SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

I remember having high hopes for this album upon release. The album charted on billboard higher than most of their albums, and was hyped up to be a big record to some degree commercially. I saw the interesting album cover and thought to myself, maybe Dream Theater will have a hit record here. This of course was not the case.

I get what Dream Theater was trying to do with this record, but I just don't think it works and nor will it in the future. Dream Theater attempted to make a commercial record and also satisfy their progressive fans at the same time. The result is a record that is exactly what it aims to do, however the problem is that it sounds like it (if that makes sense). This is the best way to sum up the issue with this album.

Upon listening to this record you will hear at times the Dream Theater we are all familiar with, and at others you will hear the most straight forward mindless metal music. These two opposite ends of the spectrum cross so often on this record that you will not really know what to think. Some of Dream Theater's most progressive moments are on this record, and yet it will return to straight ahead rhythms and horrible lyrics (not really that uncommon on a Dream Theater record), and blocky melodies. I really wanted to like this record, but every time you reach a great section it is ruined by the contrast of mindless straight ahead metal and progressive complications.

I love progressive music because of it's seamlessness and fluidity. This record has some great moments, but are overshadowed by the lack of the two qualities mentioned above. I know that some here did not care for TOT, but that record was a seamless experience and I feel since that record they have not moved forward. Here's to hope that Dream Theater can become influential again and give up the idea that they can be commercial, and still be Dream Theater.