SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

I must start saying that after ToT and Octavarium, i thougt that with this new album DT were going deeper and deeper, with no returning point in the horizon. Specially with Octavarium dissapointed me a lot, so my hopes for these new album were not so good.

The first impression wasn`t so good, but undesrtanding a prog album take several listens, so i took my time until I finally was ready to give a proper review. And I must say that this album is far better than the last two albums. Let's start the review:

In the Presence of Enemies Part 1: Very nice instrumental intro, quite diferrent from the last albums intros, it has got a very Falling into infinity Style. Petrucci shines from the beginning and also rudess plays in a "Sherinianeske" way. Awesome for me. A lot of inspiration in the riffs, great feeling, nice way to start and album. 9/10

Forsaken: The most catchy song on the album, and the most comercial from my point of view, but despite all this, it doesn`t sound as cheese as most of Octavarium songs. 7/10

Constant Motion: Its rather heavy from the begining, but unlike Tot songs, it`s quite short, and doesn`t have those boring instrumental section of that album. In a very Metallica style, nothing new, the song reaches a quite decent level, mainly in the powerfull instrumental section. Petrucci solo and Myung sound is awesome. 7/10

The Dark Eternal Knight: If the last one was heavier, this one is even more. The riff from the begining is very catchy, the chorus are quite interesting, labrie singing is good, but the problem with this song is that the instrumental section is to long, although in some parts it`s very good. It could have been better, for moments it's very uninspired. 6/10

Repentance: From this point, this album begins to shine. This song it`s very long ballad, almost monotonal, but the sound texture behind the surface it's very interesting. La brie really shines, and felt very comfortable here. very dark but beatifull, it develops quite fluid, and it doesn`t seems to last 10 mins. Petrucci shines again, like in every song of the disc.9/10

Prophets of War: Well this song it`s very strong, in spite of being quite similar tu muse. La brie is awesome again, and the middle section is wonderful. The background vocals are not so good, but is a well done song anyway. 8/10

The Ministry of Lost Souls: Very Beautiful keybord intro, one of the best from Rudess, and the feeling of the whole song is incredible. La brie is at the top here, petrucci is simply awesome. the instrumental section is pure magic. It ressembles a lot of Dance of Eternit, but less crazy of course. The end it' is simply painfull to your heart. 10/10

In The presence of enemies part 2: this song is the perfect end for the album. it has a very dark atmosphere that prepares you. It is really strong, it starts growing on until it explodes in the insturmental section. A lot of SFAM again, the sound is not so heavy and this helps a lot. 9/10

The overall is 4 stars, a great album, not the best, but much better than the last two. If you stop listening DT after SDOIT, the you should perhaps start again with SC.