The longer lagging behind the great classics of a band, the more the opinions of virgin apart. This musical law of nature also applies to Dream Theater. Luckily, she lets the completely cold! The ninth studio album, "Systematic Chaos", listening to you, that they are calm and confident approach to the matter. One indication of this are the lyrics alone. Previously there had been (DARK NIGHT ETERNAL) no songs about a nocturnal vampire visit (FORSAKEN) or an old monster that haunts the town. Other bands use their vast experience to over and over again and eventually trample old success paths platform broken. The only constant in Dream Theater, however, is now the still annähend unrivaled equipment operation and not the least bit jaded sensibility for composing, regardless of whether the song will take 5 or 25 minutes. But: these compositions are like nothing from the past. That will put off some fans of "Images And Words" -Only Group. Too bad - you missed something! For example, a couple of songs with a surprising shovel schwermetallischer hardness, which is criticized by many hasty. In Constant Motion and DARK NIGHT ETERNAL the bulldozers of "Train of Thought" is unpacked, but technically sound more facets are presented and also the keyboards contribute much (dark) atmosphere despite the enormous degree of hardness. Both songs can be for one quarter of an hour "thrashy" thought of bands like Pantera or Metallica arise; even gloomy geshoutete, viciously distorted vocals are heard at DARK NIGHT ETERNAL, really nasty Ultra Dark riffs, to the very beginning of perhaps the most pressure-bass drum sound of metal history. Yes like Dream Theater do Thrash and easy Holzen it happening? Not even close! These Drives stuck precision, high-tech and all kinds of rhythmic extravagances. In between choruses shine with usual great melodies and (of course) more minute instrumental shows its best. And they were rarely so heavy. Among the more compact pieces, there are something like two melodic "counterparts" - the hymn PROPHETS OF WAR with backing Shouts of 50 invitees Dream Theater fans, and FORSAKEN: very straight, catchy, without much Frickel tours, but with a simply good riff and hypnotic beautiful, melancholic melodies equipped. Influenced Melodic is also the Viertelstünder THE MINISTRY OF LOST SOULS. He tells of the death wish of a nearly drowned woman whose savior was killed himself. More than seven minutes determine worn, moody bombastic atmospheres that sound before then in between the instrument part going on the post. Surprisingly long the long track remains pretty ballad. But that feeling is true; and that's what matters. The only weak point of the album remains the quiet REPENTANCE that more than 10 minutes, which is much too long relatively monotonous spread melancholy. Finally, may also friends of the band like Neal Morse, Joe Satriani or Steven Wilson speak into the microphone, what they regret in their lives so. The song is part of the four on "Six Degrees ..." started the cycle, ie the continuation of "The Glass Prison", "This Dying Soul" and "The Root Of All Evil" including a couple of musical quotations. The song is indeed surprising abwechslungsarm; nor a Total ballad like "Vacant" and "The Answer Lies Within" would be certainly the worse solution been. That leaves the giant epic IN THE PRESENCE OF ENEMIES, clearly an immortal legend of theater strokes of genius. Together Calculated for 25 minutes is about an inner struggle between good and evil, musically highly emotional implemented with everything goes, from psychedelic and quiet to heavy and verfrickelt or orchestral and bombastic. Goosebumps is pure hip when the same hook from the end of Frickelduell intros emerges after the stunning instrumental part in Part II of Part I in monumental form again - that's great cinema! The bottom line is 78 minutes, "Systematic Chaos" a successful further development of the band. The bluntness of influences is sympathetic. In addition to Metallica (and of course what the solo duels terms still Kansas) is to call them Pinky Floyd more than ever. Not only because of to "Shine On ..." erinnernen dichotomy of IN THE PRESENCE OF ENEMIES. Also keep increasingly stretched tension feeder, which have spread rarely so slowly and deliberately in Dream Theater. But do not worry: When Pink Floyd is not bleats yes not enough speed and enjoys instead of delicately constructed atmospheres - without minute-long mega dynamic instrumental passages full of rhythm and tempo changes. As a connoisseur of the five musicians, one should strive for the Special Edition is sure. The 90-minute documentary "Chaos in Progress" looking them in the studio on their gifted fingers, they can report on the development of album and songs and not least satisfy their penchant for messing about. This is of course especially for Mike Portnoy, who sometimes even the fast-food order through the micro sends out backing vocals or lovingly cares for his colleagues ("Jordan Said he had a 'dirty organ' for us to see").
