Dream Theater
Train of Thought

THE REVIEW

A few days early, the new work by Dream Theater is released in Italy, and the label on the cover reads verbatim that we are facing the new masterpiece of progressive metal... Is it a siren's song, or is it time to put "Awake" in the drawer?

Already circulating for a few days on p2p networks, "As I Am" is a song difficult to appreciate. Honestly, listening to it the first few times, I was strongly worried about the overall quality of the work, but I had to change my mind: the intro closely resembles sounds from the more recent past, and perhaps this was one of the reasons that made me doubt this single the most... instead, once the rhythm starts, LaBrie's voice, whose studio performance is always top-notch, fuels the song.
Perhaps due to the somewhat questionable mixing, both "As I Am" and "Honor Thy Father" are penalized, and the songs themselves demonstrate it; just listen to them to notice that the song becomes more enjoyable when Dream is free to play as they know how to...

Surely, reading these first ten lines, you might think that "Train of Thought" is not a great work... well, up to this point, I've talked about the songs I liked the least from this album; the rest is of an entirely different caliber!
Petrucci showcases great class and sensitivity by opening "This Dying Soul," and I can't deny having felt a thrill listening to LaBrie whisper "Hello, Mirror - so glad to see you my friend..."
The song is divided into two parts: "Reflection of Reality," whose meaning can be summarized in these words "Born into this world a broken home... Surrounded by love yet alone... A mother and a Father both pulling you..."; musically, the best of Dream Theater is felt, and even the "UFO" Rudess manages to integrate perfectly; the second part, "Release," is the freedom from the pain of a wound that has become deeper over time... "These tormenting ghosts of yesterday... will vanish when exposed... you can't hold on to your secrets."
The guitar seems to cradle us, accompanying the splendid "Endless Sacrifice," probably one of the best lyrics of recent years, touching and profound without becoming trite. The complexity we find in a song reminiscent of the best Dream ballads is impressive, and again I am amazed by the keyboardist Rudess, who dispenses great class but finally integrates excellently with the band.

A fair note should also be given to the splendid voice of LaBrie and the rhythmic section of Portnoy, who seems to have lightened his style without forgoing (as in the finale) his typical solos.

In "Vacant," the excellent Rudess, along with a perfectly fitting and quite novel violin, renders a song as unique in the Dream's repertoire as it is stylistically and musically valuable.
"Stream of Consciousness": 11 minutes of pure music that enter forcibly into Dream Theater's history, perfect from every point of view, worth the album's price alone.
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, musically varied, technically perfect; it is the ideal showcase (if there was any need for it) for all the band members. LaBrie delivers a text with great depth, and truly the apotheosis (or rather, the climax) is touched in the chorus. Everything is in place, not a voice out of tune.

This album has been much compared to "Awake" and shares sounds with it somehow, but the Dream's retreat into themselves is certainly stronger.
As for "Awake"? Well, keep it always at hand, but don't neglect this "Train of Thought," which holds pleasant surprises for those who know how to look for them carefully.