SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

It took me two or three listening to get the grasp of this album, as the sounds and themes used sometimes have a feeling of "deja entendu"; many passages resembles Train Of Thought, althought you won't have the feeling of a Metallica clone that album had. Nonetheless, the mood of the whole album perfectly resembles the chaos in the title. When you get in the mood, you'll surely like this album. I believe it's one of Dream Theater's best, standing very close to the previous one (Octavarium).

The album is made up of 8 tracks 5 of which are 9 minutes or more. This is probably the fact that it needs more than a single listen to get the whole grasp of it. All songs aren't easy, they all expose rhythms, sounds and effects that arent quickly grasped if not by a careful listen. At times, the sounds and passages can be a bit "baroque", wether for the sounds used or the musicians' technique.

This album is crafted, studied, it's not the work of spontaneous musicianship. Examples are the first and last song that compose a suite (In The Presence Of Enemies) divided in two parts; Repentance, the 4th part of the multi-album suite by Mike Portnoy. That does not mean that the work is bad! Systematic Chaos is a very nice album, but it won't be a love at first sight, it'll need a bit of time to be fully appreciated.

"In The Presence Of Enemies - part 1" (music DT, lyrics Petrucci) Since Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, it was DT custom to begin the new album with the last notes of the previous one. Systematic Chaos doesn't and in the end that's good. In The Presence Of Enemies it's a 9 minute track with a 5 minutes instrumental intro (one of the most impressive passages in the album) unlinked with the conclusion of Octavarium; it contains the first two parts of a suite that will be closed by the last track in the album. Beautiful music, intriguing lyrics. score: 9

"Forsaken" (music DT, lyrics Petrucci) It may seem a more commercial song at first, but time after time, the song will reveal more than it's "easy" chorus, distinguishing as one of the best songs of this album. score 9

"Constant Motion" (music DT, lyrics Portnoy) This song is a bit disappointing. It seems that there could be something more but it always resembles something already heard (maybe on Train Of Thought?). The voice hasn't higlights to remember, music is quite "normal". score 7.5

"The Dark Eternal Night" (music DT, lyrics Petrucci) This song resembles much Train Of Thoughts in the mood it spreads. Dark, chaotic, and beatifully engineered. LaBrie's voice exposes an effect that makes me shiver, the long instrumental section in the middle so absolutely "chaotic" is a very well crafted jewel of technique. I like it, very much. score 9

"Repentance" (music DT, lyrics Portnoy) Here we are. Starting with "The Glass Prison" on "Six Degrees", Portnoy has developed a story. A bit long I may say. This song is a bit like Disappear or Misunderstood on the aforementioned album: no guitar solos, no wild keyboards or drums, but a simple acoustic ballad. The first part is not so outstanding, the second part raises the score of this song by a good deal. The different voices that talk on the sad music are something really really lovely. score 8.5

"Prophets Of War" (music DT, lyrics LaBrie) Like Forsaken, this song may seem a bit "easy", yet LaBrie voices (especially in the ending section) and the way Rudess keyboards sounds are the two pillars that this track is built upon. A nice little tune that will stay on your mind for quite a while. score 8.5

"The Ministry Of Lost Soul" (music DT, lyrics Petrucci) This track is simply perfect. Everything from the first second to the end is simply beautiful, the instrumental intro growing little by little, the sung part, the solo in the middle, LaBrie reprise and the fading instrumental section. This song simply makes me shiver, maybe one of the best DT song I've ever heard. 15 minutes, nearly, yet you will not notice that it's so long! score 10

"In The Presence Of Enemies - part 2" (music DT, lyrics Petrucci) The second part of the suite starts slowly and it will reveal that the whole track it's more than 16 minutes. You will feel the length of this song more than "The Ministry Of Lost Souls" that is only a minute and a half shorter. Yet little by little this song will grow, and get his strength. Nice lyrics, nice voice effects, nice instrumental parts. score 9

Share this DREAM THEATER review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to lmollea
• Report this review (#125682)
• Buy DREAM THEATER music online with PA partners
• Show all DREAM THEATER MP3/Stream
• Go to DREAM THEATER page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Systematic Chaos page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for DREAM THEATER related discussions