same production quality. Do you agree on this statement? Those two albums were recorded in a very similar fashion with the same team. Although there are consistencies, I believe we learned from SC and that Black Clouds came out better sounding.
A Dramatic Turn of Events is basically a new chapter in Dream Theater's history and it turned up to be an excellent album? Is this going to reflect in the future albums as well? We will continue to strive to be our best musically in all areas. Songwriting, musicianship, production etc. Meeting those challenges each time will help us to grow as a band.
How's Mike Mangini doing in the band? How long does it take for him to be comfortable in the band? MM is doing amazingly well. Not only is he a super-human drummer but he is also a great person and fits in perfectly with DT. It seems like he was comfortable from the first day.
One thing I remembered seeing Dream Theater live in action (Adelaide, Australia 2008) was that you had multiple cameras fixed to all the band member's positions, eliminating moving cameraman on stage. However, does it limit the way it turns out in DVD? Those cameras are just to send images to the video screens. A real DVD shoot would have moving cameras.
I guess, unlike Mike Portnoy, looking at the progress of Dream Theater the last few years, there will be no rest. But perhaps you will need it in the future, in what conditions that can be? We plan on making music as DT for many years to come.
How do you find playing in Singapore for the last two shows (2006 & 2008)? What it is going to be like in 2012?
We had a great time and I’m so excited to return and not only introduce Mike Mangini to everyone, but to play the new songs and to show off our beautiful stage production.
Asian crowds are not as aggressive compare to others. How do find this affecting your stage performance?
No. It is amazing playing in Asia. We always have the best time and the audiences are spectacular.
Will there be a new DVD with Mike Mangini on it? Yes, coming soon.
Is anyone going to help Petrucci producing the next album? No, I will continue to produce DT on my own.
Last words to fans in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia? Thank you so much for the many years of support and love. We are so psyched to be playing for all of you and look forward to sharing many more musical memories in the years to come!
Tarikan utama CD ini adalah kerana ini adalah album pertama Mike Portnoy, pengasas dan drummer Dream Theater yang telah "ditendang" keluar oleh Dream Theater.Umurnya ketika rilisnya album ini ialah 16 tahun (1984). Hatta, muka beliau pun hampir tidak dapat dikenali jika tidak beliau adalah "budak" yang paling muda dalam foto album CD ini.
Diceritakan bahawa gitaris/vokal, Peter Best terdengar hentakan drum tidak jauh dari blok tempat tinggal beliau di Long Island, New York. Makin lama, makin elok dengarnya - ada kemajuan. Perasaan ingin tahu bergolak dan beliau pun buat ziarah mengejut. Lagi terkejut apabila didapati drummer tersebut adalah budak berusia 16 tahun. Selepas sembang lebih kurang dan mendapati mereka mempunya minat yang sama, beliau pun angkut gitar dan amp beliau ke bilik Mike yang akhirnya tercetus cinta pandang pertama untuk berkolaborasi. Praktis dan praktis dan akhirnya rilislah album ini.
Sambutan pun boleh tahan. Mereka menjadi antara band berpengaruh di New York antara lain disebabkan persembahan live mereka yang bertenaga.
Beliau bersama band ini tidak lama kerana setahun selepasnya, beliau mengambil keputusan untuk sambung belajar ke Berklee School of Music yang mana akhirnya beliau bertemu dengan John Petrucci dan John Myung yang berkesudahan dengan tertubuhnya Dream Theater (dan mereka tidak habis belajar pun).
Berbeza dengan Dream Theater, Rising Power lebih straight forward dalam pendekatannya. Muziknya adalah gabungan rock n roll yang dimetalkan, yang dapat saya bandingkan, mungkin album Manowar - Battle Hymn. Namun pengaruh hard rock kentalnya 80an memang tidak dapat dinafikan tetapi lebih cenderung kepada aliran dari tanah seberang - NWOBHM seperti Saxon, Iron Maiden dan Def Leppard dan dalam beberapa bahagian pengaruh KISS tidak dapat dinafikan juga.
