Dream Theater songs references: 17:17 -> From "This Dying Soul" (0:53) 17:32 -> From "The Glass Prison" (11:25) 19:10 -> From the intro of "The Root Of All Evil" (00:46) (also present in "This Dying Soul (3:40)") 19:24 -> Not sure, but sounds like "The Count Of Tuscany" (3:56) 21:02 to 21:03 -> Very beginning of "This Dying Soul" 21:03 -> From "The Glass Prison": First part of the riff from 5:54, last part from 1:46 (also mixed with the very beginning of "The Dying Soul" riff) 24:06 -> From "The Root Of All Evil" chorus (3:02) 25:01 -> Intro riff of "The Root Of All Evil" (1:00) 27:06 to 27:12 -> From "Losing Time / Grand Finale" (3:20) 27:21 -> Intro of "The Glass Prison" (from 0:50) 28:08 -> From the intro of "The Root Of All Evil" (0:26) I might have forgotten some of them, but that's quite a lot already! This piece is an impressive medley from several of their great tunes !
@@Cestariarts For me, it's the lack of depth to some of the transitions. Straight cuts to a different key/melody/time signature/ tempo which feels lazy, like an incoherant storyline.
My favourite part is where Labrie sings “just when you’re through hanging on” and then Portnoy says “you’re saved” before Petrucci comes in with his angelic solo. Brings me to tears sometimes
There's a video out there of Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth singing that whole bit live (I think they were touring together). Needless to say if you know Mikael's voice, it's chilling
If you didn't know, I found out when I watched the video the other day that Mikael hits a B1 at 'you're saved' which is the lowest not he's ever sang@@blackbird351
Deep voice Mike Portnoy 12:50 sec. Dream Theater has a What Would Rush Do? policy. Rush had many early tracks where one of the members would speak, and their voice, let's use 'Subdivisions' as an example, I think that was Geddy. There is also the Necromancer, said to be Neil Peart.
22:32 "all hail john petrucci", but the whole solo in by jordan :D That's one of his "liquid lead" sounds, and on live performances he usually play those solos with his keytar
As someone who got REALLY into dream theater in the late 2000's, hearing The Shattered Fortress for the first time was the equivalent of Avengers Endgame for me. I LOVED all the musical callbacks, even to The Mirror (a sort of prequel song to this suite) and to this day remains one of the few songs I revisit the most from that album!
20:58 Doug be like “that’s from a previous piece”. There had been dozens of passages from previous pieces already. Doug would had enjoyed Shattered Fortress wayyy more if he had listened to the other tracks before listening to the Grand Finale.
im going to enjoy this for sure... but I have to say that I still find it odd that youve visited all their long form material EXCEPT In The Presence of Enemies pt1&2. IMO its some of their best work.
One of the 'Progressive Nation' tours when Opeth were openers for Dream Theater, Mikael Akerfeldt sang 'repentance' for them, its one of my favorite musical memories, it was like the song was meant to have him on vocals.
One of these days I hope Doug does the songs "On the Breath of Poseidon (Segue)", "Egypt", and "The Death of Balance / Lacrymosa" by Symphony X off of the "V: The New Mythology Suite" album as it's like one large wonderful piece! Fantastic and diverse style wise with metal, prog, classical, jazz, choral, and movie soundtrack elements. And the chorus on Egypt is to die for . . .I don't think singer Russel Allen (or any singer) has ever sounded better! 🥰
I wish that Doug would've listened to these songs closer together cause he definitely missed a lot (almost all) of the references in Shattered Fortress. Can't fault him he couldn't know in advance really. Maybe that would be a great video sometime in the future? The whole 12 step?
Dream Theater songs that doug will surely enjoy a lot, less heavy and more melodic, emotional and virtuosic!! 1: Trial of Tears - I. It's Raining / II. Deep in Heaven / III. The Wasteland 2: Hells Kitchen and Lines In the Sand 3: The Best Of Times
Doug reacted to The Best of Times in his 2/22 Fan Favorites video on Pateron. Check the Daily Doug Directory link in this video's description for a list of everything Doug has reacted to.
I bought this CD (black clouds) on the day of release and went home as quick as i could to listen to it knowing because we knew that Mike was finishing his suite on this album. DT has a habit of making their big epics palindromic but the fact that the shattered fortress finished on the riff that started this whole thing off at the start of glass prison. A Cadence that was essentially 9 years in the making, i wept at such an epic statement.
Hahaha I remember when I found Dream Theater, and a few years later I listened through all their albums chronologically. It was probably around 2016-2017 when I finally went through their whole discography over the course of 2-3 weeks (I was around 14 or 15 at the time). I had already listened to The Glass Prison and This Dying Soul many times, but hadn’t listened to the other songs of the 12 Step Suite. I remember getting to The Shattered Fortress and loving all the callbacks to the other songs. When it hit that last section and the intro to The Glass Prison started playing, I cried. It was the perfect way to end it, and I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have the 9 years of buildup to that section.
for me the best part is at the end of The Shattered Fortress when the glass prison starts to appear and then comes to your mind everything ending where it started. Simply incredible!!
@@mike2003ars I've always struggled with that part. Is it before the addiction began or is he right back where he started? I like Doug's analysis of the bell being hopeful, but it is the same as The Glass Prison when things seem to be at their worst. Would love to hear everyone's thoughts on that!
