This is Dream Theater's 7th studio full length album, released in 2003. This is much heavier than all their other releases, and probably isn't the best place to start with Dream Theater unless you're into Metallica, Megadeth etc. and hate stuff like Rush and Yes.
The album kicks off with the prog-metal anthem As I Am. I think the solo in this song is John Petrucci's best Dream Theater Solo ever. This is a real headbanger and is a Dream Theater song that you can listen to at any time
They try to lead As I Am into the next song, This Dying Soul, but they don't do it very well, but just ignore that. This Dying Soul has a really good first section, which is a real mosher. This is actually my least favourite song on the album, mainly because the middle section goes on for too long. The middle section features riffs from The Glass Prison, from Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, as this song carries on from it. The minute outro at the end is a bit unneccessary, but it's great.
Endless Sacrifice is my second favourite on the album, and is a masterpiece. A lovely clean verse, then the distortion kicks in for the chorus and it is such an amazing change. The solos go on for a long time in this, but not for too long. This is a metal masterpiece.
Honor Thy Father is my second least favourite on the album, but it's a great song. The intro to this is unforgettable. The main downside here is that there are no tempo changes, and it kinda drags on a bit at the end. Nevertheless, great song.
Vacant is a short soft ballad piece, which is really sad and filled with emotion. This features cello as well.
Vacant leads perfectly into the instrmental Stream Of Consciousness. This has a mindblowing shredding bit from Petrucci and is one of my favourites. Some bits go on for a little too long though.
Dream Theater have saved the best until last this time with In The Name Of God. This has a similar headbanging riff to As I Am and features the most awesome keyboard-guitar unison solo ever. You must hear this song before you die. This song has everything you need in a prog-metal masterpiece - headbanging riff, thought-provoking chorus with a tempo change and awesome shredding solos. This is a must-hear.
This isn't the best place to start with Dream Theater, unless you hate classic prog and are more of a fan of heavy metal. This isn't typical Dream Theater and is a bit of a one off. This is one incredible album though
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Great reveiw, this is my personal favourite DT album as I prefer the heavier approach.
thedoktor 18.12.2005 04:42
yes good review, though you are right that it is a change of style for dream theater, i think that it should be rated lower, as it does not sound as good as their other work.
thats my opinion of course.!!
kalimero 13.03.2005 02:56
I didnīt know about thi group but i heard good comments of them and the y gort the reason,I enjoy this cd a lot of times.It,s harder than others of D.T.Un saludo...sorry cheers
With commendable dedication to duty, very little has changed in the peripheral ... more
progressive-metal world of Long Island's Dream Theater, but times surely have. Thus, whileTrain of Thought, the band's eighth studio album since debuting with 1989'sWhen Dre...
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With commendable dedication to duty, very little has changed in the peripheral ... more
progressive-metal world of Long Island's Dream Theater, but times surely have. Thus, while Train of Thought, the band's eighth studio album since debuting with 1989's When D...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Musicanship rivaled by very few in the world, Dream Theater possesses more "feel" now Disadvantages: A bit lacking for inspiration in the lyric department