Originally published in Billboard magazine · June 2007
Systematic Chaos review
By Systematic Chaos
Review1 min read
Dream Theater
Producers: John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy
Roadrunner Records
Release Date: June 5
Prog is taking a long road to making a comeback; kind of fitting for a style that’s home to half-hour songs. Roadrunner justified its viability by signing Dream Theater, the genre’s poster child. The band is in full jam mode for Systematic Chaos, making this a true journey album. It’s not concerned with having catchy hooks, but crunches out a few on ‘The Dark Eternal Night.’ The Pink Floyd homage ‘Repentance’ loops solemn confessions through the meandering track, and ‘The Ministry of Lost Souls’ continues in the soft vein. Dream Theater bookends the trip with parts one and two of ‘In the Presence of Enemies,’ indulging in a nearly 26-minute workout. Viva le prog!
—CLT