DT, why can’t all your instrumental bits be as cool as “Stream of Consciousness”
If you can listen all the way through DT’s “In the Name of God” without getting emotional then I’m not sure you’re even human
This^ That song is probably one of the more perfect heavy DT songs. Now I have to listen to it over and over.
Endless Sacrifice- Dream Theater
This will always be one of my favorite DT songs
This Dying Soul starts out so strongly and so powerfully. It would probably be one of my favorite Dream Theater songs if it maintained the emotion and agression it has in its first half, but alas, I just can’t stand the ending to the song. I don’t usually fault DT for their wankery unless it is really out of hand, like it is here. The ending of the song is so anticlimatic, it’s just a long boring soloing section.
Overall though, Train of Thought is stunningly marvelous, even if it goes a little overboard.
If only This Dying Soul had a better second half, the album could have been flawless, and I mean, flawless.
I always forget about the awesomely groovy middle section of Stream of Consciousness
In my opinion, Train of Thought is the last truly stellar Dream Theater album. At the time of its release, it really polarized some fans, because, it may not seem it, but this is a pretty daring album, and as it stands, the last Dream Theater album with a consistent tone. Their past three albums have been great, but they barely feel like albums any more, they honestly feel like an overlong collection of songs. If you were two switch around the order of songs and mix them up with each other between the three, it would still fit the same.
Train of Thought however flows perfectly. It is unrelentingly dark and gloomy, and almost biblical in a way (Not saying Christian, but in the sense that it has a very dark and vulnerable tone, also many of the song titles sound very biblical “Honor thy Father, In the Name of God, This Dying Soul, Endless Sacrifice”) It goes through themes of alcoholism, isolation, hatred of an abusive stepfather, feeling your creative expression being picked apart and crushed down, religious extremism and violent cults, loss of a loved one. And the music fits it very well, with unrelenting aggression.
A main criticism is the overlong and overly technical instrumental sections, and yes, this is a legitimate criticism. Yes, the album could have benefited from being trimmed down a bit, but still, like the opening song begs, take it for what it is, accept it and enjoy every second.
I really feel that this album is also very important in the grand scope of progressive music. Dream Theater is a widely known band for this genre, so even though there were many bands taking prog to heavier places before this, this album helped show what the progressive landscape of the 21st century was going to be about.
All this adds up to a truly landmark album, and one that, love it or hate it, you cannot deny that it is a very important album for Dream Theater.
As I Am - Dream Theater
Lungs by Florence and the Machine
Train of Thought by Dream Theater
Uncle Meat by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
Larks’ Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson
And that is of course just the full albums I have had a chance to listen through.
“In The Name of God”
by Dream Theater
Off of: Train of Thought
This song is 14 minutes of pure bliss, it is a very heavy song, but very melodic at the same time, and it features one of the few Dream Theater instrumental sections taht doesn’t become tiresome with repeated listens. Also, the ending is incredibly beautiful and powerful.
