As stated before, this album is very much different from the rest of the albums in the Dream Theater catalog. We still got a lot of long, epic songs but most of the musicality is gone and is replaced by true strength powered by heavy riffs and a fast tempo. The regular Dream Theater sound is still there even though it is taking less space than usual.
The opener of "Train of Thought" is "As I Am", a very weird song even for Dream Theater.A heavy mid-tempo riff goes into a fast and groovy verse just to fall back to the mid-tempo sludge in the chorus. It takes some time to appreciate the song but it stands very clear that "As I Am" is one of the weakest opener in any Dream Theater album to date (competing with "New Millenium" from "Falling Into Infinity"). So not a great start for the heavier Dream Theater but the band shapes up instantly in "This Dying Soul" A great heavy and progressive song that is both exciting and groovy. But the most interesting part of this song is around 7:15. Is it just me or does that part sound like the Metallica song "Blackened"? You may say rip-off, I say that it was awesome.
The third song is "Endless Sacrifice", a great emotional track that gives me shivers every time that chorus is played. An to top it off it has a fast solo that shows of Petrucci's shredding abilities. Probably the song that showed the best mix between the early and the new Dream Theater. That good mix continues onto the next track, "Honor Thy Father". This track may not be as exciting and thrilling as "Endless Sacrifice" but it is still a groovy and heavy song that shows that the band is in an element they can control.
Now there is only one useless song on "Train of Thought" and, not surprisingly, it is the shortest song. "Vacant" is a slow and meaningless ballad that is just a filler. Actually, I think the only reason that "Vacant" is on here is to make this seventh album seven songs long. Fortunately, it is a small part of this album with its short playing time (2:58, almost five minutes shorter than the second shortest song). The last two songs on this album, "Stream of Consciousness" and "In The Name of God", are pretty pale against the rest of the songs on this album. Sure, they are good songs but they have their weaknesses. "Stream of Consciousness" is over ten minutes long, a little too long for a instrumental, and "In The Name of God" is epic and so but I do not think the solo is as good as it could have been. Such a shame for such a good track.
Controversial or not, I absolutely love this album. The fact that the band has baked in all these heavy elements into six tracks (plus one without any heaviness) is not only brilliant but a perfect way for the band to expand their music. "Train of Thought" is without a doubt the most unique album the band has made so far into their careers. But the new influences have its price. The lyrics and the settings are not as strong as in previous releases. Still, I find "Train of Thought" appealing and amusing. An album that any metal fan, progressive and heavy, should take a shoot at.
Songs Worthy of Recognition: This Dying Soul, Endless Sacrifice, Honor Thy Father
Rating: 8,5/10 Streams of Consciousness
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More reviews of Dream Theater
When Dream And Day Unite
Images And Words
Awake
Falling Into Infinity
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Octavarium
Systematic Chaos
Black Clouds & Silver Linings
A Dramatic Turn of Events
S/T
The Astonishing
Distance Over Time
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