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List Price: $48.98 | | Label: Roadrunner Japan
Salesrank: 1106002
Released: June 18, 2007 |
| Our Price: $34.34 |
| Used Price: $22.55 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Systematic Chaos Track Listing:
1. In the Presence of Enemies, Pt. 1: Prelude/Resurrection
2. Forsaken
3. Constant Motion
4. Dark Eternal Night
5. Repentance
6. Prophets of War
7. Ministry of Lost Souls
8. In the Presence of Enemies, Pt. 2: Heretic/The Slaughter of the Damned/
Editorial Review:
Japanese only SHM Pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Warner. 2009.
Description of Systematic Chaos:
Dream Theater has built a career on delivering some of the most consistently strong progressive rock albums in history and Systemic Chaos proves no exception. Built upon the trademark musically diverse but stylistically reliable principles that made albums such as Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence and Train of Thought instant classics, this album features new career highs such as "Prophets of War," "Forsake," and "Constant Motion." Although the band has flirted with commercially viable material in the past, especially on 2005's solid and exciting Octavarium, Systemic Chaos proves unrelenting in its pursuit of pure heavy rock. There are plenty of surprises in store, even for stalwart fans, perhaps one of the reasons that Dream Theater remains in a class by itself, ahead of the pack and ahead of the times. A truly outstanding album by any measure.--Jedd Beaudoin
Systematic Chaos Reviews:
Solid 
2009-11-15 - I finally got around to listening to this and I have to say that I like it! This is extremely progressive and intense. I like all the songs but sometimes they go too far and might benefit from editing. Overall, I think LaBrie does a great job on vocals.
Electrifying 
2009-08-22 - This is fantastic stuff and it disturbs me to think that I nearly passed Systematic Chaos by on the basis of the negative reviews. Released in 2007, this is an electrifying album that has a good balance of the artier aspects of progressive rock and heavy metal - as a longtime fan of 1970s progressive rock, it kept me very entertained. Indeed, this gave me the same level of enjoyment my old Yes and Return to Forever records brought me.
The lineup includes John Petrucci (electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals), John Myung (electric bass guitars), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, and vocals), James LaBrie (vocals), and Jordan Rudess (piano, Hammond organ, synthesizers). Much to my surprise (and delight) both John Myung and Jordan Rudess are audible! They both add a great deal to the compositions, which really come alive with John's thunderous bass lines and the creative virtuosity of Jordan. Speaking of which, the level of virtuosity on this album is simply mind-blowing.
The eight tracks range in length from 5 minutes to the nearly 26 minute long, two-part In the Presence of Enemies suite, and present a blend of progressive rock and heavy metal (actually, the balance is further on the progressive rock side). While the emphasis is on ensemble work of considerable complexity, and ostinati played at a breakneck tempo (in unison on the keyboards/guitar/bass) and at ear-splitting levels, there are "artier" passages that feature subdued electric and acoustic instruments. This contrast is emphasized by a wide dynamic range. The tone colors that Jordan selects including the mellotron and acoustic piano also add a lot to the "artiness" factor. The melodies are everywhere (and haunting at times) and both the lead and backing vocal harmonies are excellent. I also enjoy the more experimental passages - that is, the "proggier" stuff (Repentance is a good example) along with the "ballad-ish" moments.
This is a nice CD package that features great artwork by Hugh Syme, the lyrics, and photos of the group. The production is also quite good - again, I can hear John Myung and Jordan Rudess.
All in all, this may very well be one of my favorites by the group and is certainly one of their "artier" albums. Very highly recommended to prog fans that do not mind some heavy metal and heavy metal fans that do not mind a good dose of progressive rock along with Octavarium (2005), Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002), and Scenes from a Memory (1999).
3.5/5? What?
2009-06-25 - I can't believe how low the overall rating for this album is! Ok, it's nowhere near as good as Images And Words, Awake or Scenes From A Memory, but what is? Man, it seems that some people don't like DT's most recent albums only because they aren't as good as Images And Words... Wake up, it's IMPOSSIBLE to make an album better than Images And Words! Anyway, enough whinning... In The Presence Of Enemies alone makes the album deserve 5 stars! It's easily one of their best songs! It's very epic, it's full of amazing melodies, it's full of great riffs and it has many very catchy parts! The other songs are nowhere near as good, but none of them is weak. Forsaken is a good accessible catchy song, Constant Motion has many great riffs, The Dark Eternal Night has some very heavy riffs and a pretty damn catchy chorus, Repentant and The Ministry Of Lost Souls are nice ballads and Prophets Of War is very catchy and I love the keyboard in it! All in all, this album really doesn't deserve all of the hate that it gets. It seems that some DT fans are never satisfied. Everything is never enough.
4.5/5 because I have to admit that Forsaken, Constant Motion and The Dark Eternal Night are pretty average for Dream Theater songs. They're very good. The problem is that they're nowhere near as good as the rest.
One of their best.
2009-03-09 - It is interesting how reviews of music can vary so much among individual fans of a band. Music is a very personal experience and it is difficult to get a good idea of what you will or will not like by reading someone elses' review. That being said I have been following DT since the mid-late 80's and have listened critically to all of their works. I found this to be one of their best, along with Dream and Day and Scenes. As always the music is complex but not without purpose or theme. DT seems to be trending towards harder themes in the last few albums which I for one welcome. I could see how some people can draw comparisons between some of the themes and those of more hardcore metal bands. I have been listening to this one since it arrived about 5 months ago and I have not lost interest yet which is very unusual for me. If you happen to prefer some of their "softer" albums like Awake or Images, then this may not be for you.
Incredible!
2009-01-30 - I listened to this CD when it was first released, and shelved it. Maybe I wasn't mentally prepared or just wasn't in the mood for DT at the time.
I picked this up again a few weeks ago. Upon completion of the disc, I couldn't believe how fantastic this 9th studio album is! For newbies or old time fans, some advice when listening to this CD: play it more than once until it sinks in! Don't give up on SC like I did after one listen. This is a GREAT group of songs and another excellent studio offering from the best prog band on the planet.
