CONSTANT MOTION

I can remember a few years back when I was eagerly waiting for the release of 'Systematic Chaos.' While it indeed turned out to be a great album (a 'grower' at that,) I remember being dissapointed at first with this song. Hearing it a month or so before the rest of the album, it really felt like there was little sense of melody or charm to it. Even in the context of the album the first few times around, I wasn't completely convinced. That was however, until I heard this track played live.

Hearing my favourite band open with such an energetic track made the crowd go wild, and I could instantly see why the band chose this to front 'Systematic Chaos.' While it is certainly heavier and more thrash-based than most of their other material, 'Constant Motion' packs energy and power into it while still maintaining technical brilliance and a measure of intelligence in the execution. Things become aural gold about two minutes in for a few seconds; polyrhythmic rambling and schizophrenic technicality is at a level of complexity even Dream Theater scarcely travels into.

The only low point of this track is arguably the vocals, which initially turned me off to the song. Mike Portnoy's pseudo-growls have never worked in the band's favour, and hopefully they will realize that eventually... On top of that, it feels like James LaBrie is trying to copy the style of Metallica's James Hetfield, whereas he should be pursuing his own unique style.

In any case, this will be a track any thrash metal fan will appreciate, and to anyone who isn't convinced of this track's intensity; I hope you get to see this one live.