TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Introduction/Abstract: This is definitely Dream Theater's heaviest album in their current catalogue. This album has a quite similar sound as their previous album "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" with more intense riffs. If you like heavy songs without growls and amazing musicianship this album is worthwhile. This is, in my opinion Mike Portnoy's greatest work.

Arguments:

Originality: In terms of originality, this album is quite different from other typical metal albums. It surely has the same raw sound that you can hear in many Metallica albums, but with a progressive twist. Obviously, the vocals are quite original in comparison to other albums of this genre. One aspect that I think really works with this album is the usage of various lyrical and musical themes from the Twelve-step Suite, a project written by Mike Portnoy. You can also find these elements in "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence", "Octavarium", "Systematic Chaos" and Black Clouds and Silver Linings.

Rhythm section: Mike Portnoy at his finest and possibly the pinnacle of any rhythm section in Dream Theater. "Honor Thy Father" really illustrates why Portnoy is currently one of the best drummers in the world.

Musical texture: A lot of different musical textures in this album. You can find some Thrash elements at the end of "This Dying Soul", some doom metal elements in the opening riff of "As I Am" and progressive passages all throughout the album with the exception of "Vacant", a slow piano driven ballade, the weakest song of the album in my opinion.

Production: The production is quite raw and metallic. It does have a thin sound which makes it heavy, but far from being a crazy audiophile production. Overall it has a good sound for a progressive metal album. Conclusion/Rating: Train of Thought has all the elements of a solid progressive metal album and should be added to your collection if you are a fan of the genre.

9/10

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