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Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos CD (album) cover

SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

Dream Theater

 

Progressive Metal

3.33 | 1893 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

MadcapLaughs84
2 stars THE DARK ETERNAL DECEPTION

Mike Portnoy announced this album like this: This album will be full of what our fans enjoy, the big epics, crushing riffs and all the stuff that made Dream Theater big, this album will be enjoyed by all our fans. When he said that, he didn't think of me. I've been a fanboy of this New York band since 2002, and I've seen them falling down from the top of my favorite bands. When I listened to this one for the first time I was really excited, "In The Presence of Enemies" has a thundering start that reminded me the good old days of the Liquid Tension Experiment mixed with some Math Rock, thing that Dream theater has never done before. And I said to myself: "HELL, YEAH, MY GUYS ARE STILL ALIVE". As the album goes by, it decreases in a dramatic way; I felt I knew the songs without even listen to them. I guessed the next riff, the next melodic line, the solo structure, everything; and that sucks so bad. What I've always enjoyed of Dream Theater is that they were unpredictable, I've seen it on Octavarium, I thought this would only be a transition, but it wasn't. Once again they copied the melodic voice line of Metallica's "Blackened" (thing that they've already done in "This Dying Soul). After "Octavarium" (the song) I expected some change, I thought they will explore some other types of music.

They have found commercial success with Octavarium and they tried to repeat the same formula. I think it's time for them to change. First of all, Mike Portnoy has to learn he can't be on everything. He has to stop doing self-productions, he needs to give the other members they need to create and bring this band to life again, and he needs to stop singing.

As I said before, there are some good points, as the first part of "In The Presence Of Enemies" and "Repentance", which finally closes the cycle of Mike Portnoy's AA Saga.

Overall, in my opinion, this is the worst album they've ever made. They are just a cartoon of themselves. They need a 360 twist, they need to expand their musical horizons and get out from the hole they're stuck in. So, I'll give them 2 stars. Sorry guys, you deserve no more!!!

MadcapLaughs84 | 2/5 |

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