@@paulomoniz How about considering this. People who battle addiction don't go through 12 steps and are free, it's a forever battle and it's a matter of being able to identify when you're slipping back into old habits. The glass prison is always there, it's a matter of being aware and not getting trapped again
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuudddeeeee !!!!!! Systematic Chaos is such an underrated album You need to check out the RUclips video Mike Portnoy put out - it’s an actual video you can buy as well. The making of Systematic Chaos It’s about an hour an a half A really great behind the scenes look at the guys. Totally awesome. I recommend.
@@laurasweed5262 It is. It really is. I love the feeling of being in the studio with them while they made that magic. One of my favourite DT albums for sure.
The The Root of all Evil's chorus, reprised in XI, is to me one of the finest pieces I've ever heard. Also the lyrics in both times are superb. Hearing this suite live is as a metal fan, one of the highlights of my life.
So incredible to follow up the absolute masterpiece Octavarium with Systematic Chaos. It has several, of my (many many) favourites, from their catalogue. That said, the Ministry of Lost Souls and both of the In the Presence of Enemies songs absolutely need to be covered by Doug. For me, Lost souls is up there with Take the Time, the Mirror, Finally Free, Goodnight Kiss, A New Beginning, Octavarium and so on and so forth. Songs that moved me to the core of my being. Also the solo in Shattered Fortress is incredible.
If you want to hear them being very "Floydian", try the live version of "Peruvian Skies" off Once in a Live Time. There's also a DVD of them doing the whole of The Dark Side of the Moon, for those interested.
That was a great prediction! I LOVE Repentance, but I always just assume others won't enjoy it because it's not the most popular DT song. It unexpectedly ended up as one of my favorite of Doug's reactions
Random tidbit, Chris Jericho is known to be a pretty big DT fan. I saw him at show years ago in Tampa, I think it was the "A View from the Top of the World" tour. He was taking pics with a bunch of random fans during intermission.
Musically, Repentence is STRAIGHT out of Shine on you crazy diamond Part 8/9. amazing. The Shattered Fortress in one of the best track they ever made imo. The best part of this epic, epic story. Doug, you REALLY should listen to it from start to finish in your own time. Or share it with us of course. But yeah, go through it without pause. To get all the musical throwbacks to pieces they released almost 10 years prior.
When I was listening to this for the first time I was losing my mind when I heard familiar tunes from their previous songs from the twelve step. The flow and cadence with combining everything into one final song is just out right incredible.
Amazing journey! Nothing against Mangini but i really miss Portnoy, he was the one to brought this inner soul elements to DT music. I recommend A Nightmare to Remember, from the Black Clouds, Silver Linings. One of the most powerful and beautiful DT pieces. I struggled with addiction, but i recovered from it. I'm young, it was relatively easy. Unfortunately i can't say the same for my mother and my father, both died from it. So i'ts a scar that never leaves your family members. That's why the Portnoy's suite always reach my most deep feelings, every word means the world to me since i was a teenager. I've been listening to them since 2002 (i was 10) the same year they released 6 degrees. My father was a prog aficcionado and i learned it all from him. Unfortunately he's not with us today, but listening to Doug's analysis feels familiar and comforting, something i often did with my father. So thank you.
This was amazing, thanks as always Doug. Cannot wait for the next DT reaction/analysis. I would love to see you check out Space Dye Vest. I think you would really appreciate that song
ive been listening to Dream Theater for my whole adult life, and im 42 now. Ive heard of the 12 step thing Mike did but never really paid attention. This video reintroduced me to songs i know by heart inside and out. All it took was a little research and a great moral background by Doug to lay this out for me in a way that clicked and got me misty eyed. Powerful stuff, indeed. Thank you Doug!
You should do a series where you do the last song on each of their records. I'd be curious to see your thoughts on an older song line Trial of Tears from Falling Into Infinity. In the name of God and In the presence of enemies part two would be great as well!
Please do Bleak by Opeth! For me it's the peak of the sweet metal/pop love story of Mikael Åkerfeldt and Steven Wilson. Has some AMAZING vocals, both growl and clean + harmonies to blow your mind
It’s hard to recognize alot of the previous stuff in the suite that comes up again when it’s your first listen, but it is very fascinating and beatiful storytelling when you recognize it after a few listens😁
It would be nice if Jordan could get you a backstage pass to meet the guys, and trust me, Mike Portnoy has much LOVE for all the fans. He was the face of the band to the fans ever since the beginning. I'm sure you will get an opportunity to do a Zoom call with Mike, and it could go 1 - 2 hours or more : )
Thank you Doug. Masterpiece and outstanding performance and great analysis done by you. Actually my name is Jack and I’m, let’s say, a very grateful customer of this fellowship. I’ve been sober for many, many years, thanks to the 12 steps. I live in Poland, always have been a great fan of Dream Theater. The played concert in Warsaw in January 2023, it was amazing, this was the musical .experience one my life, I guess. Listening The Count of Tuscany live is unforgettable. I used to listen 12 steps suite much in the past, but now, thanks to your channel I had the opportunity to be really familiar with not only lyrics but music too. I’ll share that’s feelings with my fellas from AA. Your series on that suite has also educational aspect. Thank you for those videos. Moreover - I’m not English native speaker, but understand perfectly your language, almost 100 %. Will keep watching. Greetings from Poland. Maybe the other day I’ll visit that group you’ve mentioned and we could shake hands 😊
I think that Doug would surely enjoy "Best of Times" that's one of my favourite songs not only by Dream Theater, but one of my favourites of all time. With what I think, the most emotional John Petrucci guitar solo at the end
Doug reacted to The Best of Times in his 2/22 Fan Favorites video on Pateron. Check the Daily Doug Directory link in this video's description for a list of all Doug's reactions. The solo was brought up for sure.