Berdasarkan kepada tajuk liriknya sudah kita ketahui ini adalah standard lirik band Heavy Metal ketika itu. Kecenderungan Rising Power lebih kepada tajuk-tajuk maskulin, hebat dan ego. Maknanya, ini bukan band glam rock. Dan mesejnya mungkin tiada selain dari menghabiskan masa muda dengan fantasi budak baru akil baligh. Enterntainment to day max, kata orang.
Jika anda mengharapkan serpihan dari pengaruh Dream Theater yang mungkin terserlah kerana adanya Mike Portnoy di dalam Rising Power, maka tiada harapan sebenarnya. Kesemua lagu dalam album ini adalah ciptaan Peter Best yang menenggelamkan apa-apa kecenderungan Mike. Namun ini adalah cebisan sejarah yang sangat berharga kepada peminat Dream Theater, terutamanya Mike Portnoy.
Kepada yang tak tahu lagi, Mike Mangini telah menggantikan Mike Portnoy sebagai drummer DREAM THEATER. Lihat sini.
Sebuah track dari album terbaru telahpun disebarkan di Youtube bertajuk "On The Backs Of Angels". Saya tidak mahu fokus pada muzik, tetapi lebih kepada drumming Mike Mangini. Ada komen?
"A Dramatic Turn Of Events", is scheduled for release on September 13 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was mixed by Andy Wallace, who has previously worked with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, WHITE ZOMBIE, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, SEPULTURA, SLAYER and NIRVANA, among many others.
"A Dramatic Turn Of Events" track listing:
01. On The Backs Of Angels
02. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
03. Lost Not Forgotten
04. This Is The Life
05. The Shaman's Trance
06. Outcry
07. Far From Heaven
08. Breaking All Illusions
09. Beneath The Surface
Lanjutan dari album Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence yang lebih beremosi dan lebih balanced antara lagu yang heavy dan balada, Train Of Thought menjerumus kepada elemen yang lebih berat. Saya bersetuju dengan majoriti peminat Dream Theater yang meletakkan album ini sebagai album paling berat di sepanjang karier mereka. Bermula dengan As I Am yang kedengaran cenderung kepada beratnya Metallica dan Megadeth kemudian disambung dengan lagu This Dying Soul yang menggabungkan muzik beratnya muzik Power Metal dengan tali gitar ketujuh Petrucci yang memang menggegarkan gegendang telinga. Honor Thy Father lebih moden, dengan rapping vokalis Labrie disebalik dentuman drum Portnoy dan riffs membinasa oleh Petrucci. Kecelaruan sistematik di dalam lagu Stream Of Conciousness begitu lazat, ia menggerakkan minda kita untuk mengasingkan instrumen mana dengan chord progression ini dan instrumen yang mana pula dengan chord progression yang sebegitu yang jika berjaya menjadikan kita memetik jari dan berkata ahhh kepuasan. Untuk nikmat ultimatum, dengarkan ulitan nota-nota muzik oleh Petrucci dan Rudessyang synchronized pada lagu In The Name Of God pada minit 8:35 hingga 9:14 dan anda akan terlentang kepuasan tetapi anda mahukan ia tetap berterusan maka anda akan berulang-ulang mendengar minit tersebut, lagi dan lagi.
Perhatikan minit 1:02 hingga 1:40. Rasa nak meloncat?
