TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Something very unusual has heppened to me with this album. I bought it almost a year ago, and gave it a LOT of spins. I couldn't really get into the music, but I was sure it'd grow on me. It all changed with the last two listens, when I enjoyed this disc completely: the riffs that once seemed uninspired to me, now are great, the very incoherent composition of the songs, now is one of the high points here, the typical metallish solo, now is something different. Since then, I realised that before I wasn't really focused on the music, or maybe it was just that it took a LONG time to fully appreciate this work.

About the music, I feel, as most of people here, that this disc, particularily is the heaviest from Dream Theater, and of course that'd make controvery among all the proggers that are around this site. But, despite it does not seem like the proggy DT we know (we have a rapping Labrie at the beginning of the fourth track, something I laughed to), the music is very entertaining and interesting, with lots of great solos, and specially, RIFFS, metal riffs that will blow up your head! The musicians are all in good form, I don't have to presentate them, really. The Metallica influence (me being a BIG Metallica fan) really isn't as huge as the people hear claim it to be, in fact, there may be a couple of rougher vocals ('similar' to Hetfield) and a couple of riffs that could have been made by Metallica (like the beginning melody of "Endless Sacrifice"). But all the other stuff is DT. The opener, "As I Am" is a total achievement, it may be "mainstreamish" or single oriented, but it's a damn good metal track, with great low heavy riffing, and an specially enjoyable guitar solo, with the usual Petrucci speed (that led me to get this album); "This Dying Soul" and "Honor Thy Father" are similar in the way they progress: one heavy riffing part after another, and technical, very heavy stuff is loaded here, the crazy solos are not missed; "Endless Sacrifice" is another reason why I bought this album: it starts as a ballad, and explodes with a great heavy choruses, and here is specially entertaining the instrumental part, with a totally mindblowing guitar/keys duel. I kind of lose my head with this song. Then we've "Vacant", that is a quiet ballad with lovely violin, and is well used as an introduction of the follower instrumental track (maybe the best in the disc), "Stream Of Consciousness", which is SO great, it has one memorable melody after another, and a particularily memorable guitar solo in the middle that could be among the fastest solos I've ever hear. This instrumental stands as the more mellow side of the album, and is a kind of 'eargasm' when you fully appreciate it. The closer, "In The Name Of God" is the weakest track here. The greatest thing about it are the two great main riffs that I found myself headbanging at, but at some point it can be tiring. It has a catchy chorus, that gives some more emotion to the song, and an extremely shredding part close to the end, with an almost impossible guitar/keys unison melody.

Overall, it's a more metaleer DT, with a more evident trash metal sound. Of course, it's not recommended for those who can't stand heavy music, but any other one should give some listens to this album, that may take some time to 'click', but it'll be worth. Solid four star album.

Rating: 4.0/5