Just discovered you Doug and only because you’re reacting to dream theater, hands down my favorite band. As a drummer ( church), I’m blown away by portnoy and DT. Have enjoyed watching you discover this band and you have enhanced my appreciation of DT’s genius. I’ll never forget the moment I listened to the end of shattered fortress and it dawned on me I was listening to the beginning of the glass prison. Made me realize this band’s on another level. Keep up the good work!
Wow. I've been listening to this stuff since release day and it never dawned on me that spreading the suite across multiple albums can be synonymous with how long the journey is to recover from something as serious as substance addiction. I always learn something new from your videos, even though I've been a diehard DT fan for at least 25 years now. Thanks again for a wonderful reaction and lesson!
I’m a fairly new DT fan because of this channel. Really loved Repentance. I need to listen to the entire Suite in one sitting to absorb the brilliance. Thanks so much Dr. Doug!
I love how they quote literally every other song in the suite - the second and third themes are variations from "Glass Prison", and they walk through from there.
Just came across your channel randomly. Dream theater has been one of my all time favorites for many years now. They really changed my views on music. Repetence is one of my favorites. It was a joy to watch you react to all the chord changes, lyrics and everything else that makes this song great. Reminds me of the first time I heard this song.
Another marvellous DT reaction, cheers Doug! Your musical insight and enthusiastic air drumming are always a joy to watch, but your closing statement really made this video something special 🙏
How can I thank enough for these DT videos! Helps me a lot to understand their songs better. This is on my playlist I’m doing, of the music that you have included.
"Repentance" has been my favourite track from "Systematic Chaos" since first hearing it. At the time, I wasn't aware of it's significance, which has elevated it even further.
Dude. I greatly enjoy your videos. Dream Theater has long been a favorite band. That said, here are a few suggestions for another band, "Shadow Gallery", who are possibly largely defunct now, but their most recent work is pure art. "Strong" - ruclips.net/video/SZ-vJFJRh2A/видео.html (not very long, really strong vocals; talks about combat experiences) "Haunted" - ruclips.net/video/jv23HdWAFMc/видео.html (almost ten minutes long, desperately haunting)
I love your reaction to the spoken bit in Repentence. If you liked that, you'll absolutely LOVE the entire concept album BE from Pain of Salvation. The music is superb. The concept is highly intriguing. There is a song compiled from answering machine messages from their fans, imagining that they were leaving messages to God. It's a supreme emotional journey, and I think you'll love it.
The whole 12 step suite makes me cry every time I hear it. As a long time DT fan I believe it is one of their finesr musical pieces and the lyrics is just so amazing. As a person who has struggled over the years this suite has really helped me in a number of areas.
Shame you didn't do a refresher on the previous songs. Shattered Fortress is pretty much a medley of the other songs but with lots of twists. I'm also wondering if you mixed up Rudess with Petrucci or actually thought that was a guitar solo, though I'm guessing it's the former. Fantastic analysis as always, curious to see what your next DT song will be. Learning to Live would be a great choice imo. So jealous of you for seeing JP's solo tour. His albums are amazing.
I'm seeing Petrucci's solo tour too! On the topic of healing, it's so great to see them keep making music together and put all the drama around Portnoy leaving the band in the past.
As a Dream Theater fan, I really like all your DT reactions, because all the things you'd said about the songs, specially twelve step suite are really really true!. I have all the Twelve Step suite albums (Six Degrees, Train of Thought, Octavarium, Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds) and listening to all the Twelve step songs are the beginning and conclusion of this wonderful suite!. Could be nice you interview Mike Portnoy and talking about that... I'm sure he's open to talk about it! ;)
Love your reactions Doug !! The very last notes and sounds you hear on this masterpiece, are the first ones to "The Root of all Evil" Did not know if (you) knew that or not.. Cheers !!! These guys are amazing,and have been captivating me for 25+ years
Very cool. The intro to this is giving me some serious early Pink Floyd vibes - particularly "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" from Ummagumma - great stuff as always from DT
I always thought of the long instrumental section (after the spoken word section) to be an opportunity to face your own empty page. It's impossible to soak it all in when you're talking and thinking about so many things going on. I highly recommend a 2nd listen ... alone ... with headphones, with no RUclips camera to have to talk to.
Repentance is one of my absolute favorite songs, not just from Dream Theater. The work that AA does is indeed amazing. If the local chapter hosts open meetings, I really recommend you visit one Doug! Whenever I watch one of your videos I enjoy having it explained what they do musically, since I know nothing about such things, I just know I like the music.
Thank you for your kind words, Doug. The suite is an amzing therapy for lots of people going through difficult processes of rebuilding, addiction or no. Any destructive behavior pattern we adopt can be recognised and fought alongside these songs. Have a wonderful week.
In "The Shattered Fortress", Mike Portnoy is listing the 12 steps and a little creed (nonspecific, changes by organization) to help memorize the steps.
Dough, I love your videos!! I advice you to listen tho the whole 12 step suite back to back so you can catch all the melodic lines and rhythm patterns shared between all of them. It's amazing!
Be great if you could interview Portnoy at some point. I saw an interview once where he talked about his time at Berkley - deciding NOT to study drums, but composition in his time there. It would be interesting to hear him interviewed as a composer rather than as a drummer.
As a fan of Dream Theater, it was great to see you enjoying these favourites of mine so much . May I suggest for a couple of Masterpiece Fridays the 2 discs of The Astonishing...!
