SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

After more than 20+ listens (which is actually about minimum for this album, otherwise review is not objective enough & rating doesn't mean nothing!) I can finnaly review this album, from a band delivering us great music from more than 20 years. This album is actually conceptional at least as much as SFAM was, but in completely different wider way(s). Ist's a concept/ definition of their music, their influences, and ther (few) past, present & future fans, which will not be turned away because their technical complexity, even there is plenty of that genius stuff for which DT is known for! This is the point where this great waried mix of their discography, influences, and new modern prog works as a masterpiece! [b]People who will get familiar with the band first[/b] time through roadrunner, will find some "catchiness" in this album! Once they will dig it deeper, they will soon discovered what DT means & why are they one of most responsible bands today, for modern prog getting more popular, what we old fans already know! [b] People who are classic oldschool DT fans[/b] ("I & W/Awake/SFAM * 10 wanters" :P ), will soon find enough greatness for them in this album, & a warrning that they should not give up listening to their great varied music! "The Ministry of lost Souls" serves this purpose perfectly! Lyrics are great, but not only on this song, where they are not so perfectly hidden by a "fantasy horror mask". A lot of (maybe) random references/metaphors can be pulled out, which actually work! Example; 1. "The (ministry->service) (of->for) (lost->and found again with SC) souls (DT-> fans!!)

2.

"In The Presence Of The Enemies-> potentially new fans/metalheads who know/buy roadrunner records & don't-> didn't like DT.

"DARK MASTER within, I will fight for you, Dark Master of sin, now my SOUL is yours, Dark Master my guide, I will die for you, Dark Master inside"

-> Alyrics that actually sounded humorous to me (& many others), untill I figured out that DARK MASTER., could be actually DT himself & SOUL his fans, who give him life (by supporting the band & understanding their music!! You can guess this one;

I've been waiting for you, Weary preacher man, You have been expected, now we can begin, Let this hallowed DAY OF JUDGMENT RING, I have known you Father and your sacred quest, BLESSED SOLDIER FIGHTING, YOU SHALL NEVER REST, I HAVE KNOWN YOU, BUT DO YOU KNOW ME? Angels fall all for you, heretic Demon haunt, bleed for us,...

There are also some good b-horror references of H.P. Lovecraft's most popular horror novel in TDEN & nowadays state of america's politics over Iraq in POW, etc,..

There is probably no coincidence that DT cooperated with Pain Of Salvation singer Daniel Gildenlöw & Steven Wilson, from Porcupine Tree (that also signed to Roadrunner), because SC / Scarsick / Fear of a Blank Planet->creates 2007,s trinity of moderen prog, which brings new prog fans (to this site),& DT has one of the bigest if not THE BIGEST credites for that. Therefore this album deserves a masterpice score, even if it's not on "one-thing focused" story driven album like SFAM, which can be easier rated as a classic, by a majority of people! Their next album might be just that (Metropolis pt. 3 ?) - with DT, you never know & this is what's the best about them!