Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Dream TheaterEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
CD Release Date: 2007-06-05
Music Label: Roadrunner Records
Product features:
- DREAM THEATER SYSTEMATIC CHAOS
- In the Presence Of Enemies-Part I
- Forsaken
- Constant Motion
- The Dark Eternal Night
- Repentance
- Prophets Of War
- The Ministy Of Lost Souls
- In the Presence Of Enemies-Part II
Free Music Notes for Systematic Chaos
Free Music Review: Pretty damn awesome
Hit: 5 Stars
Dream Theater's ninth album Systematic Chaos is something that I have been looking forward to a long time now, ever since the disappointment of Octavarium. Before listening to the album, I had mixed expectations. On one hand, 2005's Octavarium was a significant letdown and easily the band's worst release. Conversely, this is after all, a Dream Theater album so I had reason to be hopeful. After having listened to it several times, I have to say that the album surpassed even my highest expectation.
Systematic Chaos is every bit as heavy as the undeservedly criticized Train Of Thought, and that creative spark from the SFAM days is back, making for a great combination. Overall the album is very strong instrumentally and its only real flaw is that it isn't very strong lyrically.
In The Presence of Enemies Pt. 1 is the fantastic opening song. The first 5 minutes consist of an impressive instrumental display by the most talented band in contemporary music, and it sets the tone for what promises to be a great album. The rest of the song carries that energy into the next song, the energetic "ballad" Forsaken. Unlike Octavarium, which was opened by the powerful and heavy "The Root Of All Evil," there is no letdown after this album's great opener. 9:00
Left and right I keep hearing people refer to Forsaken as a ballad, and I don't really consider it to be one. The album is laced with catchy yet aggressive riffs and some beautiful singing by Labrie, who sounds great on the entire album. Forsaken has restored my faith in Dream Theater's ability to write softer songs after the embarrassing "I Walk Beside You" and just plain boring "Vacant" from Octavarium and Train Of Thought. Although not quite as good as "Another Day" or "Innocence Faded," the song is still very good and well deserving of a place on the album. 5:35
Constant Motion is the band's first single from Systematic Chaos. Although the debate as to whether this is a tribute to or rip off of Metallica is going to be ignored by my part, all I can say is that Metallica wishes they could play at the level Dream Theater sleeps at. Petrucci's heavy, driving riffing mixes well with Labrie and Portnoy's alternating vocals. I have always liked when Portnoy sings, as it adds another dimension to whatever song he sings in. 6:55
The Dark Eternal Night is completely unlike anything Dream Theater has ever done. This is the least impressive song on the album, yet it does have its merits. The combination of Labrie and Portnoy using distorted vocals is something new, but the song is just too slow and choppy. It does have an instrumental bridge which redeems the rest of the song. Both positives and negatives taken into consideration, it is better than half of the songs on Octavarium. 8:53
Next is Repentence, which continues Mike Portnoy's multi-album AA project (steps eight and nine). The first half of the song is a very haunting serenade by Labrie followed by a nice solo by Petrucci. The second half was a bit of a bore, where there are spoken apologies from many different personalities such as Mikael Akerfeldt, Daniel Gildenlow and most surprisingly former Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho. The song's first half was great but the second half felt like it carried on way too long. Still a worthwhile track though, and a radical departure from its shredfest predecessors in Portnoy's AA odyssey. 10:43
Next is the often spoke of Prophets of War, which has a very upbeat, almost techno-like opening beat. The song has a decent ambience but its lyrics are preachy and with the exception of "Sacrificed Sons," Dream Theater is not very good at writing politically based lyrics. Another weak point of the album. 6:00
The last two songs of the album are about as good as any back to back pair of Dream Theater songs written. The Ministry of Dark Souls clocks in at just under fifteen minutes and does not disappoint. The song has surprisingly poignant lyrics. It is very slow and melodic until slightly after halfway in, where it increases in tempo setting up *shocker* another instrumental bridge, a final chorus, and then finally an instrumental outro leading perfectly into the album's spectactular finale... 14:57
In The Presence of Enemies Pt. 2 is an absolutely breathtaking closer, this coming from the band who can't seem to screw up an album finale. The song starts off very slowly and builds up using a great melodic chorus, although the lyrics are silly (Dark Master I will die for you, quite ridiculous for a prog-metal band), its kind of weird to hear Dream Theater write Power Metal-esque lyrics. However, In The Presence of Enemies continues to build to its peak which carries it for a surprisingly long time without letting down in energy. The end of the song is capped by a stunning instrumental fireworks display by John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess and Mike Portnoy, reminiscent of Train of Thought's endless displays of pyrotechnics. 16:38
All in all, Systematic Chaos was a powerful listen and a worthy addition to the impressive Dream Theater catalog. After reading some of these other reviews floating around on the internet, I feel the need to address two points:
1) Systematic Chaos is far from being Dream Theater's best album. It is arguably their darkest work and is easily their best since Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, which was fantastic in its uber-proginess.
2) Symphony X will never be justifiably compared to Dream Theater. They are good, but not great.
Systematic Chaos does everything right that Train of Thought and Octavarium could not. After the disappointment of Octavarium, Systematic Chaos has blown away my highest expectations. I must say I can't wait for #10 from Dream Theater, after I get my money's worth from #9!
As perfect as an album can be without being Scenes From A Memory.
Systematic Chaos Poster
Progressive rock masters Dream Theater return in full force with their ninth studio album Systematic Chaos. The album features heavy riffs, soaring melodies, and intricate arrangements. Dream Theater appeases its loyal fans but also reaches out to all rock fans with hook-laden hits like "Constant Motion," "Forsaken," and "The Dark Eternal Night."Dream Theater has built a career on delivering some of the most consistently strong progressive rock albums in history and Systemic Chaos proves no exception. Built upon the trademark musically diverse but stylistically reliable principles that made albums such as Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence and Train of Thought instant classics, this album features new career highs such as "Prophets of War," "Forsake," and "Constant Motion." Although the band has flirted with commercially viable material in the past, especially on 2005's solid and exciting Octavarium, Systemic Chaos proves unrelenting in its pursuit of pure heavy rock. There are plenty of surprises in store, even for stalwart fans, perhaps one of the reasons that Dream Theater remains in a class by itself, ahead of the pack and ahead of the times. A truly outstanding album by any measure.--Jedd Beaudoin
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