Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos

[trumvirvel]

So I finally managed to get to a record store and buy the latest DT album (got all their studio releases).
Just heard it for the first time, so I thought I'd share my first impressions - particularly concerning the drumming (SPOILER ALERT!):

1. Oh my, this is HEAVY (possibly their heaviest album ever - this or Train of Thought)
2. Back to the progressive METAL drumming of TOT.
3. Feels more inspired than Octavarium (really good album, but sometimes felt slightly "commercialized") - this album gave me the impression the band just played what they really wanted to.
4. Contains some great double bass drumming, one part in it - I think it was track 2 - where Portnoy plays a really fast...think it is 6/8 double bass beat.
5. A lot of octabans, he really uses his entire, HUGE kit in most of the songs.
6. The biggest surprise: All those great musicians - Vai, Satriani etc - TALKING, not playing on track 5
7. Many nice fills - really like the intro of the first track
8. One of their most rhythmically complex albums?
9. Title track (track 3) sometimes made me think of Metallica's "Battery" for some reason...
10. The second biggest surprise: The disco beat on track 6. Great start for that track.

Well, just had to get it out. Really liked what I heard, but a DT album usually needs at least 10 listens before you can really "get into it".

What do the rest of you who have heard this album think (primarily of Portnoy's drumming)?

[komodo]

I have every DT album as im a huge fan (my fave band) and i must say unlike some of the albums this was an instant likeable album,nay loveable. I agree with your comment that it seems they are playing what they really wanted to,from songs telling tales of vampires to a monster,to prophets of war. The drumming is especially on form (yes i agree the disco beat is very good and makes a change), but the one little thing i dont particular like is portnoys increasing inclusion of vocals,hes a great drummer but not so good a singer. But the drumming is brilliant,the track dark eternal night which is the heaviest song DT have possibly ever done has some cool double bass in and the intro beat although simple is very catchy and i started playing it the next time i was on the drums :p

[trysthedrummer]

There's some nice parts in this album. Definately reminds me of Train of Thought.

Yea with most albums it takes a while to appreciate it. On first hearing I didn't think much to be honest as with some other people I know but now i've listened through about 5 times now and it really is pretty good. Infact I'm maybe leaning towards this album than Octavarium.

Lovely work on Ministry of Lost Souls, especially at the end gets my hairs on the back of my neck! hehe, same again with Repentance.

Prophets of War reminds me of Muse, like the track in Octavarium, "Never Enough."

"The Dark Eternal Night" has some brilliant bits in the middle of the track around the 5 minute period.

Overall I'm liking what I'm hearing.

[volume_3]

I need to get this album, the only track ive got from it is "Constant Motion" which came with a Classic Rock CD, and i really like that track.

But as usual, too many albums to get too little money to get them with. I may try and convince my Dad to get this one though as he owns the other Dream Theater albums.

[mikei]

I bought this album the day it came out.

By far their best album since Scenes from a Memory.

Very heavy and well produced.

I am glad I bought it!

[Drummist222]

I preordered this one, so I've had it for a bit and have been listening to it in the car. I'm also a big Dream Theater fan, but, honestly, I never liked Systematic Chaos as much as some of their other stuff, although it continues to grow on me. My favorite Dream Theater stuff is usually their big, grandiose, orchestra sounding stuff, mostly seen on Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. None on the new album, though there wasn't much on Octavarium or Train of Thought. Here's what I didn't like:

LaBrie's vocals in the verse of Dark Eternal Night(I think, I don't have the album with me right now). I really like his voice, and I found the effects to be unnecessary and overdone. But what I did like about the verse is that it made the chorus sound incredible.

The flow of the album. Not that it didn't flow, but it didn't flow as well as some of their other albums. It doesn't feel quite as much like a cohesive whole as Scenes from a Memory or Six Degrees.

There were a couple of cheesy moments. With DT you have to expect some not-so-great lyrics every now and then(along with some really good ones), but the shouting about misery and fighting and stuff didn't quite do it for me.

The constant darkness of the album. DT almost never has a light, cheery feel, but this one felt really dark. If I had to describe it in colors, it would be pretty much pure black and purple, with a bit of grey. I prefer a bit more variety.

Now, all of that was mostly to provide a counterpoint for what was said so far, since a lot of the good aspects of the Systematic Chaos were already covered. I really like the album, as I like pretty much everything they put out. There are some really nice, mind-bending instrumental sections, and some catchy, intense choruses. Portnoy, as always, keeps us on our toes, and there was at least one beat that didn't quite seem possible. I listened to this album enough that I almost got sick of it, which doesn't usually happen with DT. I think this was due to the singularity of mood. Overall, it's a nice release. I'm glad that they continue in the same vein, but try enough new stuff so it doesn't all sound the same.

[fijjibo]

Originally Posted by mikei

I bought this album the day it came out.

By far their best album since Scenes from a Memory.

Very heavy and well produced.

I am glad I bought it!

Ditto in every way...


Anyone here going to see them at Wembley?

[DamoSyzygy]

Ive been a Dream Theater fan since Images & Words, but went off them when Octavarium came out, as I didnt like the direction they seemed to be going.

With Systematic Chaos, unfortunately I felt more of the same. To me, none of the songs are really memorable in the same way Metropolis Pt1 or anything off Awake is. LaBries voice just seems to be getting worse. The production on the album is admittedly very slick.

I still listen to the album, but I personally feel they have spent too long now doing side projects and covering other bands (Constant Motion = Metallica?) that they dont completely have their hearts in it anymore.

I do hope Im wrong, because they remain one of my all time favourite bands. I guess the next album will decide it for me. In the meantime, Symphony X's "Paradise Lost" is offering me all the inspiration and wow factor I need to get by :)

[trysthedrummer]

Hi Damo, never knew you were on here! (That album is quality!)

I definately feel though that Systematic Chaos is much better than their last.

[trumvirvel]

Recently saw them live - obviously awesome as always. The songs from this album were really HEAVY live (loved those creepy ants...). But WHY didn't they play "Forsaken"? Thought it was one of the "hits" from the album...

I never grow tired of those DT-chops! :-)