Dream Theater - Parasomnia (Atmos Blu-Ray!) - Feb 7, 2025

[pat bateman]

I halfway through. Just finished track #4. I'm enjoying it. I admit, DT has become a bit of a formulative since Train of Thought, but it's a formula I like. The mix itself - I've yet to hear a mix from a metal band that breaks the mold and blows me away. I would describe it as "fine". I think it's just a limitation of the genre. I think there's only so much you can do with music with heavy guitars.

 

[perzon57]

I like the music too, but the mix could have been so much more. The heights and surround backs are almost silent for long periods of time, but som songs are better than others, an uneven mix to me. The latest Opeth has a better mix for a heavy guitars band, I think.

 

[stoopid]

Someone needs to get a Hirez poll going.

 

[JulesRules]

I couldn't help but notice how awful the witchcraft, exorcist sleep floating images inside the booklet seem. Often times the backgrounds and surrounds are pixelated while the character on the page is nice and crisp.

Apparently one piece of artwork was also used by Syme for another recent release. Lazy.

Some of his more recent art is just slightly altered stock imagery (I've noticed this when I randomly came across the black hole visualization that's on the 12" of "Cygnus X-1", just without the added cork).

 

[stoopid]

The atmos folded down to 5.1 is very respectable. Like when they use the rears for the toms (AFtK SW's mix also does this with Pearts drums). The visuals are a bit of a mixed bag, but more than what most artists bother to include.

On a whole I'm enjoying this album more than I have any DT releases in a long time. I can always find things in the recent albums to justify a listen, but this really does feel like as much a return to form than I've heard in a while (since maybe Black Clouds). Bend the Clock is a sleeper track.

 

[SharpKnight]

Apparently one piece of artwork was also used by Syme for another recent release. Lazy.

Some of his more recent art is just slightly altered stock imagery (I've noticed this when I randomly came across the black hole visualization that's on the 12" of "Cygnus X-1", just without the added cork).

Yes, the original artist Orion has come forth with this allegation and has received an apology from the artist Hugh Syme as well as Mike Portnoy. Lots of backlash for cancelling Syme for future works.

But hey, was I right or was I right when I wrote about the artwork here previously? Perhaps Syme should have asked the AI, "and don't recycle my previous art stupid!".

All in all, I am sticking to my guns, this artwork is uncalled for. You flip through such a booklet once and never look at it again. Unless it has a hidden message in all the witchcraft and sorcery that spell out "Eat my balls and shit" (DT fans will get the reference) hidden for the teenage fans to figure out on a night with a Ouija board app, its become a tasteless product and a cliché for metal albums. .

 

[pat bateman]

Yes, the original artist Orion has come forth with this allegation and has received an apology from the artist Hugh Syme as well as Mike Portnoy. Lots of backlash for cancelling Syme for future works.

But hey, was I right or was I right when I wrote about the artwork here previously? Perhaps Syme should have asked the AI, "and don't recycle my previous art stupid!".

All in all, I am sticking to my guns, this artwork is uncalled for. You flip through such a booklet once and never look at it again. Unless it has a hidden message in all the witchcraft and sorcery that spell out "Eat my balls and shit" (DT fans will get the reference) hidden for the teenage fans to figure out on a night with a Ouija board app, its become a tasteless product and a cliché for metal albums. .

I take the artwork thing a step further - box sets are a huge waste. But it's the economics of it. They feel in order to charge say $75 for an Atmos re-issue, that need to include a bunch of crap and limit the production to create a false high demand - and they probably actually do in order to people to feel they got their monies worth and make them feel like they have something special. Part of the stupid human condition. I would be happy to pay $60 or whatever for the disc alone and/or digital download.

 

[PolkSDA]

Just got mine dropped off by DHL about 2 hours ago. Not quite understanding the packaging complaints. It's standard European "earbook" sized packaging that has been used for a few decades now. Slides right on a shelf along side vinyl. Maybe those in the U.S. are unfamiliar with the format?

 

[stoopid]

Just got mine dropped off by DHL about 2 hours ago. Not quite understanding the packaging complaints. It's standard European "earbook" sized packaging that has been used for a few decades now. Slides right on a shelf along side vinyl. Maybe those in the U.S. are unfamiliar with the format?

No, we get the same sets here. People need to complain (or "vent", which isn't a term I hear much anymore).

 

[stoopid]

...All in all, I am sticking to my guns, this artwork is uncalled for. You flip through such a booklet once and never look at it again. Unless it has a hidden message in all the witchcraft and sorcery that spell out "Eat my balls and shit" (DT fans will get the reference) hidden for the teenage fans to figure out on a night with a Ouija board app, its become a tasteless product and a cliché for metal albums. .

In this particular case, the bluray visuals cycle through all the artbook images at least once, some of them several times. It does make the artbook a bit moot and an oversize lyrics sheet. However, as a standalone product it's fine and does what it sets out to -- add some quality printed images that (supposedly) overlap with some of the meaning/intent of the songs.

For the relatively lowish price of the set, the artbook's value is standard fare. It's been this way for several years now.

Not being into dark magic, witchcraft, etc I withhold judgment on how pertinent the images are in amplifying those concepts of the album. It's a spooky album with spooky art. It's at the very least consistent.