*A note from WMP. This is an excellent explanation of the sometimes confusing and compassionate world of Dream Theater. We must also note that we don't agree at all when bands mix religious content with offensive language of any amount. We feel that even one offensive word is inappropriate.
Dream Theater
Train of Thought
Submitted by
Josh
jjm847@charter.net
Elektra/Asylum Records, Nov 2003
Offensive Language: 7 (4 by the singer, and 3 from movie samples)
Genre: Progressive Metal
Many people my remember Dream Theatre from their early 90's hit
"Pull Me Under" which received some decent air play.
After that, they sort of drifted off into obscurity. Not because
the music sucked, but because it wasn't radio friendly. However
this didn't stop the band, they have continued to sell records without
the help of radio and MTV. Recording epic songs going into lengths
over twenty minutes; instead of the industry standard of about three.
Recording concept albums, and actually playing good music based on the
knowledge all members gained while attending the Bearkly School of
Music.
In 2003 they released "Train of Thought" a seven track LP
(because of song length it is an LP mainly it takes eight or more before
coming out of the EP status.) of sixty-nine minutes and twenty second,
of almost non-stop progressive metal laced with wonderful vocals,
melodies, arrangements, and keyboards that sometimes sound like
something out of Bugs Bunny cartoons. Much heavier than previous
releases, I sense a mainstream attempt here, not only in the music but
in the vocals.
The album begins with a track called "As I am" which at 7 plus
min's it's one of the shortest tracks on the disc. The beginning
is dramatic with a wonderful build into a main groove so fat it should
be crevasse. This song makes lyrical a statement to anyone who
tells them how to create their art.
Then into the 11 min epic of "This Dying Soul"? which takes
you on a journey of classical arpeggio progressions, and one blistering
guitar solo, all before the singing begins. Lyrical this song
takes you through movements just as the music, telling a story about a
person who is trapped by all the wrong and sin in their life, and how
they need help breaking out of the prison of addiction, and deception.
The singer sings from the point of view of the person trying to help,
much like someone witnessing the word of God.
Finally, the pace slows down for the somber intro to "Endless
Sacrifice", yet the song quickly picks up, then back down again.
This is a wonderful musical roller-coater. Lyrically the song
depicts someone who is lost in despair and confusion about the road of
life they are on, and lamenting to someone they seem to have lost,
possibly an ex-girlfriend.
"Honor Thy Father" begins with a wonderful display of
syncopation, then moving into a good groove. All of a sudden, it
stops letting the bass have a good 3 or 4 second solo followed by the
singing. Musically this song is a standout. Lyrically, this
song is an attack to a father figure who obviously did worse than a bad
job. Now we've come to the shortest song on the whole CD.
"Vacant" clocking in just under 3 mins, is a wonderful piece
lamenting both musical and lyrically. Containing a wonderful
piano/violin duet in the beginning this song is short by comparison of
length only. Musically this is another standout track.
Track number 6 is an instrumental entitled "Stream Of
Consciousness". Coming in on the heels of ?Vacant? with a
guitar intro that reminds you of the previous track, then after 20
seconds, you get a musical smack down that goes on for over 11 mins.
You just have to hear this yourself, it somewhat reminds me of
Metallica's ?Orion? from their ?Master of Puppets? LP with a big boost.
Now we come to the final and longest track on the disc. "In
The Name Of God" is a 14 mins and 14 second masterpiece both
musically and lyrically. This song you simply have to hear for
yourself. The lyrics take you into the mind of an outraged
onlooker during the time which the Anti-Christ will reign for the first
half, then gives you poetic tastes of how to find modern versions of
such evil. Like people who use the name of God to incite hate and
violence. Instead of ending with the return of the Lamb, it asks a
good question about ignorant faith, fanatic obsession with God.
"Does following faith lead us to violence?" I feel the
question should have been answered, but that doesn't fit into the
secular realm of music unfortunately.
Over all, I give the CD about four out of five stars, cutting off the
fifth, because I've heard Dream Theater's vocalist do a better job, yes,
this disc does show versatility and ability to fit into the mainstream
of heavy music, but the fact remains, he's done better. I know
there are explicit words used that would offend people and for some may
not be able to over come even one use of an offensive word.
This was one of Jesus' many predictions of the future "people will
be killed in my name."
"In The Name Of God"
How can this be?
Why is he the chosen one?
Saint gone astray
With a scepter and a gun
Learn to believe
In the mighty and the strong
Come bleed the beast
Follow me it won't be long
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
Straight is the path
Leading to your salvation
Slaying the weak
Ethnic elimination
Any day we'll all be
Swept away
You'll be saved
As long as you obey
Lies
Tools of the devil inside
Written in Holy disguise
Meant to deceive and divide
Us all
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
Blurring the lines
Between virtue and sin
They can't tell
Where God ends
And mankind begins
They know no other
Life but this
From the cradle
They are claimed
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
Hundreds of believers
Lured into a doomsday cult
All would perish
In the name of God
Self-proclaimed messiah
Led his servants
To their death
Eighty murdered
In the name of God
Forty sons and daughters
Un-consenting plural wives
Perversions
In the name of God
Underground religion
Turning toward
The mainstream light
Blind devotion
In the name of God
Justifying violence
Citing from the Holy Book
Teaching hatred
In the name of God
Listen when the prophet speaks to you
Killing in the name of God
Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God
Religious beliefs
Fanatic obsession
Does following faith
Lead us to violence
Unyielding crusade
Divine revelation
Does following faith
Lead us to violence