SYSTEMATIC CHAOS - DREAM THEATER
Prog is taking a long road to making a comeback; kind of fitting for a style that’s home to half-hour songs. Dream Theater, the genre’s poster child, is in full jam mode for “Systematic Chaos,” making this a true journey album. It’s not concerned with 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.
