Systematic Chaos (2007) Опции

[andreosokin]

Да, да, новый альбом Dream Theater - "Systematic Chaos"
Рекорд по длительности побит: 25 минут - In the Presence of Enemies
Говорят крутой будет! Но лучше Вам прочитать ревью (да, уже!!) с мелодикрок.ком:

FIRST INSIGHT INTO THE NEW DREAM THEATER ALBUM!:
One of the companies I work closely with is re-issue label Rock Candy Records. The label is run by the legendary journalist and A&R duo of Derek Oliver & Dante Bonutto, who are also now working in conjunction with Roadrunner Records to bring new releases from classic bands to the market place.
Their first signing is Dream Theater, as announced a month or so ago. Of course the guys are very familiar with the band, having signed them to Elektra all those years ago.
Dream Theater have just turned in their new album Systematic Chaos to their label, and Derek Oliver was kind enough to forward me his thoughts on the album after living with it for a while and gave me the ok to run this as your exclusive first look into the album from someone who has a long and lasting passion for the band.

Says Derek:
"Systematic Chaos is pretty full-on. You'll all be very surprised. It's undoubtedly the best record that they've recorded in many years - very accessible, very heavy and very melodic. They've managed to combine a sense of the past with the future and, unlike Rush, haven't dumped their glorious past in favour of annoying skinny tie affectations or garage rock pretence.
There are two absolutely killer tracks, Constant Motion and The Dark Eternal Night, the former is like Metallica with keyboards and the latter showcases the most intense and heavy musicianship that they've ever recorded - think Pantera jamming with Iron Maiden. Those tracks will be regarded as master classes in progressive metal for years to come. And they both boast lashings of melody.
The most accessible track is titled Forsaken, a blindingly obvious radio song that mixes contemporary modern rock ala Evanescence with the old school power balladry of Queensryche's Silent Lucidity whilst still packing a progressive rock punch. Do I smell a potential radio smash? Quite possibly.
Surprise contenders for classic status include Repentance, a brooding 10 minute creepy crawler that seeps its way into one's inner psyche from the first few seconds of playback. The impact of this track is enhanced by an abundance of unexpected spoken word contributions from a number of well known musicians. I won't spoil it by revealing exactly who they are as its a lot of fun trying to decipher for yourself. Musically think Pink Floyd duetting with Metallica on a decidedly trippy space rock epic.
The other major surprise is Prophet's Of War a magnetic and compelling six minute romp that appears to be a combination of electro pop and classic arena metal and it works brilliantly. Imagine walking into a Berlin discotechque at 2 in the morning with 2,000 nutters jumping up and down to a wild electro mash-up of the Prodigy, Queen, Robbie Williams, Metallica and Ramstein whilst Dita Von Teese dances in a cage.
Trad DT faire is offered up with The Ministry Of Lost Souls. Initially a piano driven ballad which builds into a colossal prog rock hoedown allowing Jordan Rudess to utilise every keyboard that he's acquired through the ages amongst a cacophony of wild jamming. Once the battle has been won, its all back to the main theme for a piping hot cup of cocoa and bed.
The 25 minute epic In The Presence Of Enemies is indeed a pleasure to experience. Split into two parts, which bookend the album, the vibe here is dark and distant. The song is driven by a particularly impressive bass riff and a full, open chorus with evil lyrics delivered convincingly by a more assured and focussed James LaBrie. Then, in the blink of an eye, it all kicks off as Portnoy jumps in with double kick drums thumping at an alarming speed and its heads down for the final push with swords, guitars, knives and keyboards re-enacting the Charge Of The Light Brigade.

Man of the match? Impossible to say as all of them are at the top of their game on this one. Portnoy? Well, he's just being Portnoy - crucially the most accomplished drummer of modern times.
Petrucci? He's off his head on virtually every track delivering the heaviest riffs this side of Black Sabbath and the fastest most precise plank spanking I've ever heard.
Myung? The guys doesn't have much to say for himself in interviews but his playing on this record speaks a thousand words.
Rudess? Possibly the bastard child of Keith Emerson and Rachmaninov. His playing is historic and, understandably, quite perplexing.
LaBrie? I have great pleasure in announcing that he, out of them all, has risen most magnificently to the challenge. Its clear that he's taking this particular moment in the bands career to up his game considerably, approaching each track with an intelligence that belies his previous output. By adapting his delivery to suit the mood of each song this fine fellow has breathed new life into an old frame. A great and significant accomplishment.
I came away from this album thinking that - and I'm not taking a pot shot here - if Iron Maiden and Metallica were currently writing and performing to this level of excellence then the world of rock would indeed be a far better place."

Петруччи и Маюнг отрастили волос, у Рудесса - длинная седая бородка, а ЛаБри снова обросший бородой:
http://melodicrock.com/dreamtheater-2007.jpg

Как только появится полный трек-лист, эту новость выложу на главной странице дт.ру

ENJOY!!..

