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Rating: Here we are with a Dream Theater album, "Train of Thought", which has created quite a stir, both negative and positive. My intention is not to provide inconclusive opinions that end up being nothing but childish. I am here to analyze an album that impressed me a lot. Having said this, let's start with the actual review.
First, let's analyze the album as a whole, starting with the cover. It certainly conveys a lot of what we will hear, with its colors ranging from black to gray and a very enigmatic image, let's just say very Dream Theater. When moving on to the music, you immediately notice the dark tones, already after the initial note of "As I Am" picked up from Six Degrees, Myung starts marking the time for a somewhat overshadowed Rudess. Then the song kicks off with a hit that wakes us from that calm beginning, and here all the instruments start with Petrucci making his guitar scream a few times before launching into a song with a very sustained rhythm, and a LaBrie that doesn't stand out too much. A fairly catchy refrain with a hard singing style, not typical of James, and even a spoken part. The song flows without overly joyful bursts of musicality when at one point you hear Petrucci's battle cry, launching into a solo that almost defies the laws of our dear Albert. Not appreciated by everyone, for those who lack musicality, for those being too fixated on technique, but the fact is that the solo is there, and it's terrifying. And as soon as Petrucci finishes, Portnoy reminds us he's there and has no intention of staying quiet, firing off bursts that would make a jackhammer envious. Shortly after, the song closes with a not-so-pleasant whistle that I honestly didn't appreciate much.
Then the second track "This Dying Soul" kicks in, more melodic than the previous one with a small guitar/keyboard "solo" shortly after the start. After this, the waters calm, and out emerges a LaBrie who phrases with a spoken voice and launches into the chorus. Very melodic as well, it recites the song's name several times. In the end, this track is quite anonymous in my opinion, you can hardly remember any riffs after the first listen, LaBrie trying to scratch his voice which isn't very suitable for this role. Many spoken parts and a dark mix of instruments that are sometimes hard to distinguish. The song closes in a frenetic way that intensifies especially in the last 3 minutes and the usual essential solo, at hyper speed I appreciated less than the one in "As I Am".
On to the third track, "Endless Sacrifice", it starts calmly but after a few minutes it shows us that when DT wants to be tough, they do it with a very heavy riff and a more beautiful, less strained singing this time. Then calm returns even if just for a moment to prepare, and then the refrain comes back and as soon as it's over, it throws us into the hands of Rudess (one of the few times he's seen) who delights us with those piano bursts that are really nice. Now, guess who's next?... the inevitable Petrucci starts a fast but also quite melodic solo, a middle ground. After this long instrumental section, LaBrie is heard again, shouting "Endless sacrifice!!!" several times. The whole ends with a small outburst from Portnoy, always there to remind us who's behind the drums.
After Mike's previous outburst, did you think it was over? You were mistaken. Here comes Portnoy in "Honor Thy Father" with something that feels monstrous like only he can do. After a somewhat anonymous riff of the song, here comes a surprising calm that allows LaBrie to slip in and say half a word and then again a small instrumental exploit that soon after makes way for a rap-like spoken part. Now it’s the chorus's turn, maybe a bit anonymous, nothing special. It's time for a long instrumental part that precedes a nice, almost epic piece. Here comes the instrumental part again that will last until the end of the song, leaving just enough time for LaBrie to speak and then close everything.
And now? What to expect?? The beauty of DT is also this, the surprise. Here we are in front of an unexpected "Vacant" that leaves LaBrie and Rudess with maximum expression in a really very beautiful, deep piece. The violin parts are beautiful too.