Bosan dengan tindakan syarikat rakaman yang tidak memahami mereka dan cuba menjadi tuan pengarah kepada sesuatu yang tidak mereka fahami, Dream Theater memeberi kata dua: samada kami melalukannya sendiri atau we're out from here. Syarikat rakaman mengalah. Apa nak katakan pun, album Falling Into Infinity yang cuba dikomersilkan bukan saja dikritik dengan hebat oleh peminatnya, bahkan tidak menambah bilangan peminat pun - commercial failure. Peluang ini tidak dilepaskan dan Dream Theater merilis album yang terbaik selepas Images And Words. Album ini berbentuk album konsep yang mana setiap lagu mempunyai cerita berkait seperti sebuah novel. Rahsia kejayaan album? Lagu yang sedap, gabungan instrumen yang disusun cantik dan atmosphere yang berjaya dinatijahkan. Ada yang mengatakan Jordan Rudess, pemain keyboard memberikan aura yang baik kepada album ini. Mungkin juga. Yang nyata, Dream Theater telah membuktikan kepada syarikat rakaman mereka bahawa membiarkan urusan kepada yang ahlinya, adalah cara yang terbaik. Rilisnya album ini juga menyaksikan Dream Theater menjelajah seluruh dunia dengan menjaja album ini - dimainkan secara keseluruhan album tanpa meninggalkan walau satu lagu. Begitulah yakinnya Dream Theater terhadap album ini dan ini diakui sendiri oleh peminat mereka.
Masalah dengan album Awake (walaupun jualan laku secara komparatif) ialah, Dream Theater tidak berpuashati dengan mood album tersebut yang agak kelam. Sudah tentu Dream Theater mahukan yang lebih baik namun nasib tidak menyebelahi mereka yang mana syarikat rakaman pula memberi tekanan supaya Dream Theater dapat merilis sesuatu yang berjaya dan laku seperti album pertama. Cadangan untuk merilis double-album dibakulsampahkan oleh syarikat rakaman. Lebih dari itu, syarikat rakaman membayar produser rock-komersil tersohor, Desmond Child untuk menggayakan hala tuju Dream Theater ikut acuan yang dikehendaki. Seolah-olah ini adalah zaman gelap bagi Dream Theater nampaknya. Walaupun begitu, saya tidak berpandangan begitu kerana hasilnya adalah fantastic! Terutamanya bagi mereka yang cuba masuk dengan Dream Theater tapi tak dapat disebabkan fantasticnya permainan muzik mereka yang kompleks, ini adalah peluangnya. Sebagai contoh, lagu You Not Me adalah sangat radio-friendly tanpa menghilangkan cop mohor Dream Theater (yang selepas ini –setiap album Dream Theater mempunyai lagu sebegini). Begitu juga lagu balada Hollow Year, Anna Lee dan Take Away My Pain. Tanpa meminggirkan die-hard, lagu super kompleks dan epik seperti Lines in The Sand, Peruvian Skies dan Trial of Tears tetap disajikan. Ini adalah album yang akan saya syorkan kepada mereka yang tidak biasa dengan muzik progresif Metal dan mahu berjinak-jinak dengannya.
Bukan album sebenarnya tetapi album mini yang agak mengelirukan jika diukur dengan masa sebenar mini album ini yang menghampiri sejam. Ia dianggap mini album semata-mata kerana selain dari lagu A Change of Seasons (ACoS) yang sepanjang 23 minit, lagu-lagu lain adalah lagu cover. Oleh sebab itu, saya meletakkan ini sebagai album penuh. Produser album ini, David Prater (bersama Dream Theater) memilih sound yang nipis, dengan separation sound yang agak kemas. Drum Portnoy, terutama di bahagian snare bunyinya kurang bassy ditambah sound gitar bass John Myung yang dibelakangkan dari biasa menyebabkan keseluruhan album ini kurang heavy. Mungkin ada yang tidak menyukai produksi album ini tetapi saya dapat merasai kelainan produksi ini lantas dapat menghargainya. Lagu-lagu cover, bukanlah dari playlist yang biasa didengar oleh Mat Metal. Apapun, disebalik kekurangan yang dinyatakan (yang subjektif), jika kerana lagu ACoS saja sudah cukup menjadi sebab untuk meletakkan album ini antara yang terbaik oleh Dream Theater. Ia dibahagi kepada 7 bahagian yang merangkumi hampir kesemua spektrum emosi muzik – kesedihan, kegembiraan, bisikan hati dan sebagainya, dan yang paling penting, epik. Jika saya perlu memberi penjelasan tentang muzik Dream Theater dalam satu lagu, tidak syak lagi saya akan memberikan lagu ACoS ini. Oh ya, album ini menampilkan buat pertama kali, Derek Sherinian yang menggantikan keyboardist status kult, Kevin Moore.
