Thought Industry

The first Thought Industry album is by far their most experimental, and also my personal favorite. I can't classify this album, and to try to do so would not be doing it justice. The two opening tracks are fast and furious, showcasing excellent musicianship and form. Cornerstone stops the pace with industrial noise and opression. The next three songs are of a completely different vein, with AVTP being a very emotional acoustic number. Clocking in at over 10 minutes, The Chalice Vermillion is the apex of the album. An incredibly fast and technical number, this blows away anything that Dream Theater has ever tried to do. The first 6 minutes are balls-out thrash metal, breaking into a complex Pink Floydish section at the end. Whew! The last three tracks are also monumental, each with it's own strongpoint. Two things I especially like are Brent Oberlin's vocal style and incredibly poetic lyrics, which covers a wide spectrum. There are no pansy opera screams here, just pain. This is an album for those into the progressive metal/thrash side of things, for there's hardly a solid 2/4 beat to be found here.

10 out of 10

A very, very angry album, that's the best way to describe this. This album totally alienates you, pushes you away. It's abrasive, intrusive, and howls out in agony, and I have to admit, I don't really like it. I was turned off initially, and hoped that it would grow on me, which it never did. The instrumental which closes, To Build... is excellent though, and may be worth the price of admission. Not nearly as good as Songs, though.

6 out of 10

Some changes within the band results in a more accesible, rockier album. At this point, they can hardly be labeled metal anymore, it's more art rock. As with their previous release, I was initially disappointed, but unlike Mods... this one did grow on me. If you want experimental rock, ala King Crimson meets metal, you might just get into this.

8 out of 10

Man is this a depressing album. First off, let me just stipulate that this is in no way a metal release. I only put it in here because I DO consider their first two releases to fall under metal, and this is an excellent album. Everything here is taken to a minimalist extreme. Gone are all of the credits for every instrument under the sun. What is given is a scaled down heavy mood rock album which will just drain the very life from you. It actually sounds just like the cover looks, if that makes any sense, and the tone of the album will shroud you like a black umbrella. You have been warned.

9 out of 10