Not even the time to lull ourselves with the previous song and here comes "Stream Of Consciousness", a purely instrumental piece just to let LaBrie rest. The beginning is calm with a very inspired Rudess here, and then the start of a song that can teach many more acclaimed compositions. A continuous exchange of instruments, parts, harmony. A song that expresses DT for what they are, great masters. In the first section, Rudess lets loose everything he had to hold back previously and delights us with unique melodies. At a certain point, Petrucci is not having it and wants the scene for himself, starting a solo among the most beautiful/fast/difficult he ever thought of. After him, here’s "the DT orchestra" together again to give us new harmony. At some point, the song stops, and gradually emerges again, until it flows into another section, this time darker, with the bass launching a beautiful solo melody. Here comes Rudess again delighting us with his keyboard and Petrucci defining a catchy tune. The song, in crescendo, takes us into a vortex of truly unique notes and emotions until the end where Petrucci closes in a very beautiful way and the song towards the end feels much like the "swan song." We'd like more, but eleven minutes are enough to leave that desire to hear the dream theater again.
Without almost realizing it, Rudess introduces the last track with a beautiful melody: "In The Name Of God". After the introduction, the song reveals itself with a very hard guitar riff but retains its melody. Then LaBrie starts, accompanied by the bass at first to then reveal all the instruments. After this, a very evocative melody comes to us from Rudess' magical hands, introducing a chorus sung very well by LaBrie. The song then resumes its vigor and starts again with a slightly more aggressive LaBrie but not strained, very pleasant to listen to. Chorus again, a nice sung piece and then... bass, the song "fizzles out" and Myung with his usual sweetness accompanies LaBrie who delights us with a voice almost whispered at the start. Having said this LaBrie rises and lets out quite a few high notes that wake us up and start the chorus. Then a beautiful instrumental section starts very different from the rest of the song, almost disengaged, created for the pure enjoyment of our musicians. At some point, they almost play a joke on us by retuning the chorus and abruptly cutting it off. A hard riff returns, with Petrucci charging in to introduce the motif that Rudess has brilliantly invented and that Portnoy accompanies with various toms passages. Chorus, Labrie and the rest of the crew are preparing to say see you next time, it can be felt in the notes but the moment has not yet arrived. James shouts the song's title several times and then various very beautiful high notes, which manage to remain sweet. The farewell arrives, the very epic/evocative instrumental section makes us understand that the ears will have to wait to be delighted again like this, Rudess moves us with perhaps the most beautiful motif of the album which Myung closes in an almost mysterious way with a final hit on his bass.
In summary, many emotions, at the beginning of the album DT reminds us that they are playing prog metal, and then delight us with melodies and whirlwind of notes as only they can do. Petrucci perhaps in the first part seemingly little inspired also because the album was intended to be harder, in the second part full inspiration. Same story for Rudess, almost total absence in the first part of the CD, then majestic awakening. Myung always attentive, sweet, accompanies us in the deepest meanders of music without ever overdoing it. Portnoy lets loose more and more times, he gives his best in terms of technique in the first part of the CD, in the second he equals the general greatness. LaBrie, in the first songs, struggles to sing dirty, too forced and unnatural, but then in the second part of the CD gives us the emotions only he can give also alternating some harder but unstrained parts. Thus the first four tracks, perhaps less inspired for LaBrie and Rudess, more Heavy (in which DT, perhaps attempting it SEEM diminished), the last three, Pearls of Dream Theater.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 As I Am (07:47)
Don't
Tell me what's in
Tell me how to write
Don't tell me how to win
This fight
Isn't your life
It isn't your right
To take the only thing that's
Mine
Proven over time
It's over your head
Don't try to read between the
Lines
Are clearly defined
Never lose sight of
Something you believe in
Takin' in the view from
The outside
Feeling like the underdog
Watching through the
Window I'm on the outside
Living like the underdog
I've been trying
To justify you
In the end
I will just defy you
To those who understand
I extend my hand
To the doubtful I demand
Take me as I am
Not under your command
I know where I stand
I won't change to fit your plan
Take me as I am
Still
Running up hill
Swimming against the current
I wish I weren't so
Fucked
Feels like I'm stuck
Lost in a sea of mediocrity
"Slow down,
You're thinking too much
Where is your soul?"