Mike Mangini, the 48-year-old session artist who has played for ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE and STEVE VAI, has officially joined DREAM THEATER as the replacement for the recently departed Mike Portnoy.
* Aquiles Priester (age 39) (ANGRA, PAUL DI'ANNO)
* Peter Wildoer (age 36) (DARKANE)
* Marco Minnemann (age 40) (KREATOR, NECROPHAGIST, EPHEL DUATH, JOE SATRIANI)
* Virgil Donati (age 52) (PLANET X, SEVEN THE HARDWAY)
* Derek Roddy (age 38) (HATE ETERNAL, NILE, TODAY IS THE DAY)
* Mike Mangini (age 48) (STEVE VAI, EXTREME, ANNIHILATOR)
* Thomas Lang (age 43) (JOHN WETTON, ROBERT FRIPP, GLENN HUGHES)
Siapa yang kena?
Nampak gaya Roddy macam tak sesuai seperti yang diri sendiri komen:
"We jammed a little while... [It] was cool, but the environment (in-ears, video, etc...) didn't lend itself to a lot of creative moments... Plus the fact that these guys were trying to 'jam' in odd times, etc. Then they threw some riffs at me to see how quickly I could spit out complex stuff. Now this was fun, but at the same time I could tell that they were looking for a dude that will come in and record an entire record in the studio on the spot. I've never wanted to work that way as I believe that if the business (need to put out a record quickly) overtrumps the musical vision (taking time and creating the best you can), then that ultimately directs where the band ends up in the future. I like to sit on riffs for a few days at least and create the best possible part (as opposed to the automatic one). As far as the band being upfront with their fans, I'm sure they want to, but there are some legal issues that needs to be addressed and that takes precedence over what 'can be said or announced.' I'm sure [the fans] can figure it out. And I am certain that they knew who they wanted before these auditions were even thought about. One thing that was said directly to me was, 'Whoever it will be, it's got to be the fans' choice, someone the fans are completely happy with.' I was very busy during that time period... only had a few weeks to learn a 20-minute song, a ballad, and a tech song with 30-part changes within the space of three minutes! Haha."
Wildoer pulak macam was-was:
"My audition started with two jams where we set the levels for in ears and just felt each other out — musically, that is. ;-) After that, we went through the three songs they sent me. I guess you'll get to know what songs it was on the next episode of the DREAM THEATER video. At last, they wanted to try some new ideas. This was HAAAAAAAAARD! The ideas were in weird odd times and not one bar with the same meter. Very cool ideas, and I got my head around it so and so after a while. If those ideas end up on the new DREAM THEATER album, it will be PROG! :-) All drummers used the same kit, yes. Auditions were held in New York so no chance to bring my own. We had more than enough time to set up the drums how we wanted them. There was also a drum tech who helped out. I had no problems as I'm used to play rental kits etc when on tour."
Despite rumors to the contrary, BLABBERMOUTH.NET has learned that 40-year-old international drumming sensation Marco Minnemann (KREATOR, NECROPHAGIST) **has NOT** joined DREAM THEATER as the replacement for the recently departed Mike Portnoy.
DREAM THEATER has yet to officially announce its new drummer despite the fact that the band has been rehearsing with one candidate exclusively since last fall. DREAM THEATERJohn Petrucci previously stated about the group's drummer search, "Auditions went great and we do have someone but we are spending some time getting everything in order before making an official announcement. Let me just say that we are all incredibly excited about our choice and just bursting at the seams to let the world know!" guitarist
Minggu depan! Dup dap dup dap... seperti yang dilaporkan oleh blabbermouth:
Q: I have read in other interviews that the band has done that you are looking for a replacement for Mike behind the drum kit, but I don't sense any kind of rush or pressure in the band. Are you really looking for a replacement or do you already have one or two candidates in mind?
