SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

Going to my local shop, I wanted at first to buy the magnificient Blackwater Park by Opeth. Well it wasn't there. Instead I came back home with this new DT album ( which is ironic since I was so hyped about the album and didn't really realize it was out the same day....). Anyways here's my feeling.

Like always the musicians are top-notch and, at least for me, LaBrie is a very gifted singer. Regarding the package, (I have the special edition), I find it very well designed and the ants somehow reminding me the famous trilogy Les Fourmis ( Webber), although I don't think it bears any significance in the lyrics themselves.

It starts out with a very ''Acid Rain'' intro although it gets a bit darker later. '' In the presence of Enemies pt.1'' is a very entertaining tune and really foreshadows what's in for us.

As for track 2-3-4, respectively called : Forsaken, Constant Motion, The Dark Eternal Night feel very boring. Of course there are high points here and there but all in all these tracks aren't really interesting to me (at least for now) although I haven't give up. I would say Forsaken is the better of the 3.

Now we get our hands on the real album. ''Repentance'', like many have said, wouldn't feel out of place on Damnation altough there is an exotic vibe to it that is actually refreshing ( other attempt by DT felt just ..weird..).

Perophets of War is a very uplifting tune I would say. I don't find it very dark like many would like to deem it. The chorus and the shouts feel very Power Metal to me (in a positive way since I absolutely love Power Metal) . A simple yet good song but that you dont really listen over and over again like the last 2.

Last but CERTAINLY not least ''The Ministry of Lost Souls''. Firstly, I really love the title and, for some unknown reason it really reminds me that Harry Potter and the Deatly Hallows is very much on it's way. Now on with the song: to me the real highlight of the album and one of the best DT song. It has everything : complexity, creativity, tightness, technicality and emotion, ow so much soul has been put into this song. The chorus is simply gorgeous. Really a tour-de-force. There's nothing I can much more say. Just Listen !!

'' In The Presence Of Enemies pt.2'' : Really just see above for description. The only difference is the lyrics. Many have come to dislike the lyrics but I like them (influence from Power Metal). Epic in every way and much darker than ''Ministry''. The end is very spine tingling. Another chef-d'oeuvre. Really great effort. And for a long time it seems the band, (to quote Have a Cigar), did pull it together as a team and not each soloing its way on its own.

Letdown : Constant Motion, The Dark Eternal Night Highlight : The Ministry of Lost Souls, In The presence of Enemies

Final Verdict: 80 min that will make you begging for more. For now 4 stars (85%) altough it may change (for the better of course). After all, it's A DT album.

Edit: After many months, the album didn't quite grew on me like I thought it would. The Dark Eternal Night is the stand-out track, quite suprisingly after hundreds of listening sessions.