You can not touch
The way I
Play
Or tell me what to say
You're in the way
Of all that I believe in
Takin' in the view from
The outside
Feeling like the underdog
Watching through the
Window I'm on the outside
Living like the underdog
I've been wasting my breath
On you
Open minds will descend
Upon you
To those who understand
I extend my hand
To the doubtful I demand
Take me as I am
Not under your command
I know where I stand
I won't change to fit your plan
Take me as I am
To those who understand
I extend my hand
To the doubtful I demand
Take me as I am
Not under your command
I know where I stand
I won't change to fit your plan
Take me as I am
04 Honor Thy Father (10:14)
We're taught unconditional love
That blood is thicker than water
That a parent's world would revolve
Always around their son or their daughter
You pretended I was your own
And even believed that you loved me
But were always threatened by some
Invisible blood line that only you could see
You took advantage of an outreached hand
And twisted it to meet your every need
"Gimme time to re-charge my batteries,
I'll see her when she's older and I'll bounce her on my knee"
Well listen to me you ungrateful fool
Here comes a dose of reality
You'll go to your grave a sad and lonely man
The door is now closed on your pathetic little plan
On and on and on and on it goes
It's so easy to run away with nothing in tow
How can you ever sleep a wink at night
Pretending that everything is alright
And have the nerve to blame this mess on me
Never in my life have I seen someone
So ignorant to the damage he has done
You're the rotted root in the family tree
I tried your 4 bill therapy
I tried to make amends
But nothing could lure you out of your selfish shell again
Expecting everyone to bow and kiss your feet
Don't you see respect is not a one way street
Blaming everyone for all that you've done wrong
I'll get my peace of mind when you hear this song
On and on and on and on it goes
And with every passing day true colors show
How can you ever sleep a wink at night
Pretending that everything is alright
And have the balls to blame this mess on me
Never in my life have I seen someone
Oblivious to the damage he has done
You're the rotted root in the family tree
Watch where you walk
Don't you dare cross the crooked step
Watch the way you talk
Don't cross the crooked step
''"This is the regret that you make
This is the...
Regret that you make
And the something you take
Mistakes like this... you don't make
You make some and ok
Not ok, sometimes, you make other ones
Know that you should do better
The goddamn regret
The goddamn regret!
And I'll die
Now I'll die
The biggest regret of my life... I let my love go
What did I do?
The fucking regret
What did I do?
What did I do?"
"We just don't connect"
"Well, I want my family back."
"Well, you can't have it. I'm sorry for you, but it's too late."
"Can't you see anything except in terms of how it affects you?!"
"I can't love anybody"
"I gave you money, I gave you a car, I took you in
Don't that mean something?"
" ...I'm disappointed in you"
"You deserve to die alone for what you've done"
"You cocksucker, I hated you
I want you to know that I hate your fucking guts
Just fucking die, you fuck"
"I'm your blood - I'm your family"
"You're not my family - not anymore"
"When your own flesh and blood renounces you...
...you have no choice but to renounce them"''
On and on and on and on it goes
Chauvinistic, heartless, selfish, cold
How can you ever sleep a wink at night
Pretending that everything is alright
And have the balls to blame this shit on me
Never in my life have I seen someone
So fucking blind to the damage he has done
You're the rotted root in the family tree
05 Vacant (02:57)
Hey You, Hey You
I'm right here
Conscience fading
Can't get through
Oh Lord
Helpless
Confused
Head swayed
Eyes glazed
And mine teared
She's losing control
What can I do
Her vacant eyes
Black holes
Am I losing you
07 In the Name of God (14:14)
How can this be? Why is he the chosen one?