LaBrie: We're not rushing into it, because it's a big move for us; it's unprecedented within the band. This is our first time coming up against finding a drummer for DREAM THEATER. We do have everything in place. We don't have a drummer yet, but we have auditions for drummers all set up, and it's all ready to go within two weeks. So in two weeks we will start auditioning drummers. We already have seven guys lined up that are gonna come into the studio and they are going to play through some songs and so on and so forth. We are looking for the right chemistry, the right vibe, the right attitude, the right personality, the right look — somebody that we feel really will embellish upon what DREAM THEATER has stood for and what we plan on standing for in the future. So it's pretty exciting. We have everything in line, we have everything set up, so it's just a matter, within a couple of weeks, to start the auditions and then to eventually make the announcement who the new drummer is.
Q: So there will be open auditions then?
LaBrie: It's not open; it's already decided who's coming in. There's seven drummers that are coming in, and out of those seven, we will definitely have our drummer. They're all world-class drummers. I can't tell you who — I'd love to tell you, but I can't; I can't divulge or disclose that information. Not at this point. It's too sensitive at this point. But it will be a very intense week for us while we're jamming and playing with these drummers.
Q: I will mention one name that, personally, I think is the full package for DREAM THEATER — John Macaluso. He played with you on your "Elements Of Persuasion" tour, even by recommendation from Mike, and you even sang on one of his tracks on his UNION RADIO solo project, he's from New York, he has played progressive metal for most of his career — a lot of things in common. What do you think of him?
LaBrie: Oh, well, it goes without saying John Macaluso is a fantastic drummer; he's an incredible talent. He reminds me of the current-day John Bonham — he's just got a really cool, Bonham-esque kind of feel to him, but at the same time he can also play in a very progressive outfit as well and get into more syncopated areas of drumming with ease. Yeah, I had the pleasure of going out and bringing him out on tour with me throughout Europe on the "Elements Of Persuasion" tour, and he is fantastic — there's no doubt about it; he's quite capable. Whether he is one of those seven drummers or not, I can't tell you. [laughs] But without a doubt, the guy is a fanstastic drummer. He's extremely talented. I love his playing, I love his style, and he's a great guy.
Ada hint yang John Macaluso masuk dalam senarai calon? Siapa John Macaluso? Dia ada website sendiri DI SINI. Sekali harung dengar drumming dia, memang ada potensi. Tapi vibe? Cohesiveness dengan band? Itu persoalan yang lebih penting sebab pada aku ramai ada teknikal ability.
Ini membuatkan aku terpikir tentang Portnoy yang sedang bermain dengan Avenged Sevenfold. Macam tak kena. Teknikal ability Portnoy tinggi dan melebihi standard band tu.
OK katalah John Macaluso masuk dalam senarai, SIAPA lagi 6 tu. Aku ada buat ramalan DI SINI. Mungkin ada yang tertinggal tapi pada aku... vote for Jarzombek!!!
Dalam temuramah yang sama LaBrie mengatakan Myung akan jadi lebih peramah hahaha... best. Orang yang diam ni selalunya banyak pujangganya.
Pernyataan ini menyebabkan Portnoy bertindak dengan memadam thread tour solo LaBrie sempena album beliau Static Impulse dalam forum Portnoy.com. seperti yang diberitakan oleh blabbermouth.
Dibalas semula oleh LaBrie untuk menjernihkan keadaan dengan mengatakan bahawa apa yang dikatakan oleh beliau telah disalahtafsir.
Yang kemudiannya LaBrie mengakhiri dengan:
"In the end, does it really matter what our views are? Other than human curiosity, it doesn't change a thing.
"I have said my piece and believe there is no room for misinterpretation.
"I will give no further weight to this subject; all has been said."
