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Dream Theater fans (Not unlike Rush fans) and a fickle bunch that won’t agree on anything about the U.S. progressive five piece act, with the exception being that they are the most highly regarded outfit in the progressive genre at this point in time. After saying that, there are few that would dare claim that their eighth studio album Train Of Thought is anything short of stunning, regardless of what they consider Dream Theater’s best period is. Although last years Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence rocked the Dream Theater core fan base to some extent, most fans will have Train Of Thought ranked right alongside 1992’s Images And Words as their best work in years (If not, at least the last few years). Rather than take the elaborate and bombastic framework that made up Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence one step further, Dream Theater have instead opted to change course entirely and strip away all the fancy extras and create a progressive metal album, and one that pushes the genre leaps and bounds beyond the safe boundaries that the followers chose to work within. Although Train Of Thought features seven tracks, there’s no moment whatsoever within the seventy minute running length that falls short of brilliance. ‘As I Am’ literally begins where ‘Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence’ ends with the keyboard orchestration, but is swiftly led into a fierce Mike Portnoy (Drums) and John Petrucci (Guitar) led metal workout. Lyrically, the song is just as fascinating with its message squarely label at fans expectations of the band and the music they create. ‘This Dying Soul’ is another throwback to ‘Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence’, with the lyrical theme continuing the concept within the track ‘The Glass Prison’ (A tale of addiction and recovery). James LaBrie’s vocals show plenty of variation through the use of effects, as does the instrumentation and styles provided by the remaining members of the band. The centerpiece of the album comes in the dramatic ‘Endless Sacrifice’. There are plenty of Metallica influences within the number (Not to mention plenty of other nods to the metal masters throughout the album), while keyboardist Jordan Rudess’s solo is as short as it is unique, quirky and mind-boggling. Petrucci seems to dominate most of the time in the guitar led ‘Honor Thy Father’. The solos seem to stretch for unfathomable lengths without losing any originality or the listeners ear, while the instrumental ‘Stream Of Consciousness’ pushes the point even further with shades of Metallica’s ‘Orion’ and ‘To Live Is To Die’ clashing with Dream Theater’s typical progressive metal flair in grand unison. The emotive ‘Vacant’ is an honest and touching piece delivered without the formulized teary eyed sentiment, while the closing epic ‘In The Eyes Of God’ is as heavy as the cryptic subject matter (Not to mention musically, as proven with the ‘Battle Hymn Of The Republic’ ending) it projects. Dream Theater isn’t one to follow commercial trends or fans expectations, and ‘Train Of Thought’ isn’t about to start doing that. Instead, Dream Theater forges ahead a path that few are willing to attempt, but all to many will no doubt be happy to follow on from. Innovation might have a price to pay, but after years of toughing it out in their own way, Dream Theater (And their devoted followers) are starting to finally reap the rewards. Related Link(s):
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