I love Dream Theater and when you react to them, I get to appreciate them even more. I would love to see you react to "Bruford - One Of A Kind" Very creative and clean. I know that you probably don't read these. Your focus is basically on Patreon, but I'll give it a try anyway. You're great Doug. One Of A Kind.
Looking in the mirror was also a theme for Queensryche and meant the same thing. I see a stranger. Its me but not the person I was. This speaks to the change one must go through to achieve sobriety.
I would absolutely love for you to check out some Big Wreck! They're not really prog, but they're a rock band with many different influences, and prog is a part of it, among other things like blues, southern rock, alt rock, and a tiny bit of metal. I would recommend listening to the song Better Off from their newest EP.
That was cool, but yes, Doug really needed to go back and listen to the first three songs. The Shattered Fortress wove all the previous song's themes continuously so well.
You should listen to The Mirror, and Lie which continues directly off the former, from the Awake album. The Mirror can be considered a prelude for the 12 step suite, and is referenced multiple times in the lyrics of various parts of it. Also recommend The Dark Eternal Night from Systematic Chaos, such a blast of progressive goodness!
I think the Awaken Has morę to offer. Falling is top much pop even for Doug i think. But must to is hell's kitchen + lines on the sand from Falling into Infinity.
@@kartoflanystefan4937 you're right, Awake has more strong structured songs than Falling, but based on Doug's reaction on Repentance I think he will enjoy it And yes, Line in the Sand is a must to react! Really love the bass on that track
Thank you so much for this amazing reaction Doug!!! ❤️ I appreciate how much you care about your community and about me! This is more than a reaction channel and that's why it's the best one! We all love you Doug!! #444 #DTforever
Systematic Chaos is one of my biggest influences from Portnoy. His earlier stuff is of course legendary, but theres something so melodic, dark, somber, and still heavy about Systematic that really has some of Portnoys and Petrucci’s best interactions as writers, not just players. In The Presence Of Enemies Pt 1 & 2 and is phenomenal. But the tones and recording quality is just so good, and mixed perfectly. It doesnt have that “radio sound” the current mixes do (all highs and bottomed bass). Its Petrucci’s best solo tone and Portnoys most balanced kit. (yay Bubingas)
![Lethal Company Music Video 🎵 "Follow The Orders" [VERSION A]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QeooZB4Z7RA/mqdefault.jpg)
Dream Theater songs references:
17:17 -> From "This Dying Soul" (0:53)
17:32 -> From "The Glass Prison" (11:25)
19:10 -> From the intro of "The Root Of All Evil" (00:46) (also present in "This Dying Soul (3:40)")
19:24 -> Not sure, but sounds like "The Count Of Tuscany" (3:56)
21:02 to 21:03 -> Very beginning of "This Dying Soul"
21:03 -> From "The Glass Prison": First part of the riff from 5:54, last part from 1:46 (also mixed with the very beginning of "The Dying Soul" riff)
24:06 -> From "The Root Of All Evil" chorus (3:02)
25:01 -> Intro riff of "The Root Of All Evil" (1:00)
27:06 to 27:12 -> From "Losing Time / Grand Finale" (3:20)
27:21 -> Intro of "The Glass Prison" (from 0:50)
28:08 -> From the intro of "The Root Of All Evil" (0:26)
I might have forgotten some of them, but that's quite a lot already! This piece is an impressive medley from several of their great tunes !
This is what I don't like on this song, lacks originality. It's just a medley/compilation
@@Cestariarts
That’s why it’s one of my favorite DT songs. It took all the best parts from the other songs and made them even better.
@@JozoTm good for you if you think this way, didn't work out for me
@@Cestariarts For me, it's the lack of depth to some of the transitions. Straight cuts to a different key/melody/time signature/ tempo which feels lazy, like an incoherant storyline.
@@ConnorHammond I second that!!!
please, i’d pay to see your reaction to In The Presence Of Enemies, parts 1 & 2 in a row. One of the best songs they have for sure.
you can join his patreon and request him LoL
"I do not work for you" hahaha
There's a live version out there, I think from a concert in The Netherlands, where they play them both together. It's absolutely astounding.
@@nexuslang There's a version on youtube here where someone put them together.
This for me, is Mike Portnoy's masterpiece, in terms of songwriting. Musicwise is just unbelievable.
My favourite part is where Labrie sings “just when you’re through hanging on” and then Portnoy says “you’re saved” before Petrucci comes in with his angelic solo. Brings me to tears sometimes
There's a video out there of Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth singing that whole bit live (I think they were touring together). Needless to say if you know Mikael's voice, it's chilling
If you didn't know, I found out when I watched the video the other day that Mikael hits a B1 at 'you're saved' which is the lowest not he's ever sang@@blackbird351
Deep voice Mike Portnoy 12:50 sec. Dream Theater has a What Would Rush Do? policy. Rush had many early tracks where one of the members would speak, and their voice, let's use 'Subdivisions' as an example, I think that was Geddy. There is also the Necromancer, said to be Neil Peart.
Mike Portnoy is a freaking genius... listening to the drums in these tracking is soooooooo satisfying!
22:32 "all hail john petrucci", but the whole solo in by jordan :D That's one of his "liquid lead" sounds, and on live performances he usually play those solos with his keytar
Yeah, I caught that too - assumed Doug thought that was a heavily-effected guitar solo.
But no, the wizard was at play :)
best solo ever: Live in Boston version. Definitely
@@GianlucaCalesso yess, both from jr and jr
@@falloutfan2502 I assume he wanted to say Jordan x)
he was too focused on a double kick he ACTUALLY enjoyed lmao xD
As someone who got REALLY into dream theater in the late 2000's, hearing The Shattered Fortress for the first time was the equivalent of Avengers Endgame for me. I LOVED all the musical callbacks, even to The Mirror (a sort of prequel song to this suite) and to this day remains one of the few songs I revisit the most from that album!