Gaduh-gaduh ni pun best jugak. Ada colour sikit.
Sedang menunggu komen public dari John Myung (kalau ada).
Badan berpeluh; mata, telinga, hidung semua jadi merah. Rasa nak mengamuk!
*tarik nafas*
Berita keluarnya Mike Portnoy boleh dibaca DI SINI.
-------
*komen seterusnya ditulis selepas bertenang*
Bila fikir balik, keluarnya Mike Portnoy mungkin membawa sinar yang baru kepada Dream Theater. Antaranya:
Siapa drummer baru Dream Theater?
Petrucci menjadi penulis lagu utama (dahulunya beliau dengan Portnoy). Tanpa Portnoy, lebih 'bebas' untuk Petrucci untuk 'mencorakkan' destinasi Portnoy.
Portnoy ni macam Lars Ulrich. Dia je yang dok bercakap untuk Dream Theater. Mungkin lepas ni Myung pulak jadi jurucakap. Hahaha... best... best...
Dream Theater akan mengalami perubahan muzik yang besar. Ikut kata fans, akhir ini album DT dah macam ikut acuan sangat. Drummer baru PASTI akan memberi nafas baru yang sangat diperlukan oleh DT.
Merupakan album keenam DREAM THEATER dan setakat ni satu-satunya album 2-disc mereka. Album ini merupakan sebuah album balas dendam kepada album paling komersil mereka, Falling Into Infinity yang banyak dikongkong oleh syarikat rakaman dan produser. FiF bukanlah teruk sangat, banyak lagu-lagu yang masih dalam ramuan DREAM THEATER. Namun SDOIT ini lebih menyerlahkan DREAM THEATER seperti yang dikehendaki oleh penggeraknya.
Seperti biasa, elemen progresif DREAM THEATER menyinari di setiap lagu-lagu di dalam album ini. Cuma kelebihan album ini dari album yang lain ialah elemen Metal yang begitu menyerlah. Begitu keras. Bunyi distortion gitar Petrucci memang Metal sungguh terutamanya dalam lagu The Glass Prison, Misunderstood dan The Great Debate.
Vokal LaBrie juga begitu baik sekali. Walaupun tugas beliau adalah penyanyi semata-mata (beliau tidak contribute untuk lagu, cuma satu lirik, Blind Faith) namun penghayatan beliau terhadap semua lagu-lagu di dalam album ini begitu menjiwai.
Aku paling minat dengan lagu The Great Debate. Lagu memang best ditambah dengan lirik yang sangat excellent, berkisar tentang debat mengenai stem-cell research! Berapa banyak band yang boleh buat lagu/lirik berkisar dengan sesuatu yang kita tak berapa nak fikir macam ni?
Pada aku, ini adalah antara album DREAM THEATER yang paling strong. Sesuai untuk mereka yang baru nak berjinak dengan DREAM THEATER kerana ini bukanlah band yang senang nak dihadam. Banyak twistnya. Tetapi sekali dah terjerumus, there is no turning back!
Disc 1 1. The Glass Prison - 13:52 2. Blind Faith - 10:21 3. Misunderstood - 9:32 4. The Great Debate - 13:45 5. Disappear - 6:45
Disc 2 6. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - 42:02 1. Overture 2. About to Crash 3. War Inside My Head 4. The Test That Stumped Them All 5. Goodnight Kiss 6. Solitary Shell 7. About to Crash (Reprise) 8. Losing Time/Grand Finale
Benda lama dah ada dalam tangan (hampir sebulan). Tangguh nak ulas konon nak buat elok-elok. Nampak gaya kalau nak tunggu, lain tahun baru boleh. So rojak le jugak ulasan ni penyudahnya.
DREAM THEATER memang band pilihan aku selain dari IRON MAIDEN, MEGADETH dan HELLOWEEN. Maka keterujaan aku melambun tatkala beberapa lepas mereka announce yang album baru akan keluar. Dah dekat-dekat nak rilis tu keluar pulak iklan mengenai boxset ni. Meleleh air liur. Tapi masa tu kira duit dalam tabung, tak mampu. Takpe la kata aku dalam hati, dapat CD special edition pun jadi la. Boxset ni aku lupakan.
