SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

This album is a step in the right direction after Octavarium.they tried experimenting a bit on this one. This album has some great tracks but almost just as many bad ones. bringing me to think that this is in the middle at 3 stars. This album features another epic that is divided into two parts, which would be considered the highlight of the album, and it isn't too shabby.

'In the Presence of Enemies, Pt: 1' is one of the best DT tracks in a while.better then anything on the previous effort and up there with some 'Train of Thought' tracks. For a change the guitar and keyboards aren't over-demanding. There is even a bit of atmosphere added which is very new for Rudess.including some odd scales and chords. Finally, we also get an extremely slow and moving guitar solo from Petrucci., which feels like ages since we heard one of those. This song is over before you even know it, a masterpiece of prog.

'Forsaken' is a decent track. Again Rudess creates a good intro that is reminiscent of Moore's piano work. The vocal work is also pretty unique. The entire song structure is something you would find in standard metal.but overall it's not that bad of a track.

'Constant Motion' is just a piece of trash. It's the single off the album and has a video so watch it yourself and cringe. It's really just a bad version of a Megadeth/Metallica song. With an extremely annoying verse, just terrible vocal work from a LaBrie and Portnoy duo, I find myself loathing this track. Petrucci and Rudess fall into their solo traps once again on this track. Completely emotionless.not fitting into the music at all.

'The Dark Eternal Night' has become one of my favorite DT tracks. This is their angriest work by far. I find it funny how they really emphasized the diminished chord.showing that they decided to do something different and get praised for it by all those DT fanboys. The chorus to the song is one of the best they have ever done. The song does have some flaws in it. Once again we get the meaningless guitar solo and keyboard solo that are the most out-of-place solos I have ever heard in music. These solos just seem to be thrown in and have sadly become a trend in their music. We are also treated to a big Rush rip-off in the song too. Even with all these flaws, I consider this one of my favorite DT tracks.really cool track.

'Repentance' is nothing special. Once again we are brought into the song with a 'This Dying Soul' riff. The verse of kind of cool and it features a bunch of singers.far too many to name. This song is somehow drawn out to 10 minutes and can make the listener fall asleep. It's not heavy like the others that follow the DT suite but they can't go crazy for 40 minutes.still, this could have been done much better. Also, using the voice samples is becoming very cliché nowadays.

'Prophets of War' is just another Muse plagiarism. The chorus was ok at first but then you realize it is nothing special. The chanting also added really nothing to the music.is this an idea to use for a DVD? Just what hell happened here? Bleh.

'The Ministry of Lost Souls' is a hunk of shit. No wonder it was written during the Octavarium tour. I see that album is still plaguing their new music. This in my opinion is one of the worst Dream Theater tracks ever released. The song is at least 7 minutes too long. James Labrie nearly puts you to sleep with his boring vocal work that is in the verse, which honestly lasts for 7 minutes! People make such a big deal about the instrumental and how it makes the song. Tell me, did you not listen to anything off of 'Train of Thought' or the build up in 'Octavarium'? It is nothing new or special at all. The guitar solo and keyboard solo. read above please.

'In The Presence of Enemies: Pt. 2' is the only good track we've had for a while here. It's a much lesser version of the first part.but pretty good nonetheless. The intro is very quiet.and the buildup to the chorus is pretty cool. The chorus is pretty cool.except for the extremely cheesy 'Dark Master' line.I don't know what the hell they were thinking. This closes out the album pretty well though.decent song.

Basically this album contained 2 greats, 3 decent ones, 1 bad one and 2 trashy ones. Thus, I'll just give it three stars. If you are a fan of the band.then you should get it, you'll get the tracks that are good and be satisfied with those. If you aren't a fan, then stay for away, you will not get your money's worth.

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