Saint gone astray with a scepter and a gun
Learn to believe in the mighty and the strong
Come bleed the beast, follow me it won't be long
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
Straight is the path leading to your salvation
Slaying the weak, ethnic elimination
Any day we'll all be swept away
You'll be saved as long as you obey
Lies, the tools of the devil inside
Written in Holy disguise
Meant to deceive and divide us all
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
Blurring the lines between virtue and sin
They can't tell where God ends and mankind begins
They know no other life but this
From the cradle they are claimed
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
Hundreds of believers lured into a doomsday cult
All would perish in the name of God
Self-proclaimed messiah led his servants to their death
Eighty murdered in the name of God
Forty sons and daughters un-consenting plural wives
Perversions in the name of God
Underground religion turning toward the mainstream light
Blind devotion in the name of God
Justifying violence citing from the Holy Book
Teaching hatred in the name of God
[Instrumental section]
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
In the name of God
Religious beliefs - fanatic obsession
Does following faith lead us to violence?
Unyielding crusade - divine revelation
Does following faith lead us to violence?
[Chant:]
Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord
he is trampling out the vintage
where the grapes of wrath are stored
he had loosed the fateful lightning
of his terrible swift sword
his truth is marching on.
glory, glory, hallelujah
glory, glory, hallelujah
glory, glory, hallelujah...
-------------------------------------------------------
Ako to len môže byť?
Prečo je on ten Vyvolený?
Svätí odišli zvádzať na zlé cesty
so žezlom a so zbraňou.
Uč sa veriť v moci a sile.
Príď, vykrvácaj šelma.
Nasleduj ma, nebude to dlho.
ref.: Počúvaj, keď prorok k tebe hovorí.
Zabíjanie v mene Boha.
Umučenie prevracia vieru v násilie.
V mene Boha.
Priamo vpred je cesta, ktorá ťa vedie ku spáse.
Vyvraždenie slabých, etnická likvidácia.
V ktorýkoľvek deň my všetci budeme uchvátený
a ty budeš zachránený tak dlho, ako budeš poslúchať.
Klamstvá - nástroje diabla vo vnútri
napísané v svätej pretvárke.
Určené, aby nás všetkých podvádzali a rozdelili.
ref.:
Rozmazané hranice medzi cnosťou a hriechom
Nemôžu povedať, kde Boh končí a ľudstvo začína.
Nepoznajú iný život okrem tohto,
od kolísky sú presviedčaný...
ref.:
--------------------- INSTRUMENTAL PART ------------------------
... Stovky veriacich vábia do kultu Dňa Posledného Súdu.
Všetci chcú zomrieť v meno Boha.
Samozvaný mesiáš vedie svojich služobníkov do smrti,
80 zavraždených v meno Boha.
40 synov a dcér, neplnoleté manželky
perverznosti v mene Boha.
Skryté náboženstvo obracia vpred do hlavného svetla
zaslepená oddanosť v mene Boha.
Ospravedlnujúce násilie citované zo svätej knihy
učia nenávisť v mene Boha.
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Other reviews
By KiccoLSD1
Stream of Consciousness: 11 minutes of pure music that enter forcibly into Dream Theater’s history.
The album closes with 'In the Name of God,' probably the most beautiful song on the album, where indeed all the members give their best.
By TheSilentMan
The musicians' exhibitionism has become something abstract on the album; in fact, Petrucci's solos are indeed very fast but lack pathos.
Despite the usual mammoth durations typical of DT, the songs are the right length and contain some well-structured moments, but the ideas are now exhausted.
By cameli11
It's simply fantastic, it mesmerized the audience upon its release, they have once again shown themselves to be out-of-this-world!
DT are superior to everyone and Train of Thought is one of the many demonstrations they have presented and will hopefully continue to do for years and years to come.
By petrucci
Everyone’s entitled to their tastes—but veteran fans disowning the band baffles me.
'Stream Of Consciousness' is the most beautiful track on the entire album.
By Josh
If the New York band had distinguished itself for originality and versatility, we now face blurred imitations of Tool and Korn.
The album, while showcasing some valid episodes, proves to be a low blow for longtime fans but could attract a new audience.
