Dream Theater - The Astonishing

Dream Theater - The Astonishing ('16, 13th)

Disc 1 - Act I

1. Descent of the NOMACS (Instrumental) [1:11]

2. Dystopian Overture (Instrumental) [4:50]

3. The Gift of Music [4:00]

4. The Answer [1:53]

5. A Better Life [4:38]

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 (Instrumental) [0:28]

12. Brother, Can You Hear Me? [5:11]

13. A Life Left Behind [5:48]

14. Ravenskill [6:01]

15. Chosen [4:32]

16. A Tempting Offer [4:19]

17. Digital Discord (Instrumental) [0:48]

18. The X Aspect [4:12]

19. A New Beginning [7:40]

20. The Road to Revolution [3:34]

   

Disc 2 - Act II

1. 2285 Entr'acte (Instrumental) [2:20]

2. Moment of Betrayal [6:11]

3. Heaven's Cove [4:19]

4. Begin Again [3:54]

5. The Path That Divides [5:09]

6. Machine Chatter (Instrumental) [1:03]   

7. The Walking Shadow [2:58]

8. My Last Farewell [3:44]

9. Losing Faythe [4:13]

10. Whispers on the Wind [1:37]

11. Hymn of a Thousand Voices [3:38]

12. Our New World [4:12]

13. Power Down (Instrumental) [1:25]   

14. Astonishing [5:51]

John Myung - Bass

John Petrucci - Guitars, Vocals (additional)

James LaBrie - Vocals (lead)

Jordan Rudess - Keyboards

Mike Mangini - Drums

with 

FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague 

Pueri Cantores - Boy's choir

Susan Youngblood - Vocals (choirs)

Fred Martin and the Levite Camp - Gospel choirs

Richard Chycki - Spoken words

Richard Fiocca - Conductor

David Campbell - Orchestration, Arrangements (choirs)

A story conceived by guitarist John Petrucci and music written by Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. 

Composer David Campbell assisted with orchestrating the album's strings and choirs.

The Astonishing is set in a dystopian future United States and follows the Ravenskill Rebel Militia in their efforts to defy the Great Northern Empire of the Americas using the magical power of music. 

It was inspired by contemporary fantasy and science fiction franchises such as Game of Thrones and Star Wars, as well as Petrucci's observations on the ubiquity of technological automation in modern-day society.