Namun, bila hari rilis pun tiba dan aku semak kat local store, harga hmm... not so bad. In fact lagi murah dari harga website. Setelah 1-2 haro mencongak-congak, sapu je la. Just do it kata Nike. Lagi pikir lagi pening. Aku beli 2 hahaha... amacam? Bukan apa, satu aku simpan satu aku jual balik kat eBay dengan sedikit mark-up. Untung-untung ada la mamat ozzie yang kat daerah pendalaman ni tak jumpa kat local store dia boxset ni, dia akan beli. Memang kena beli spare boxset tu. Bila aku kira, tolak mark-up tu, aku sebenarnya bayar separuh je untuk boxset ni. Yeaaa! Ikut kata website, boxset ini mengandungi:
DVD Stem mixes of standard CD (try your hand at producer with isolated audio tracks of the entire album).
Dream Theater mouse mat.
Find a silver foil ticket (100 lucky fans win a M&G w/ band)
Lithograph of cover art, numbered (100 lucky winners will find a litho signed by Hugh Syme)
Limited edition audiophile 180-gram double-LP set with exclusive artwork from Hugh Syme.
Kotaknya adalah baldu hitam dengan logo DREAM THEATER terpahat di tengah-tengahnya. Baldu cantik. Macam baldu bantal kecik pasangan pengantin duduk atas pelamin. Best la buat gosok-gosok...
So kat bawah ni beberapa snapshot contents dalam boxset tu. Klik gambar untuk imej yang lebih besar.
LP x2
Lithograph dan mousepad
Insert untuk LP
3 CD + 1 DVD
Puashati dengan boxset ni? Tak berapa puashati. Especially LP tu. Aku expect lebih. Paling tak best, LP tu takde cover kadboard tu macam LP biasa. Cuma ada insert je. Patutnya letak la gatefold cover ke.
CD packaging pun nampak macam murah je. Aku menyampah la tempat letak CD tu pakai kadbod. Dah la susah nak keluarkan. Lepas tu kalau dah keluar masuk manjang, CD sure jadi calar punya.
Lithograph tu aku tak paham apa istimewanya. Macam gambar size besar je. Tak paham aku.
Now, bagaimana dengan album itself? Pada aku album kali ni nampak macam DREAM THEATER dah sampai cerun landai. Maksudnya, dah tak boleh top up apa yang mereka pernah top. Jadilah album yang tepu dengan idea baru dan stagnation. Malang sekali. Lebih teruk, lagu The Shattered Fortress mengambil bits and bytes dari lagu The Glass Prison (album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence). Macam mana tu? Ala, macam lagu Inspirasi Syakila yang konon-konon sambungan Misteri Mimpi Syakila tu. Not impressive at all!
Lagu-lagu lain macam dah takde area yang DREAM THEATER tidak selami. Been there, done that. Takde yang mengejutkan dan takde apa sangat yang menyebabkan aku meloncat mendengarnya. Cuma lagu balada, Wither je yang impressive, sepertimana lagu Forsaken (album Systematic Chaos).
Nasib baik la ada bonus discs featuring cover versions tu. Terutamanya lagu Stargazer (RAINBOW) yang DREAM THEATER execute dengan menarik sekali. Ronnie James Dio sure tabik punya. Suara LaBrie pun paling best dalam lagu cover ni la. Tapi ye la kan, takkan la DREAM THEATER nak survive dengan lagu-lagu covers?
Oh tak lupa, lagu To Tame A Land cover IRON MAIDEN, juga quite yummy!
Nevertheless, aku harap DREAM THEATER can do something a little bit more refreshing untuk album akan datang. Aku sebagai peminat dan kolektor amatur DREAM THEATER begitu mengharap. Jadi komersil sikit macam Falling Into Infinity pun takpelah! Itu album walaupun hampir disisih oleh DREAM THEATER sendiri tapi album tu pada aku memang best gila!
