Dream Theater - Train of Thought
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Dream TheaterEdition: Music CD
Published: 2003
CD Release Date: 2003-11-11
Music Label: Atlantic / Wea
Soundtracks:
- As I Am
- This Dying Soul
- Endless Sacrifice
- Honor Thy Father
- Vacant
- Stream of Consciousness [Instrumental]
- In the Name of God
Free Music Notes for Train of Thought
Free Music Review: A Monstrous Prog/Metal Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
Personally, I found "Train of Thought" to be an amazingly brilliant album from Dream Theater, and it's also the heaviest album they've ever released, even heavier than 1994's "Awake". This album is also Dream Theater's most underrated and harshly criticized release in their catalog. I know alot of fans who enjoyed the band's older material have strongly criticized "Train of Thought" for being "too heavy" and "too metal", and stuff like that. I seriously don't find anything wrong with this album, I mean, I own every Dream Theater album (except for "When Dream and Day Unite"), and I don't even remember that last time they ever released one bad album. Each album of theirs is different in it's own way, and ToT proves that Dream Theater are never afraid to try anything different without forsaking their progressive sound, and that's what made them one of progressive metal's best bands to begin with.
Now onto the album, "Train of Thought" is nearly 70 minutes of pure, menacing, monstrous, progressive metal brilliance that will totally assault your senses. There are seven epically, masterful songs (most of them clocking in at between 10 and 15 minutes long) that will take you on an awesomely epic and unforgettable ride you'll never forget. The band's musicianship is in absolute full force throughout this album. James LaBrie delivers an awesome vocal performance as he usually does on any DT album. His vocals can range from melodic and soaring ("Endless Sacrifice" and "In the Name of God") to fierce and angry ("As I Am"). Guitarist John Petrucci truly steals the show on this album. His riffs are just heavy, crushing, chunky, monstrous and very technical, and his solos are just absolutely sick and wicked, yet very virtuoistic. I've said it many times before, but I'll say it again, Petrucci is without question one of the BEST rock/metal guitarists ever. Jordan Rudess also shines as he shows off his awesome keyboarding skills with dazzling effects and solos of his own, while bassist John Myung powers his way throughout with strong, humming, muscular basslines, and of course Mike Portnoy does an awesome performance behind the drums as he usually can, and he also shows his great double bass skills as well.
Now we'll take a look at the songs.
Kicking off the album, we have "As I Am" which is a solid, heavy hitting opener that is highlighted by awesomely fierce singing from James, a great catchy chorus, crushingly heavy riffage and a wickedly mindblowing solo by John, as well as some hard, solid drumming from Mike. Next up, we have "This Dying Soul" which is my personal favorite song on here, and it's also a continuation of Mike's Alcoholics Anonymous suite (parts 4 "Reflections of Reality" and 5 "Release"). This is without a doubt, one of the heaviest songs that DT have ever written. The guitar riffs are just savagely heavy and brutal, the changes in tempo are amazing, the drumming is fantastic, and Petrucci's soloing is just amazingly crazy, stunning, and off the hook especially in the beginning as well as near the end of the song. There's also a stunning keyboard solo by Rudess at 9:38 as well. The third track "Endless Sacrifice" is another fantastic song that starts off soft with some nice acoustic strumming, and some hearfelt melodic singing from James, and the chorus is just fantastic with heavier, crunchier riffs backing it up, until the opening section is played again, which is followed by the chorus, and then before you know it, the song breaks into a heavier instrumental section with several solos, including a mindblowing trade-off section between Rudess and Petrucci. Following that is a bludgeoning, classic heavy metal style section that is reminiscent of Iron Maiden which will give you no other alternative but to bang your head in unison. James's vocals in this part are also very reminiscent of Bruce Dickinson as well.
Track four "Honor Thy Father" is another heavy, visceral and bludgeoning song that is highighted by some angry and fierce rap like vocals from James (yeah I know it's a bit uncharacteristic of James to rap, but it actually has some good results), and there's also some more awesome drumming by Mike especially in the intro, and there's some nice double bass work as well. John's riffing is just dare I say blisteringly heavy and monstrous, and track five "Vacant" is a short, yet beautiful piano driven ballad with some cello parts added, that gives the album a short needed break from the heaviness.
The aformentioned song then kicks into the epically addicting instrumental "Stream of Consciousness" which is 11 amazing minutes of pure, epic instrumental wizardry that starts off soft and mellow, then the song suddenly gives way to heavier, thundering riffs, but that's just the beginning. This song also features stunning keyboardwork by Rudess, fantastic drumming by Portnoy, awesomely catchy and affectious riffing, and of course some absolutely stunning solos by both Petrucci and Rudess, including a ferociously, mindsweeping guitar solo by Petrucci around 3:50, which is followed by an awesomely dazzling keyboard solo by Rudess at 4:29. There's also some nice groovy bass by Myung in the middle part of the song. We also have more fantastically mindblowing solo breaks during the latter part of the song, including an awesome classical style keyboard solo by Rudess around the 9 minute mark, and it's followed by an addicting and melodic guitar solo by Petrucci. This is definately the best and most epic instrumental that DT have ever done in my opinion, it's just amazing, period.
Finally, we have the epic 14+ minute closer "In the Name of God" (which is the longest song on the album). After the song starts off gloomy and mellow, it suddenly explodes into a creepy middle eastern-esque style riff, and after the drums come into play, the song then goes into an addictingly awesome groovy, chunky main riff. James's vocals are just amazing and they soar with passion throughout this song especially in the chorus. There's also some more fantastic solos by Petrucci and Rudess with some nice, humming basslines by Myung during the solo breaks, before kicking back into the chunky main riff, and there's also some fantastic and heartfelt piano keys by Rudess in the end.
Best songs: This Dying Soul, As I Am, Stream of Consciousness, Endless Sacrifice, and In the Name of God.
Despite being harshly criticized and the most underrated album in DT's catalog, "Train of Thought" is an epic and monstrously mindblowing masterpiece from the progressive metal masters themselves. But, I must warn you, that if you're new to Dream Theater, you might not want to start with this album. If you're a fan of the older Dream Theater albums especially "Images and Words" and "Awake", this might not be for you, but if you're a fan of Dream Theater through and through, then by all means, buy this album. Highly Recommended!!
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