20:58 Doug be like “that’s from a previous piece”. There had been dozens of passages from previous pieces already. Doug would had enjoyed Shattered Fortress wayyy more if he had listened to the other tracks before listening to the Grand Finale.
im going to enjoy this for sure... but I have to say that I still find it odd that youve visited all their long form material EXCEPT In The Presence of Enemies pt1&2. IMO its some of their best work.
I second this, what an amazing piece of music those tracks are together
The live version
Great choices, live or studio
I have suggested this a few times.
I second in the precense of enemies. I'm sure doug will love it
One of the 'Progressive Nation' tours when Opeth were openers for Dream Theater, Mikael Akerfeldt sang 'repentance' for them, its one of my favorite musical memories, it was like the song was meant to have him on vocals.
One of these days I hope Doug does the songs "On the Breath of Poseidon (Segue)", "Egypt", and "The Death of Balance / Lacrymosa" by Symphony X off of the "V: The New Mythology Suite" album as it's like one large wonderful piece! Fantastic and diverse style wise with metal, prog, classical, jazz, choral, and movie soundtrack elements. And the chorus on Egypt is to die for . . .I don't think singer Russel Allen (or any singer) has ever sounded better! 🥰
Just do the entire album already! 😄
@@96Vladek 🥳👍
Decades of greed plague famine and war
V is on the list for Doug to check out on his Extended Play Lounge in the future.
@@fohman2796 "We can't go on like this anymore" 😎👍
I wish that Doug would've listened to these songs closer together cause he definitely missed a lot (almost all) of the references in Shattered Fortress. Can't fault him he couldn't know in advance really.
Maybe that would be a great video sometime in the future? The whole 12 step?
I agree - he totally missed the call backs to The Glass Prison (although he did mention "the bell") and the Root of All Evil at the very end.
Yes it needs to be listened all
Together
Now he can listen to the entire suite in one listening, and he will recognise all the musical references.
The whole shattered fortress is basically just cut and paste from all the previous parts, with some classic Rudess masturbation thrown in the mix
Dream Theater songs that doug will surely enjoy a lot, less heavy and more melodic, emotional and virtuosic!! 1: Trial of Tears - I. It's Raining / II. Deep in Heaven / III. The Wasteland 2: Hells Kitchen and Lines In the Sand 3: The Best Of Times
Doug reacted to The Best of Times in his 2/22 Fan Favorites video on Pateron. Check the Daily Doug Directory link in this video's description for a list of everything Doug has reacted to.
@@Arrow2theACL I'm too poor lol
I'm with you on this.
Scarred...
@@Sam-cv6un unfortunately we are :(
I bought this CD (black clouds) on the day of release and went home as quick as i could to listen to it knowing because we knew that Mike was finishing his suite on this album. DT has a habit of making their big epics palindromic but the fact that the shattered fortress finished on the riff that started this whole thing off at the start of glass prison. A Cadence that was essentially 9 years in the making, i wept at such an epic statement.
Hahaha I remember when I found Dream Theater, and a few years later I listened through all their albums chronologically. It was probably around 2016-2017 when I finally went through their whole discography over the course of 2-3 weeks (I was around 14 or 15 at the time). I had already listened to The Glass Prison and This Dying Soul many times, but hadn’t listened to the other songs of the 12 Step Suite. I remember getting to The Shattered Fortress and loving all the callbacks to the other songs. When it hit that last section and the intro to The Glass Prison started playing, I cried. It was the perfect way to end it, and I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have the 9 years of buildup to that section.
for me the best part is at the end of The Shattered Fortress when the glass prison starts to appear and then comes to your mind everything ending where it started. Simply incredible!!
"the story ends where it begins"
@@mike2003ars I've always struggled with that part. Is it before the addiction began or is he right back where he started? I like Doug's analysis of the bell being hopeful, but it is the same as The Glass Prison when things seem to be at their worst. Would love to hear everyone's thoughts on that!
@@badbob1156 so what you're suggesting is something like a relapse? I don't find it very nice to finish the song with the glass prison melody...
@@paulomoniz How about considering this. People who battle addiction don't go through 12 steps and are free, it's a forever battle and it's a matter of being able to identify when you're slipping back into old habits. The glass prison is always there, it's a matter of being aware and not getting trapped again
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuudddeeeee !!!!!!
Systematic Chaos is such an underrated album
You need to check out the RUclips video Mike Portnoy put out - it’s an actual video you can buy as well. The making of Systematic Chaos
It’s about an hour an a half
A really great behind the scenes look at the guys.
Totally awesome. I recommend.
I have it---that bonus DVD is awesome!!
@@laurasweed5262 It is. It really is. I love the feeling of being in the studio with them while they made that magic.
One of my favourite DT albums for sure.
@@ChrisHaspeck I like the Portnoy era the best and it's not even close. :)
@@laurasweed5262 Its honestly night and day. Portnoy just understands the studio as a producer for the band.
In the presence of enemies is one of their best.
The The Root of all Evil's chorus, reprised in XI, is to me one of the finest pieces I've ever heard. Also the lyrics in both times are superb.
Hearing this suite live is as a metal fan, one of the highlights of my life.
