The Astonishing is the thirteenth studio album by Progressive Rock titans Dream Theater, due out January 29th of 2016. It is a double album that will tell the story of a Dystopian future where a faction called The Great Northern Empire have dominion. It follows a rebellion uprising from a faction named The Raven Skill Rebel Militia. This future seems to be a world where music is outlawed, similiar to the story told in Rush's 2112. The first single from the album is a track called "The Gift of Music," which can be found below. [thumb]https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlt1/v/t1.0-9/12274498_10153118178087181_7364854270494537911_n.jpg?oh=d09fe2d2d5c7c56fe0670e575a919474&oe=56D9C463[/thumb] Tracklisting: Act I: 1. Descent of the NOMACS 2. Dystopian Overture 3. The Gift of Music 4. The Answer 5. A Better Life 6. Lord Nafaryus 7. A Savior in the Square 8. When Your Time Has Come 9. Act of Faythe 10. Three Days 11. The Hovering Sojourn 12. Brother, Can You Hear Me? 13. A Life Left Behind 14. Ravenskill 15. Chosen 16. A Tempting Offer 17. Digital Discord 18. The X Aspect 19. A New Beginning 20. The Road to Revolution Act II: 21. 2285 Entr'acte 22. Moment of Betrayal 23. Heaven's Cove 24. Begin Again 25. The Path That Divides 26. Machine Chatter 27. The Walking Shadow 28. My Last Farewell 29. Losing Faythe 30. Whispers on the Wind 31. Hymn of a Thousand Voices 32. Our New World 33. Power Down 34. Astonishing [video=youtube;CdPn1mCmqoE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdPn1mCmqoE[/video] I'm really pumped for this album. Dream Theater puts out their best work when working with a concept, which Metropolis Part 2 and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence are clear evidence of. This is the tightest the band has sounded in over a decade. Though the track is a bit brief, it's a bit expected, since it's more of a transition / exposition song of a 34 track album. The only thing that I find myself disappointed in is that James LaBrie will voice all 8 characters on the album. I was hoping that they would bring in guest singers to perform the different parts to give the album diversity, but oh well. Oh, and the inclusion of an actual choir is awesome.