TRAIN OF THOUGHT

That's a non easy accessible stuff for classic prog lovers. No flutes, no long acoustic passages, no vocal harmonies, no suites, etc. There is a lot of extrem metal riffs and basic influences here are (take seat): Pantera, Tool, System of a Down, RATM, Megadeth and, of course, Metallica. Mike Portnoy tell the fans they try to make their own Master of Puppets. First track, As I Am, remembers me a lot Enter Sandman (better played and executed) and it's perfect live show intro. This Dying Soul and Endless Sacrifice are a very very prog metal songs played "in crescendo" and showing the harder riffs, vocals and drums in the bands history. After that the train never stops, goes faster. Honor Thy Father begins with a classic System of a Down riff and explores the dangerous (for this band) nu metal lands. They survive 'cause they are unbeatable in jamming territories and the metal war between Petrucci and Rudess it's very enjoyable. Vacant is a beautifull piano-cello piece with LaBrie singing as angels and Stream of Consciousness is a classic Petrucci guitar work in a Dixie Dregs mood (his first guitar hero was Steve Morse). The half section could been perfectly a song from a never existing project Liquid Tension Experiment III. The final jewel, In The Name of God, was very special for me. The first acoustic chords are an explicit Fates Warning (Perfect Symmetry album) homage and the song it's an epic hymn against religious intolerance with the faster solo played ever by Petrucci and Rudess. I know some people say this is too heavy for their ears, but in the prog world there are harder and more complicated music well accepted for everybody, like King Crimson (80s & 90s) or Sieges Even. TOT needs and deserves seconds and third listenings cause it's too complex and depth for the prog metal newcomers.