Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos (W/Dvd) (Spec)
|
List Price: Our Price: $10.89 You Save: $11.09 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $6.98 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Systematic Chaos (W/Dvd) (Spec)
Free Music Review: An Incredible Weapon in DT's War Chest
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a DT fan since around 1998, and was familiar with Images And Words, Awake, A Change of Seasons, and Falling Into Infinity before Scenes From A Memory came out... So I know the differences in their body of work pretty well. To me all of their albums have something to offer, perhaps some a little more intense than others, but they all have a very unique tinge to them. When Scenes and 6 Degrees came out, I knew DT's career was hitting it's stride. When Train of Thought came out, it was neat to hear them try something slightly different, with more basic-structured songs while still beating you up with those head-shaking "how'd they do that?" moments... Then came the gorgeous Octavarium which hinted at a much more complex and exciting road ahead... But nothing could have prepared me for Systematic Chaos.
I am stunned at the heart and soul put into this album. It's very fast, very tight, and so well-paced that it's all over before you can even comprehend what just hit you. I must say this has got to be their most powerful statement since Scenes and 6 Degrees... That said, you'll hear past influences of DT albums (most notably the ridiculously awesome time signatures from Scenes From A Memory), along with the typical likes of Pink Floyd, Zappa, Rush, Megadeath, even a little bit of Queen-like vocal layering which fits perfectly... Except on a scale of which only DT can manage to achieve.
The main theme (In The Presence of Enemies, Pt.1) pulls you in quickly and challenges your ears while laying the backdrop for the rest of the album. The slower pieces on this album are equally as entrancing, with unpredictable chord shifts and just the right amount of emotion and ambience. The album climaxes during the unbelievable instrumental on the last track (In The Presence of Enemies, Pt. 2) with such a masterful genius of a sound, you need to hear it to believe it.
This album really does seem to have it all. They're working together awesomely, using the same formula they did back in late 1999 and I am very pleased with the result. Even non-prog fans MUST respect the insanity that is Systematic Chaos.
Free Music Review: Now THIS, is music!
Hit: 5 Stars
As a total Dream Theater fanatic who has seen the band five times in concert (including the 20th anniversary at radio city), as well as a musician myself - I must say that this is my favorite D.T. studio album so far.
For me, the high-point of the Disk is "The Ministry Of Lost Souls". It is a true masterpiece and an amazingly moving and beautiful song. Another one of my favorites is the two-part epic "In the Presence of Enemies". It is a typical, straight-up Dream Theater type song with great guitar playing and beautiful melodies.
This Album has somthing for everyone: a ballad, old-school metal, pop, Nu-metal (Forsaken) and your typical dramatic, complex progressive rock.
There is somthing else that I love about Dream Theater - besides the music itself. It is the fact that if you are a D.T. fan, your band doesn't dissapoint you. Almost every rock band ends up sucking a little more with each album; You never get what you really wanted. With D.T., I can honestly say that I have watched the band get better and better with each album. They have never let me down. If they are going to release a new album, I have confidence that it won't suck and when I see them live, I know that I will be blown away.
Once I started listening to Dream Theater, years ago, I found it hard to listen to mainstream rock. It just bores me. D.T. has elevated rock music to it's highest level so far. They are almost "beyond" rock music. For me, Dream Theater's music is more like great classical music - it's beautiful, profound and complexed, not just entertaing.
Until the day I die, I will never forget the time I saw Dream Theater live at Jones Beach, in the summer of 2007. It was the best concert experiance of my life; I practically floated out the arena afterwards. They sounded incredible and played some of my all-time favorite songs.
Thank you SO much Dream Theater, for working so hard to please your fans and for writting incredible music for the past 20 years.