Man when you listen to these songs a few times, that ending reprise of glass prison hits so fucking hard
Not sure if you heard but John Petrucci is touring his solo album with Mike Portnoy, I'm excited to see them play together
So incredible to follow up the absolute masterpiece Octavarium with Systematic Chaos. It has several, of my (many many) favourites, from their catalogue. That said, the Ministry of Lost Souls and both of the In the Presence of Enemies songs absolutely need to be covered by Doug. For me, Lost souls is up there with Take the Time, the Mirror, Finally Free, Goodnight Kiss, A New Beginning, Octavarium and so on and so forth. Songs that moved me to the core of my being.
Also the solo in Shattered Fortress is incredible.
If you want to hear them being very "Floydian", try the live version of "Peruvian Skies" off Once in a Live Time.
There's also a DVD of them doing the whole of The Dark Side of the Moon, for those interested.
They even cover a snippet of "Have A Cigar" in it. ;)
Repentance is one of my favorite 'unusual' DT songs, along with Misunderstood. Wish they made more music like this.
I have a feeling Doug will enjoy Repentance a lot. Let's see if I'm right!
...that's a big yes...
@@Doug.Helvering It's not a lot of people's favorite but I knew you'd appreciate its simplicity and writing.
That was a great prediction! I LOVE Repentance, but I always just assume others won't enjoy it because it's not the most popular DT song. It unexpectedly ended up as one of my favorite of Doug's reactions
@@Doug.Helvering a BIG like You!!?
@@CompleteProducer84 its not that its not good, it just doesnt fit at all chaos as the album name implies XD
Random tidbit, Chris Jericho is known to be a pretty big DT fan. I saw him at show years ago in Tampa, I think it was the "A View from the Top of the World" tour. He was taking pics with a bunch of random fans during intermission.
Musically, Repentence is STRAIGHT out of Shine on you crazy diamond Part 8/9. amazing.
The Shattered Fortress in one of the best track they ever made imo. The best part of this epic, epic story.
Doug, you REALLY should listen to it from start to finish in your own time. Or share it with us of course. But yeah, go through it without pause. To get all the musical throwbacks to pieces they released almost 10 years prior.
When I was listening to this for the first time I was losing my mind when I heard familiar tunes from their previous songs from the twelve step. The flow and cadence with combining everything into one final song is just out right incredible.
Amazing journey! Nothing against Mangini but i really miss Portnoy, he was the one to brought this inner soul elements to DT music.
I recommend A Nightmare to Remember, from the Black Clouds, Silver Linings. One of the most powerful and beautiful DT pieces.
I struggled with addiction, but i recovered from it. I'm young, it was relatively easy. Unfortunately i can't say the same for my mother and my father, both died from it. So i'ts a scar that never leaves your family members. That's why the Portnoy's suite always reach my most deep feelings, every word means the world to me since i was a teenager. I've been listening to them since 2002 (i was 10) the same year they released 6 degrees. My father was a prog aficcionado and i learned it all from him. Unfortunately he's not with us today, but listening to Doug's analysis feels familiar and comforting, something i often did with my father. So thank you.
This was amazing, thanks as always Doug. Cannot wait for the next DT reaction/analysis. I would love to see you check out Space Dye Vest. I think you would really appreciate that song
We've been needing you for years, Doug. Thanks for spending your time with us
ive been listening to Dream Theater for my whole adult life, and im 42 now. Ive heard of the 12 step thing Mike did but never really paid attention. This video reintroduced me to songs i know by heart inside and out. All it took was a little research and a great moral background by Doug to lay this out for me in a way that clicked and got me misty eyed. Powerful stuff, indeed. Thank you Doug!
You should do a series where you do the last song on each of their records. I'd be curious to see your thoughts on an older song line Trial of Tears from Falling Into Infinity. In the name of God and In the presence of enemies part two would be great as well!
Please do Bleak by Opeth! For me it's the peak of the sweet metal/pop love story of Mikael Åkerfeldt and Steven Wilson. Has some AMAZING vocals, both growl and clean + harmonies to blow your mind
It’s hard to recognize alot of the previous stuff in the suite that comes up again when it’s your first listen, but it is very fascinating and beatiful storytelling when you recognize it after a few listens😁
Exactly! That’s one of the the things tha impress me the most on DT catalog
Now, go back and listen to the entire suite in one sitting. Then you will certainly catch all of the reoccurring themes.
Doug can u do learning to live next? Surprised u haven't heard any songs from images & words yet.
It would be nice if Jordan could get you a backstage pass to meet the guys, and trust me, Mike Portnoy has much LOVE for all the fans. He was the face of the band to the fans ever since the beginning. I'm sure you will get an opportunity to do a Zoom call with Mike, and it could go 1 - 2 hours or more : )
Thank you Doug. Masterpiece and outstanding performance and great analysis done by you. Actually my name is Jack and I’m, let’s say, a very grateful customer of this fellowship. I’ve been sober for many, many years, thanks to the 12 steps. I live in Poland, always have been a great fan of Dream Theater. The played concert in Warsaw in January 2023, it was amazing, this was the musical .experience one my life, I guess. Listening The Count of Tuscany live is unforgettable. I used to listen 12 steps suite much in the past, but now, thanks to your channel I had the opportunity to be really familiar with not only lyrics but music too. I’ll share that’s feelings with my fellas from AA. Your series on that suite has also educational aspect. Thank you for those videos. Moreover - I’m not English native speaker, but understand perfectly your language, almost 100 %. Will keep watching. Greetings from Poland. Maybe the other day I’ll visit that group you’ve mentioned and we could shake hands 😊
I think that Doug would surely enjoy "Best of Times" that's one of my favourite songs not only by Dream Theater, but one of my favourites of all time. With what I think, the most emotional John Petrucci guitar solo at the end
YES
Doug reacted to The Best of Times in his 2/22 Fan Favorites video on Pateron. Check the Daily Doug Directory link in this video's description for a list of all Doug's reactions. The solo was brought up for sure.
