DREAM THEATER - SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

DREAM THEATER - SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

Disk 1 . . . . . . .78:46
1. In The Presence of Enemies Pt.1 (9:00)
2. Forsaken (5:36)
3. Constant Motion (6:55)
4. The Dark Eternal Night (8:51)
5. Repentance (10:43)
6. Prophets Of War (6:01)
7. The Ministry of Lost Souls (14:57)
8. In The Presence of Enemies Pt.2 (16:38)

Disk 2 (DVD): Same setlist with all tracks in 5.1 audio plus "Chaos in Progress - The Making of Systematic Chaos", a 90-minute documentary directed by Mike Portnoy.

Line-up
- James LaBrie: vocals
- John Petrucci: guitars, backing vocals
- John Myung: bass
- Mike Portnoy: drums, backing vocals
- Jordan Rudess: keyboards

format: CD + DVD • Road Runner #1686-179822
release date: June 2007

Dream Theater's official website at:
http://www.dreamtheater.net

Dream Theater's long awaited Systematic Chaos is the band's 10th studio album, and with the quality of material released over their 21 years of existence, expectations are obviously high. This latest release is a brilliant piece of work musically, but the compositions just fall a bit short of my own expectations. The writing is very sophisticated, Labrie's vocals are truly better that ever, the compositions are intense and elegant, but there aren't really any tracks that are outstanding, there's no composition on the album that truly sticks out... there isn't a Sacrificed Son or a Stream of Consciousness on this album. But that's not bad, the album just flows well and is quite absorbing as a whole.

The album is composed of 8 tracks, beginning with In The Presence of Enemies, part 1 that starts on a blistering Petrucci riff, and includes some tasty Rudess solos, instrumental for the first half with Labrie joining in at 5:13. Forsaken is the catchiest song of the album, a wonderful dramatic composition with a cool melody but just short a bit of a memorable DT classic. Constant Motion is very dynamic and agressive, the darkest and most metallic track of the album. The Dark Eternal Night has rather annoying phased "cookie monster vocals" that detract from an otherwise powerful, dynamic track. Repentance begins on a quiet note, a dark ballad that features a beautiful guitar solo, and ends with a bit of those background narrations/social comments that were introduced with Six Degree's The Great Debate. Prophets Of War is very rhythmic, with soaring vocals from LaBrie, and odd back vocals. The Ministry of Lost Souls begins on a quiet note, picking up the pace and turning into a fierce showcase of spectacular solos, with a grandiose end. The album concludes with In The Presence of Enemies Part 2, the longest track of the album, clocking at 16:38, a very intense track with a catchy, sinister chorus... and more cookie moster vocals and power shouts, ending with skillful guitar solos only equaled by the keyboard solos.

The Special Edition DVD includes the entire album mixed in 5.1 surround sound and features Chaos in Progress - The Making of Systematic Chaos, a 90-minute documentary directed by Mike Portnoy. Production quality is outstanding, and the 5.1 mix is simply fantastic, but I'll admit that this new effort did not captivate me as much as any one of their last three albums, Six Degrees, Train Of Thought or Octavarium. As far as the quality level of the music, it's very high, and it is one of those great albums you can play over and over again. An album that will definitely appeal to hard rock/prog metal fans and certainly to Dream Theater fans, not truly essential, but a great addition to your collection.

My rating for Systematic Chaos : 7.8/10(album reviewed by Robert Dansereau - 02/07/2007)