Free Music Review: Perfect mix of prog and metal
Hit: 5 Stars
As I sit listening to the album for at least the 50th time in the last week, I continue to be amazed. I usually listen to The Presence of Enemies straight through then let the rest of the album flow. I understand the logic for breaking this song up because it is indeed a good starter and strong finishing piece. The idea that it is too much to get past in the beginning may be true but together the parts equal easily one of thier best epic works to date after Six Degrees..., Scenes From a Memory and A Change of Seasons. Thier musicianship still remains unparalleled as does their diversity. Forsaken could easily be a single. I do, however, have a slight problem with this song in that the main riff hearkens back to Waiting For Sleep and Learning To Live from Images and Words. Mind you, I love the riff so it is a microscopic flaw on a true gem. One more comment on it. I can easily hear Evanesence covering it. Constant Motion lives up to it's title. The first single, it is a frenetic romp through the mind of Mike Portnoy. It delivers with guns blazing into the night. The Dark Eternal Night is out and out the HEAVIEST song they have ever done. The growl in James LaBrie's voice was added with efx and beefed by both Mike and John Petrucci lending a dark sinister tone they had never had before. Repentance, the 8th and 9th parts of Mike's recovery from alcoholism, gives us a time to reflect. No less intense than the other songs. It is easily one of thier best slow songs ever and seals them as the band who has worked with EVERYONE. the uncredited confessions in the song come from such diverse people as guitar wiz Steve Vai to the one and only Jon Anderson(YES that Jon Anderson) as well as just plain ordinary close friends of the band. The ministry of Lost Souls is a melancholy look into afterlife. In my mix it is the finisher. It does still maintain an epic quality that leaves you totally satisfied by it's close. I right now rank this as third best album in their catalog. the songs just stick with you. A future classic indeedFree Music Review: Ninth Studio Album
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm going to start off by saying I like all of Dream Theater's stuff. They are my favorite band. This is because I love the astonishing solos, and great musicianship.
Systematic Chaos easily beats their last 2 albums Octavarium and Train of Thought. The album kicks off with In the Presence of Enemies pt. 1. This is a very fun song to listen too, and is one of my favorites on the album. 10/10
Then comes Forsaken. This song is really cool. It's not as good as In the Presence of Enemies, but it still gets a 10/10.
Next is Constant Motion. I don't like it so much. James' voice is too well weird. 6.5/10
The fourth track is Dark Eternal Night, and I have to say it's my least favorite track ever from Dream Theater. It's boring especially in the middle and I have never skipped a Dream Theater song halfway through because all of them are good. 3/10
Repentance, track 5, is the fourth part in Mike Portnoy's AA suite. It is awesome but they could've cut the last 5 minutes. 9/10
Prophets of War is a Muse style song. I find it really cool. I'm a Muse fan so I liked it even more. 10/10
The Ministry of Lost Souls is the best track on the album. It has a cool fantasy story behind it. I love listening to it. IT earns its 10/10.
The last track, In the Presence of Enemies Part 2, continues part 1. It starts out slow, gets faster, and becomes better and better, especially at the very end. 10/10
Although it doesn't beat Scenes From A Memor or Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence it's still a great album. Get the Special Edition because the DVD is really awesome.
Also check out Symphony X's album Paradise Lost. It's another great progressive album. It beats Systematic Chaos by miles, even though Systematic Chaos is really awesome.
Free Music Review: Blown Away
Hit: 5 Stars
I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting a steller album after the previous two that some may consider to be a let down (by Dream Theater's standard). I went ahead an ordered the special edition with the DVD. After listening to it a couple times, my expectations have been far exceeded. In the DVD Mike Portnoy says they wanted to create an album that told what Dream Theater was all about. I believe they have done this without question. From my perspective, as an album, it takes something from every previous album, from the balads of Images and Words the meaty heavy riffs of Train of Thought. The result: everything I like about Dream Theater in one album. The album name itself also is a perfect representation of Dream Theater as Portnoy says in the DVD, ordered chaos. Every track is memorable from the get go. Other albums such as their conceptual albums (which I also love) take some listening to before you realize the brilliance, however this album will have you from the first listen. This release definately has further solidified Dream Theater as my favorite band. I am looking forward to seeing them in concert in a couple months. At some previous concerts I've been to (including other bands) where an album just came out, I've wanted them to play more older stuff than new. Honestly however I would enjoy the concert just as much if they played this whole album, it's that good after listening to it for just a couple times. Like all other Dream Theater albums I see this one having great re-play value because of the diversity and enourmous depth of songs presented. This could also be one of thier best introductory alubums for new listeners. Lastly, make sure you get the bonus DVD edition of the album. It really shows the brilliance of the workings of the band and has some absolutly hilarious moments.