SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

Now ask yourself, how is that possible?

At this point in the game, Dream Theater have become experts in creating unbalanced albums, which range from beautiful and inspired(Count of Tuscany) to cheesy and immature(Portnoy Singing in General).

Systematic Chaos has moments of brilliance as well as moments of utter embarrassment(Dark Master?)

Track 1 (In the Presence of Enemies Part 1) -This track is a strong opening. Well paced, intricate and balanced well.

Track 2 ( Forsaken) - Really good hook and fairly addictive chorus. This song I have grown to like very much.

Track 3 (Constant Motion) - Designed to be a single. Fails in many ways. This track isn't horrible, but leaves a lot to be desired.

Track 4 (Dark Eternal Night) - Pretty good. Again cheesy lyrics, but a good song non the less.

Track 5 (Repentence) - The first Dream Theater track I ever skipped, and that says a lot. This crap is self-serving garbage and the first song of the "Alcoholic Suite" which truly sucks. Its long winded, boring and uninteresting. I skip right past it every time.

Track 6 (Prophets of War) - Absolutely boring, and generic. And the worst part is this is now the LIVE song at live concerts. Yeah let's get the crowd involved with the the Follow the Bouncing ball chanting. I was yawning through this song both live and on the CD.

Track 7 (The Ministry of Lost Souls) -Dumb title, dumb lyrics, but still a song I enjoy and have grown to like over time.

Track 8 (In the Prescence of Enimies part 2) - Hey look, Dream Theater is trying to be like Yes again. Really part 2? The two parts don't even connect well when listened to back to back. Dark Master? (What a Joke, and probably the cheesiest lyric they've ever written). Parts of this song are interesting, but it drags way too much. Dark Master? Really? So this beast of an album clocks in at almost 80 minutes. That would be fine if there wasn't so much filler. Repentance and Prophets of War are un-listenable, and most of the first part of In the presence of enemies Part 2 is just plain boring. The lyrics of this album are unforgivable. They are what a 5 year old would write, Dark Master, My Soul is your's. Pathetic. Its cheesy and they know it. So these are pretty much the most ridiculous lyrics you could put in an album, and that's where the 1 star comes from. Also, me having to skip two full tracks earns them that 1 star as well.

- In the end, Dream Theater have made an album, which I don't know what to do with. With every album up to and including Ocatavarium, I could just put it on and let it go. Yeah Ocatavarium was underwhelming, but at least I could make it from the beginning all the way to the end. Now I'm reaching into my pocket fumbling to skip tracks, and that's infuriating. Both Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds and Silver Linings, I have to skip over tracks. I seriously hope this trend of imbalance ends soon.

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