[denisag]

Тоже потихоньку осмысляю услышанное. Много писать лень, поэтому буду краток:

1. IPOE part 1: пока не совсем дошло, но интересно. Слова конечно реально много значат, но я пока что-то не совсем просек.

2. Foresaken: прикольно, немного попсово. За душу не берет, но слушать приятно

3. Constant Motion: Когда услышал первый раз пару недель назад, рассторился что весь албом такой будет. Слава богу не весь :-) Динамично и энергично, но опять же немного "неглубоко". Это что-то типа "Panic Attack", но послабее.

Вообще, мне альбом показался очень похожим на Октавариум как по структуре, так и по настрою. Сначала идут попсовые композиции, потом все эпичнее и эпичнее, все душевнее и душевнее ...

ну да ладно ...

4. The Dark Eternal Night: в принципе, то же самое что CM, только в середине инструментал поинтереснее.

5. Repentance: душа анонимного алкоголика потемки. Надо почитать про стадии 8 и 9. Кому интересно, вам сюда

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Steps

Кому лень читать по-англиски, там написано вот что:

Step 8: напиши список людей, которым ты навредил, и приготовься делать им добро
Step 9: начни делать им добро, только чтобы им самим от этого хуже не стало

Песня мне показалась интересной с точки зрения настроения, которое она создает. Очень подходит написанному выше. Но по мне затянуто. Требует дополннительного осмысления. Еще надо почитать про алкоголиков.

6. Prophets of War: а мне понравилось :-) Вокал ЛяБри очень прикольный и нежный. Потом идея с 50 фанатами, которые там орут, просто убийственная. Надеюсь, на концерте поорем :-) Кстати, Портной еще заставил их проорать "Ass and Balls", только что-то этого я не слышал нигде. Наверное, куда-то воткнул, может в другую песню (что-то нам в IPOE part 2 было похожее).

7. The Ministry of Lost Souls: Мне показалось, что это песня про что-то типа эвтаназии. Женщина сидит типа у постели умирающего мужа. Он типа спас ее от кого-то и видимо от этот сильно пострадал. ЗА ДУШУ БЕРЕТ ДО СЛЕЗ. Ничего подобного у DT не было еще. Если без слов (т.е. слов не понимать), то немного затянуто, а со словами реально шедевр. Может только с Sacrificed Sons сравниться. Хотя еще не все до конца понятно.

The water's edge
Is where she waits
Lost soul still wondering

Meant to die
But she's stuck
Not crossing over

The other side
Is where he waits
His spirit reaching out

Meant to save
But she's too scared
To take his hand

Living in a world without you (drowning in the past)
Is living in no world at all
So now I call on you

Remember me
I gave you life
You would not take it

Your suffering
Was all in vain?
It's almost over now
Don't turn your back on paradise

Feeling scared
She's prepared
To give up everything

She can't stand
To feel like half of her is fading

He will choose
The only way
To rid her of her pain

Take her soul now
The decision has been made

Living in a world without love (burning into my soul)
Ss living in a wordless world
So I will call on you

Remember me
I gave you life
[Ministry of Lost Souls lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

You would not take it

Your suffering
was all in vain?
It's almost over

Remember me
You were so young
How could I tell you?

Remember me
I am the one
Who saved your life that night

I was the one who would not abandon you
Even in death i was the one who would not leave you

I used my freedom to protect you
And all the world around you
Do you remember me this time
Even in death I gave you life
I gave you life

(Instrumental section)

Born to do
Deserve a place
A place beside you

This time when I
Reach out my hand
It reached all the way
To heaven

Remember me
I gave you life
You would not take it

Your suffering
Was all in vain?
It's almost over now

Goodbye
It's almost over now

Goodbye
It's time
I release you from this life
Don't turn your back on paradise

слова взяты остюда:

http://www.metrolyrics.com/ministry-of-los...am-theater.html

Кстати, есть какие-то смутные параллели с Metropolis pt.2 – т.е. типа может это pt.3?

8. In Presence of Enemies Part 2: Тут еще надо разбираться, но прогрессив охрененный.


Рекомендую последние 2 песни (и остальные тоже) слушать исключительно на полную громкость и ГЛАВНОЕ БОЛЬШЕ НИЧЕГО ПРИ ЭТОМ НЕ ДЕЛАТЬ.


В целом альбом очень интересный, выглядит как логичное продолжение всего что было раньше. По-моему, с Metropolis pt.2 ничего не сравнится ВООБЩЕ, но SC на равне с Octavarium и SDOIT – конечно, шедевр.

Почаще бы только альбомы выпускали ...

Сообщение отредактировал denisag - May 17 2007, 23:02