The Astonishing

by Dream Theater

The Astonishing cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 29 January 2016
  • Label: Roadrunner
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 2:10:38
  • Community rating: 2.11/5 from 5 ratings

Artists on this release: Mike Mangini, John Petrucci, Richard Fiocca, James LaBrie, FILMharmonic Orchestra, John Myung

Album Notes & Community Reviews

The progressive metal titans present a massive, two-act dystopian rock opera clocking in at over two hours long. The conceptual narrative details a future North America ruled by a totalitarian empire where music is generated entirely by machines. Featuring sweeping orchestral arrangements and James LaBrie voicing an entire cast of distinct characters, it was an incredibly ambitious, yet highly polarizing release among fans.

Genres

Descriptors: uncommon-time-signatures, conceptual, melodic, complex, progressive

Tracklist

  1. Descent of the NOMACS (1:10)
  2. Dystopian Overture (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 (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 (0:47)
  18. The X Aspect (4:13)
  19. A New Beginning (7:40)
  20. The Road to Revolution (3:35)
  21. 2285 Entr'acte (2:20)
  22. Moment of Betrayal (6:11)
  23. Heaven's Cove (4:19)
  24. Begin Again (3:54)
  25. The Path That Divides (5:09)
  26. Machine Chatter (1:03)
  27. The Walking Shadow (2:58)
  28. My Last Farewell (3:44)
  29. Losing Faythe (4:13)
  30. Whispers on the Wind (1:37)
  31. Hymn of a Thousand Voices (3:38)
  32. Our New World (4:12)
  33. Power Down (1:25)
  34. Astonishing (5:51)

Credits

More from Dream Theater: full discography