TRAIN OF THOUGHT
I am a bit surprised by this new disc. Being a long-time DREAM THEATER fan, I know that this group has all the
capabilities to achieve absolute musical perfection or musical excess (and at times have demonstrated both these
musical poles quite well). With that said, this disc feels flat. I don't know why, but it lacks the intense dynamics achieved
on their last double disc opus
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. At times, this disc sounds as though they sat down
and really studied their METALLICA CDs and realized that heavy riffs are an easy way to make songs (there is even a
close similarity to the bridge section of 'This Dying Soul' that sounds exactly like Metallica's 'Blackened'), but this band is
capable of so much more. The opening track and lead off single 'As I Am' is intense, Metallica
Black Album-era material
and has a terrific chorus that keeps you close to the hook while never loosing it's overall dynamic. Yet the disc plunders
into heavy riff/over-indulgent musical territory with 'This Dying Soul' and continues with pretty much every track. This isn't
to say that there aren't brilliant moments on this disc (as is with any DT release).
Guitarist John Petrucci is simply ON FIRE throughout this disc, so guitar-maniacs will probably rejoice. His solos are simply un-matched and has taken his playing to another level (if that's even possible). Drummer Mike Portnoy, well... what can be said other than the guy wins all those 'best-drummer' poles for a reason. I was pleased that alot of the tracks stayed away from radio-friendly styles (which is something Dream Theater tried with the woefully misplaced 'Falling Into Infinity' disc a few years back) but the overall style of 'Train of Thought' is a bit one-dimensional for a band with so much talent and ability. This disc is very good, but then again coming off of a masterpiece like
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, one can't expect the band to duplicate that magic. I am all for the band trying different things, so go out, get this disc and be happy all you Dream Theater fanatics.
