The intro to this song sounds really really nice! Its a shame that the song that follows, is nothing special.
this.
the intro has nothing to do with the rest of the song. If they would have segued into something off of the intro and worked from there this could have been awesome. When I hear songs like this it makes me wish they'd get and outside producer.
Seems like a fickle complaint to me. I think it's a great introduction. The intro lulls you into a trance and then a Metallica-style riff slaps you in the face out of nowhere. It's supposed to be totally jarring and upsetting. If I were setting a music video to that song-- and I think it would have made a better single w/ video than TEI-- I could think of a million ways to sequence that visually.
There are tons of classic songs that have similar transitions. Since I (and numerous other people) have mentioned the Metallica influence, Damage Inc. and Fight Fire with Fire are two right off the top of my head that achieve the same effect. How about Bridges in the Sky for a more recent example?
Musically, I guess that intro has zero to do with the flurry of riffs that follow it.
Also forgot to mention...favorite guitar solo on the album