Dream Theater - The Astonishing
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On January 29, 2016, “Dream Theater” released their 13th studio album “The Astonishing”.
With “The Astonishing”, “Dream Theater” stepped further away from the traditional boundaries of progressive metal than ever before. This was not an album built around instrumental dominance or rhythmic complexity, but a full-scale rock opera, a double concept album that placed narrative, emotion, and atmosphere at the center of its creative vision.
Following the self-titled album from 2013, the band found themselves at a creative crossroads. Guitarist John Petrucci pushed for a project that would force the band to rethink how they composed music. Instead of beginning with riffs or time signatures, the foundation of “The Astonishing” was a story. It became only the band’s second true concept album, after “Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory”.
Set against a bleak vision of a future United States, the album unfolds around a small underground resistance known as the Ravenskill Rebel Militia, who rise against the rule of the Great Northern Empire of the Americas through an outlawed and almost mythical force: real music. In this world, creativity has been replaced by sterile, machine-generated sound, and emotional expression is treated as a threat to order.
The plot centers on Gabriel, a young man with the extraordinary ability to create real music in a world where it has been completely outlawed. His talent makes him a threat in the eyes of the ruling regime and a symbol of hope for the resistance. Through his relationship with Faythe, the daughter of the empire’s leader, and his growing involvement in the rebellion, the story explores loyalty, sacrifice, and the emotional power of free artistic expression in the face of control and oppression.
The narrative reflects Petrucci’s growing unease with technological automation and emotional detachment in modern society, while its cinematic scope draws heavily from fantasy and science-fiction storytelling.
In both ambition and structure, “The Astonishing” aligns itself with the tradition of grand rock operas such as “Tommy”, “2112”, “The Wall”, and “Operation: Mindcrime”. Much like “2112”, it presents music as a catalyst for awareness and liberation within a controlled, futuristic regime. Petrucci’s long-standing fascination with epic fantasy and science-fiction worlds, from “The Lord of the Rings” to “Star Wars” and “Game of Thrones”, shapes the album’s scale and thematic depth, blending mythological storytelling with a contemporary reflection on the growing dominance of technology over human expression.
Musically, the album was written primarily by Petrucci and Jordan Rudess, with composer David Campbell assisting in orchestrating the strings and choirs. Keyboards and orchestral arrangements dominate much of the record, shaping its cinematic character. Petrucci’s guitar work is often restrained and thematic, while Mike Mangini focuses on precision and dynamics rather than sheer technical display.
Recording took place throughout 2015 at Cove City Sound Studios on Long Island, New York, with vocals recorded separately in Canada by James LaBrie. Longtime collaborator Richard Chycki handled mixing and sound engineering, while Petrucci produced the album. The production reflects the album’s theatrical intent, favoring continuity and mood over individual performance highlights.
The album opens with “Descent of the Nomacs”, immediately establishing a cold, mechanized atmosphere, before flowing into “Dystopian Overture”, which introduces melodic themes that recur throughout the album. These motifs act as narrative anchors, reinforcing the operatic structure of the work.
“The Gift of Music” introduces Gabriel, the story’s central character, and stands as one of the album’s most emotionally accessible moments. Its warmth and melodic clarity contrast sharply with the oppressive world it depicts. “Our New World” expands on this sense of hope, offering one of the album’s most uplifting passages.
Authority and manipulation dominate “A Tempting Offer” and “The X Aspect”, where LaBrie adopts different vocal tones to portray multiple characters. The emotional tension peaks with “Moment of Betrayal”, capturing the moment when personal loyalty collapses under the weight of political power. The song reflects Gabriel’s realization that ideals and relationships are fragile when confronted with fear, authority, and survival. In the closing track, “Astonishing”, the story reaches its conclusion through reconciliation and introspection rather than violent confrontation or a clear-cut victory. It is a moment of acceptance and recognition of music’s power to restore humanity and emotion to a world ruled by control and oppression.
Leading up to its release, “The Astonishing” was promoted through a dedicated website, fan mailing lists, and cinematic trailers. It debuted in the top ten in nine countries and became the first “Dream Theater” album to reach number one on the US Billboard Rock Chart. The band supported the album with an extensive world tour throughout most of 2016, and it marked their final release through "Roadrunner Records".
In retrospect, “The Astonishing” remains one of the most divisive albums in “Dream Theater”’s catalog. It abandons immediacy in favor of immersion, sacrificing aggression for narrative ambition. Whether embraced or rejected, it stands as a defining moment in the band’s history, proof that even deep into their career, “Dream Theater” were still willing to take real creative risks.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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