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.