Just discovered you Doug and only because you’re reacting to dream theater, hands down my favorite band. As a drummer ( church), I’m blown away by portnoy and DT. Have enjoyed watching you discover this band and you have enhanced my appreciation of DT’s genius. I’ll never forget the moment I listened to the end of shattered fortress and it dawned on me I was listening to the beginning of the glass prison. Made me realize this band’s on another level. Keep up the good work!
Wow. I've been listening to this stuff since release day and it never dawned on me that spreading the suite across multiple albums can be synonymous with how long the journey is to recover from something as serious as substance addiction. I always learn something new from your videos, even though I've been a diehard DT fan for at least 25 years now. Thanks again for a wonderful reaction and lesson!
I’m a fairly new DT fan because of this channel. Really loved Repentance. I need to listen to the entire Suite in one sitting to absorb the brilliance. Thanks so much Dr. Doug!
I’m seeing a lot comments telling Doug to react to In The Presence of Enemies Pt1/Pt2. He might have to now!
I love how they quote literally every other song in the suite - the second and third themes are variations from "Glass Prison", and they walk through from there.
Just came across your channel randomly. Dream theater has been one of my all time favorites for many years now. They really changed my views on music. Repetence is one of my favorites. It was a joy to watch you react to all the chord changes, lyrics and everything else that makes this song great. Reminds me of the first time I heard this song.
Another marvellous DT reaction, cheers Doug! Your musical insight and enthusiastic air drumming are always a joy to watch, but your closing statement really made this video something special 🙏
Just showed this very special video to my girlfriend and shared with her how much the channel and how much you and Meg mean to me! Love you guys!
Repentance has such an Opeth feel to it!
Wow, I've always loved this song, but I never realized that the voices from the confessions were all famous musicians that I also admired.
Shattered Fortress is my favorite song. I'm absolutely enthralled by all the callbacks to the previous songs. Thanks Doug for going through the Suite!
How can I thank enough for these DT videos! Helps me a lot to understand their songs better. This is on my playlist I’m doing, of the music that you have included.
"Repentance" has been my favourite track from "Systematic Chaos" since first hearing it. At the time, I wasn't aware of it's significance, which has elevated it even further.
Dude.
I greatly enjoy your videos. Dream Theater has long been a favorite band.
That said, here are a few suggestions for another band, "Shadow Gallery", who are possibly largely defunct now, but their most recent work is pure art.
"Strong" - ruclips.net/video/SZ-vJFJRh2A/видео.html (not very long, really strong vocals; talks about combat experiences)
"Haunted" - ruclips.net/video/jv23HdWAFMc/видео.html (almost ten minutes long, desperately haunting)
So enjoyed that, so many emotions in those key changes. Gets me every time. What a blessing Dream Theater are.
The sequence from 25:14 to 26:36 appears to be JP's most impressive composition & performance in the entire 12-step saga, I dig it every single time.
His phrasing is very Allan Holdsworth
So glad to finally see you complete the suite. It's a real shame you didn't use the live version though, it's mindblowing.
I love your reaction to the spoken bit in Repentence. If you liked that, you'll absolutely LOVE the entire concept album BE from Pain of Salvation. The music is superb. The concept is highly intriguing. There is a song compiled from answering machine messages from their fans, imagining that they were leaving messages to God. It's a supreme emotional journey, and I think you'll love it.
The whole 12 step suite makes me cry every time I hear it. As a long time DT fan I believe it is one of their finesr musical pieces and the lyrics is just so amazing. As a person who has struggled over the years this suite has really helped me in a number of areas.
Great job Doug! Love that hat too!!!🙏🏻🤟🏻
Shame you didn't do a refresher on the previous songs. Shattered Fortress is pretty much a medley of the other songs but with lots of twists. I'm also wondering if you mixed up Rudess with Petrucci or actually thought that was a guitar solo, though I'm guessing it's the former. Fantastic analysis as always, curious to see what your next DT song will be. Learning to Live would be a great choice imo.
So jealous of you for seeing JP's solo tour. His albums are amazing.
Love your insight. In the presence of enemies part 1 and 2 live. Absolutely amazing
I'm seeing Petrucci's solo tour too! On the topic of healing, it's so great to see them keep making music together and put all the drama around Portnoy leaving the band in the past.
All of the artists who did their "Confessions" on this song recognized the work of DT Is Exceptional!! They have great taste.
As a Dream Theater fan, I really like all your DT reactions, because all the things you'd said about the songs, specially twelve step suite are really really true!. I have all the Twelve Step suite albums (Six Degrees, Train of Thought, Octavarium, Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds) and listening to all the Twelve step songs are the beginning and conclusion of this wonderful suite!. Could be nice you interview Mike Portnoy and talking about that... I'm sure he's open to talk about it! ;)
Love your reactions Doug !! The very last notes and sounds you hear on this masterpiece, are the first ones to "The Root of all Evil" Did not know if (you) knew that or not.. Cheers !!! These guys are amazing,and have been captivating me for 25+ years
Awesome vid, Doug, as always! Love the DT episodes, hope to see you do "In The Name of God" or "In the Presence of Enemies 1 & 2" in the future!
