astonishing astonishing thirteenth studio album american progressive metal band released january band second concept album story conceived guitarist music written keyboardist composer assisted album strings album recorded cove city sound studios long_island new_york exception vocals recorded canada mixing sound engineering performed band longtime collaborator producing astonishing set future united_states follows efforts great northern empire americas magical power music inspired contemporary fantasy science fiction franchises star wars observations technological modern day society effort match album narrative wrote songs wide variety styles ranging mellow ballads conventional progressive metal sound leading astonishing release band marketed album website fan lists trailer debuted different countries album reach number billboard rock chart received generally favorable reviews music critics band toured support album july background guitarist began writing story concept album presenting rest year later band record label receptive idea recalling everybody mentality meeting presented said title percent board involvement everybody absolutely unbelievable supportive kind ignited secret loves sort stuff fun different conception envisioned story eventually worked film play video game keyboardist wrote album music independently rest getting everyday going ideas morning working music day night finishing initial drafts presented rest band worked writing parts instruments interview drummer reflected biggest challenge interpreting initial music given drums like right need listen piece understand kind let loose lay lot cause don wanna play try fit doesn belong felt album needed real string lines organic sounds enlisted help veteran composer assist aspects orchestration handle logistics recording necessary musicians reflecting process explained initial thought let rock instruments let david arrange wasn thinking ahead terms studio tend work things pretty polished got called pre use sound disposal place strings wanted hear strings choir wanted choir forth getting overly specific certain patch instrument library knew going replaced real players album arrangements complete performed recorded studios world campbell conducting leading sessions los_angeles began recording album bass drums guitars keyboards january cove city sound studios long_island new_york recorded previous albums dramatic turn events longtime collaborator described sixth member band brought album sound engineer served producer july took break studio play shows europe writing road august began recording vocals canada singing multiple characters took create unique interpretations offering sporadic advice feedback recording completed late september mixing beginning month mastering concluding mid december synopsis following based astonishing official synopsis published album release act northeastern region united_states turned ruled oppressive americas resemblance entertainment exists electronic noise noise machines empire ruled princess distant village called man named possesses natural ability music sing gift music older brother commander son deceased wife better life hears rumor people family travel lord town square performing people royal family shows continues playing emperor request square nearly bringing tears time come plays remembers found music player child kept secret life fall love act briefly moved song sees threat rule gives people town days deliver destroy town days hides brother refuses brother hear emperor palace decides begins travel knowing daughter intentions instructs follow protect feels overlooked father favor sister travels town intentions life left arrives town finds leads father convinces help brings hideout embrace tells believes convince father hunt tells meet emperor inspire restore peace land gift music chosen finds home takes captive promises guarantee safety wealth return bringing hoping gain respect father offer forced agree deal remembering promise protect son aspect travels father palace learns music player belonged father bows pleas daughter new beginning agrees meet abandoned called heaven cove road revolution act informs heaven cove night moment betrayal meeting time approached heaven cove decides wants use power royal status change world good begin changes mind deal shows start fight kills path divides unaware followed saw scene runs father dead body sees silhouette approaching assuming attempts kill realising late actually walking shadow arrives scene sees dead brother dying covering ears scream causes deaf heard entire town farewell arrive use gift save losing unable sing screaming loudly wind people attracted scream start singing giving hope finds ability sing brings life hymn thousand voices realising decides end conflict good actions raise family new world promises govern empire fair leader new world music appreciated astonishing composition astonishing dream theater second concept album scenes memory described honest god rock opera rolling_stone compared tommy rush wall operation revolves music achieve freedom futuristic setting album story inspired love fantasy science fiction franchises game lord rings star wars observations role technology modern day society interview billboard explained thinking things people don anymore automated robots lots jobs self driving cars coming right corner thought happen music artificial hours length containing tracks astonishing planned experience best enjoyed album opposed collection singles album plays similarly film observing enormous music absorb sitting think movies hours length astonishing like movie way delivers storyline certain songs square new world themes stand order plot writing music match astonishing narrative ended playing wide variety styles cinematic mellow ballads band conventional progressive metal compared previous albums acoustic playing terms guitar piano interview specifically mentioned song life left recalling starts acoustic kind riff yes sort feel songs introduced new elements band music aspect dream theater song use days features saloon style swing section written aspects album story album tracks short electronic songs represent music release began marketing campaign astonishing october prompting visitors visit official website choose lists great northern empire notified updates twitter page occurred early november band announced thirteenth studio album titled astonishing launched promotional website suggested concept album website slowly revealed key elements album story including characters map track listing december astonishing given official january release date multiple special editions available pre sale including deluxe set model leading album release band released single gift music december premiered song moment betrayal january official trailer available youtube release astonishing debuted album charts including norway hungary italy sweden portugal netherlands germany austria canada united_states entered peaked billboard number overall number debut february band released music video gift music mixed live performance footage cgi animation filmed new_jersey later month band announced partnered create video game adaptation album story mac ios android music video released new world followed video tour visuals hymn thousand voices june critical reception astonishing received generally favorable reviews metacritic assigns normalized rating reviews mainstream publications album holds average score based reviews critics especially complimentary band willingness write long unconventional album allmusic commenting invested album concept listeners attention spans music doubles notion long players merely hold singles rolling_stone echoed sentiments concluding results won partisan convert skeptical hard heart deny composer keyboardist mates credit aspirations assurance achieve supportive band unique approach warned album fans reviewers critical astonishing concept including described silly ultimately gave album overall positive review contrast described storytelling seamless write advised park pressing play button astonishing makes recent minute double book souls look like record great fun mental elbow required wouldn way vocals astonishing singled critics particularly strong review elaborated concept album different characters puts lot pressure vocalist lives challenge mellow broadway singing utilizes style arsenal delivers class performance band praised allmusic observed bassist weren featured prominently usual supporting tour november announced european tour dates early month announced north american tour dates beginning april ending band felt astonishing lend live performance decided play album hired production company help presentation point book historical concert halls theaters track listing track information taken astonishing liner notes lyrics written music composed personnel credits taken astonishing liner notes lead vocals guitar production story concept keyboards bass drums percussion additional musicians aspect city prague orchestra production engineering mixing cover art orchestral choir arrangements engineering charts
The Astonishing