TRAIN OF THOUGHT

After the release of "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" (a very good album in my opinion), "Train Of Thought" was a big question for all Dream Theater fans (many other prog metal fans had already left the ship, being a bit harsh on the band). It's true that this one is quite different. It's much heavier to begin with. But it isn't inspired, and this is evident to a great extent here. Seven songs, a ballad "Vacant" (really mellow, easy and cheesy), and six classic Dream Theater prog metal songs in structure comprise the album. There are great guitar riffs here, but the solos of Petrucci are very similar and in some parts remind of exercises more than song solos. Another thing is the striking Metallica influences, especially in the vocal lines. You can identify "Blackened" after the beginning of the 7th minute of "This Dying Soul" and I really don't know why Dream Theater thought that this would add anything to their sound. "As I Am" is probably the best song of the album, but it's far below my favourite Dream Theater songs.