Very cool. The intro to this is giving me some serious early Pink Floyd vibes - particularly "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" from Ummagumma - great stuff as always from DT
I always thought of the long instrumental section (after the spoken word section) to be an opportunity to face your own empty page. It's impossible to soak it all in when you're talking and thinking about so many things going on. I highly recommend a 2nd listen ... alone ... with headphones, with no RUclips camera to have to talk to.
First solo on Theo Shattred Fortress is by Keyboards (Jordan Rudess). Only a note, congrats, was a great video!
Repentance is one of my absolute favorite songs, not just from Dream Theater. The work that AA does is indeed amazing. If the local chapter hosts open meetings, I really recommend you visit one Doug!
Whenever I watch one of your videos I enjoy having it explained what they do musically, since I know nothing about such things, I just know I like the music.
WOW, holy cow) Listened to this album for years I haven't had an idea about the voices of these awesome people in the song.
Thank you for your kind words, Doug. The suite is an amzing therapy for lots of people going through difficult processes of rebuilding, addiction or no. Any destructive behavior pattern we adopt can be recognised and fought alongside these songs. Have a wonderful week.
Doug have you listened to the Astonishing yet? A full listen through, probably as a patreon event, would be amazing.
God no 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤮
IN THE PRESENCE OF ENEMIES PART 1 & 2! PLEASE!
Please Doug listen to "Misunderstood", Six degrees, disc 1, studio version!
In "The Shattered Fortress", Mike Portnoy is listing the 12 steps and a little creed (nonspecific, changes by organization) to help memorize the steps.
Dough, I love your videos!! I advice you to listen tho the whole 12 step suite back to back so you can catch all the melodic lines and rhythm patterns shared between all of them. It's amazing!
The two Shattered Fortress solos are probably my favorite of all DT, makes me almost cry it's so intense
FIRST TIME I HEARD THE GLASS PRISON OPENING IN THE END OF THIS SONG I CRYED LIKE A BABY
Be great if you could interview Portnoy at some point. I saw an interview once where he talked about his time at Berkley - deciding NOT to study drums, but composition in his time there. It would be interesting to hear him interviewed as a composer rather than as a drummer.
Yeah.. repentance is also one of my favourite songs by them! One of my favourite guitar solos ever...
Love this soulful reaction Doug !!
the theme starting from minute 24 is from the song The Root of All Evil of the Octavarium album... with slightly different lyrics. Awesome
"The story ends where it began"
Octavarium
Great reaction and analysis as always! Please do In the presence of enemies part 1 and 2 next!
I love songs like Repentance that are more subdued but you know Doug is going to love it.
As a fan of Dream Theater, it was great to see you enjoying these favourites of mine so much . May I suggest for a couple of Masterpiece Fridays the 2 discs of The Astonishing...!
I love Dream Theater and when you react to them, I get to appreciate them even more. I would love to see you react to "Bruford - One Of A Kind" Very creative and clean. I know that you probably don't read these. Your focus is basically on Patreon, but I'll give it a try anyway. You're great Doug. One Of A Kind.
Looking in the mirror was also a theme for Queensryche and meant the same thing. I see a stranger. Its me but not the person I was. This speaks to the change one must go through to achieve sobriety.
Listened to a lot of DT but never heard Shattered Fortress before. Was fun to hear segments from other DT songs thrown in.
I would absolutely love for you to check out some Big Wreck! They're not really prog, but they're a rock band with many different influences, and prog is a part of it, among other things like blues, southern rock, alt rock, and a tiny bit of metal. I would recommend listening to the song Better Off from their newest EP.
Repentance is such and underrated track. It's super dark.
That was cool, but yes, Doug really needed to go back and listen to the first three songs. The Shattered Fortress wove all the previous song's themes continuously so well.
You should listen to The Mirror, and Lie which continues directly off the former, from the Awake album. The Mirror can be considered a prelude for the 12 step suite, and is referenced multiple times in the lyrics of various parts of it. Also recommend The Dark Eternal Night from Systematic Chaos, such a blast of progressive goodness!
Always enjoy your DT reaction! 🤘 There's still a lot to dig from them, especially from Falling From Infinity album, which are one of my favorite!
I think the Awaken Has morę to offer. Falling is top much pop even for Doug i think. But must to is hell's kitchen + lines on the sand from Falling into Infinity.
@@kartoflanystefan4937 you're right, Awake has more strong structured songs than Falling, but based on Doug's reaction on Repentance I think he will enjoy it
And yes, Line in the Sand is a must to react! Really love the bass on that track
Trial of Tears... that keyboard solo...
This suite really needs to be listened in one go around to get all the themes and leitmotifs that’s present and woven throughout the works.
Perfect song choice! DT is always a huge piece of art worth of deep analysis. This hat suits You well. Greetings from Poland 🇵🇱 ❤ 😀
im excited for the john petrucci tour!
Thank you so much for this amazing reaction Doug!!! ❤️
I appreciate how much you care about your community and about me! This is more than a reaction channel and that's why it's the best one! We all love you Doug!!
#444
#DTforever
Woo hoo! Love this video. Thanks for your input and support for it B😇
@@pamnorris8954 you're so welcome Pam! Much love to you! 🙏 ❤️
Systematic Chaos is one of my biggest influences from Portnoy. His earlier stuff is of course legendary, but theres something so melodic, dark, somber, and still heavy about Systematic that really has some of Portnoys and Petrucci’s best interactions as writers, not just players. In The Presence Of Enemies Pt 1 & 2 and is phenomenal. But the tones and recording quality is just so good, and mixed perfectly. It doesnt have that “radio sound” the current mixes do (all highs and bottomed bass). Its Petrucci’s best solo tone and Portnoys most balanced kit. (yay Bubingas)