Twelve-step Suite

The Alcoholics Anonymous Suite ( Anonymous Alcoholics series, also Anonymous Alcoholics series, AA or AA - Saga - called cycle ) is a series of titles from the U.S. progressive metal band Dream Theater. Each individual piece, written by Mike Portnoy, the former drummer of the band, process whose experience with alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal, each 2-3 stages of the twelve-step alcohol withdrawal program represents. The pieces include some recurring motifs and passages; and all - are classified under the toughest and most vocal legend theater pieces - with the exception of " Repentance ". In an interview Portnoy stated that " Repentance " from merely conditional reasons is quieter than the other pieces. All sections of the song begin with " Re". The total length is 57 minutes and 13 seconds.

The five titles of the suite are:

  • " The Glass Prison" ( Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence ) I. Reflection
  • II Restoration
  • III. Revelation
  • IV Reflections of Reality ( Revisited )
  • V. release
  • VI. Ready
  • VII Remove
  • VIII Regret
  • IX. restitution
  • X. Restraint
  • XI. Receive
  • XII. Responsible

With "The Shattered Fortress", the cycle has been found on the tenth Dream Theater album Black Clouds & Silver Linings its conclusion. It was planned that the entire suite is published on a future live album in one piece. Whether this will be realized after the departure Portnoy in 2010 is uncertain.

The dedication of all the title is " Bill W. and his friends ." This refers to William Griffith Wilson, one of the founders of the movement of Alcoholics Anonymous.

In addition, the song " The Mirror" ( Awake ) has been written on the subject of Portnoy's alcoholism and is considered by many fans as a prologue of the suite. The text of the steps II, III, IV and VIII refers to him, and the cinematic titles of step I ( " Reflection" ) and step IV ( "Reflections of Reality " ) provide another clue, the latter even a quote from " The Mirror " represents ( " Reflections of reality are slowly coming into view ... ").

It can be found within the suite several text references between the individual pieces:

  • "This Dying Soul": The passage "I can not break out of this prison all alone" is also found in " The Glass Prison".
  • The initial guitar riff is identical to the last riff in "This Dying Soul", albeit more slowly.
  • The passage "I can not break out of this prison all alone" occurs again.
  • The passage " Heal this dying soul " refers to "This Dying Soul".
  • The initial melody is identical to the same in "This Dying Soul".
  • The first lines of "Hello mirror, so glad to see you my friend / It's been a while" are identical to those in "This Dying Soul".
  • In general, many motifs of the previous titles are cited:
  • The passage "Sometimes you've got to be wrong and learn from mistakes" is identical to that in " Repentance " ( "Sometimes you've got to be wrong and learn the hard way " ) to the last two words.
  • The passage " Now that you can see all you have done / It's time to take that step into the kingdom / All your sins will only make you strong / And help you break right through the prison wall" is taken from "This Dying Soul".
  • The passage "Keep all of me / The desires did once burned me deep inside / Help me live today / And help to give me grace / To carry out your way / I am ready, help me be all I can be / I am ready, help guide me and keep me free " follows the same melody as the chorus of" the Root of All Evil " and lyrically there are parallels.
  • The final passage of "The Shattered Fortress" is analogous to the beginning of " The Root of All Evil".
  • In addition, " The Shattered Fortress" terminated by the same noise that " The Glass Prison" has embarked on.
Octavarium (album) Systematic Chaos Awake (Dream-Theater-Album)
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