Music composed by John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess and John Myung except "Wither" composed by John Petrucci.
1. "A Nightmare to Remember" 16:10
2. "A Rite of Passage" 8:35
3. "Wither" 5:25
4. "The Shattered Fortress 12:49
* X. "Restraint"
* XI. "Receive"
* XII. "Responsible"
5. "The Best of Times" 13:07
6. "The Count of Tuscany" 19:16
Special edition tracks The 3-disc Special Edition also included a bonus disc of six cover tracks, entitled "Uncovered 2008/2009". These tracks were originally released separately, one per week, in the weeks leading up to the album's release.
1. "Stargazer" (Rainbow cover) 8:10
2. "Tenement Funster / Flick of the Wrist / Lily of the Valley" (Queen cover) 8:17
3. "Odyssey" (Dixie Dregs cover) 7:59
4. "Take Your Fingers From My Hair" (Zebra cover) 8:18
5. "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two" (King Crimson cover) 6:30
6. "To Tame a Land" (Iron Maiden cover) 7:15
Also included in the three disc special edition are instrumental tracks of the songs. Some tracks have been altered from their original versions.
1. "A Nightmare to Remember" 15:39
2. "A Rite of Passage" 8:36
3. "Wither" 5:29
4. "The Shattered Fortress" 12:47
5. "The Best of Times" 13:20
6. "The Count of Tuscany" 18:48
Deluxe Collector's Edition Box Set A "Deluxe Collector's Edition Box Set" of the album was also released. Packaged in a silver foil embossed black velvet box the set includes the 3-disc special edition CDs, a 180-Gram Double LP, a DVD with isolated audio tracks for each instrument, a lithograph by Hugh Syme, and a mouse pad. Those who pre-order were able to download a newly recorded cover song each week beginning on May 19, 2009 until the album's release. 100 box sets contain a "silver ticket" which entitles the purchaser to a meet and greet with the band.
Fuhh... lama tertinggal berita DREAM THEATER. Rupa-rupanya dah nak keluar album baru rupanya. Yeaa! Dan lebur lagi duit gua... Sampel lagu pun dah keluar (kat bawah).
------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2009
New York, NY:
Progressive metal veterans DREAM THEATER have announced BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS as the title of their tenth studio album. The band commenced work on the album - their second for Roadrunner Records, following up 2007's Systematic Chaos - in October of last year.
Roadrunner will release the record on June 23. In addition to the standard version CD, the album will also be available on vinyl LP, as well as a 3-disc Special Edition CD that will include the full album, a CD of instrumental mixes of the album and a CD of six cover songs, the titles of which will be revealed at a later date.
Six weeks prior to the June 23 street date, Roadrunner will release one cover song per week through digital retailers.
Drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci are once again at the helm as producers, while Paul Northfield mixed the record.
The band will embark on a world tour in support of the album beginning in Europe throughout June which will be followed by the second edition of the band's PROGRESSIVE NATION tour featuring Zappa Plays Zappa, Pain Of Salvation and Beardfish throughout North America in July/August.
A video for the first single, "A Rite of Passage" will be shot in late March.
The track listing for BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS is as follows:
DREAM THEATER memang band pilihan aku selain dari IRON MAIDEN, MEGADETH dan HELLOWEEN. Maka keterujaan aku melambun tatkala beberapa lepas mereka announce yang album baru akan keluar. Dah dekat-dekat nak rilis tu keluar pulak iklan mengenai boxset ni. Meleleh air liur. Tapi masa tu kira duit dalam tabung, tak mampu. Takpe la kata aku dalam hati, dapat CD special edition pun jadi la. Boxset ni aku lupakan.
Ikut kata website, boxset ini mengandungi:
LP x2
Lithograph dan mousepad
Insert untuk LP
3 CD + 1 DVD