Track listing
1. "In the Presence of Enemies - Part I
* I. "Prelude"
* II. "Resurrection""
2. "Forsaken"
3. "Constant Motion"
4. "The Dark Eternal Night"
5. "Repentance
* VIII. "Regret"
* IX. "Restitution"
6. "Prophets of War"
7. "The Ministry of Lost Souls"
8. "In the Presence of Enemies - Part II
* III. "Heretic"
* IV. "The Slaughter of the Damned"
* V. "The Reckoning"
* VI. "Salvation"
Personnel
Dream Theater
* James LaBrie – vocals
* John Myung – bass
* John Petrucci – guitar and vocals
* Mike Portnoy – drums, percussion and vocals
* Jordan Rudess – keyboards and Continuum
Production
* John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy – producers
* Paul Northfield – engineer, mixing, vocal track co-producer
* Chad Lupo – assistant engineer
* Hugh Syme – art direction, design, and illustrations
* Daragh McDonagh – Dream Theater photography
Notes
Systematic Chaos is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007 in the United States, Systematic Chaos was the band's first release through Roadrunner Records. The album was recorded from September 2006 to February 2007 at Avatar Studios in New York City, after the band's first break from summer touring in ten years. The lyrics of the album were written by John Petrucci, James LaBrie, and Mike Portnoy about fictional, political, and personal topics, respectively.
The album peaked in the top twenty in eight countries' sales charts; in addition, the album peaked at the nineteenth position on the Billboard 200, making it the highest peaking Dream Theater album in the United States as of 2008.
Critical reception of the album was generally positive; Jon Eardley from MetalReview.com called the band, "arguably the most consistent band throughout the entire progressive rock/metal industry".
Dream Theater promoted the album on their Chaos in Motion world tour, which lasted a year and spanned thirty-five countries. The album was released in regular and special edition formats; the special edition included a 5.1 surround sound mix of the album, in addition to a ninety-minute "making of" documentary about the album.
Release and promotion
Both the regular and special editions of Systematic Chaos were released on June 4, 2007 in the UK and June 5, 2007 in the US. Over their seven album relationship with Warner Music Group, Dream Theater became disappointed at the lack of coverage they gave the band. "Our previous label basically relied on our fanbase to do everything... [they would] put the money up for the record and put the CD in the shops," said Portnoy.On February 8, 2007, Dream Theater reached an agreement with Roadrunner Records to release their new album.Systematic Chaos had nearly been written and recorded at the time of the signing.Ironically, Warner purchased Roadrunner Records a week after the band signed with them.According to LaBrie, Roadrunner followed through on all of its promises to the band concerning the promotion of the album.
Portnoy spent a month directing and editing a documentary titled Chaos in Progress: The Making of Systematic Chaos, which was released on the two disc special edition of the album.The bonus disc of the special edition also included 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire album. Dream Theater supported the album by touring on the Chaos In Motion tour from June 3, 2007 to June 4, 2008. The world tour comprised 115 shows throughout thirty-five countries.Multiple concerts were filmed for the band's fifth DVD, titled Chaos in Motion 2007–2008. The compilation of concerts was released on September 30, 2008.
Songs
In the Presence of Enemies
John Petrucci wrote the lyrics for four of the seven songs on the album,telling a fictional story through each one.The first song recorded, the twenty-five-minute epic "In the Presence of Enemies", was described by Petrucci as the "epitome of a Dream Theater creation".He went on to describe the track as "very progressive, very long"; also noting that it set a good tone for writing and recording the rest of the album.The song was split into two parts for the album, due to its being a good open and close to the album. According to Portnoy, the band felt it was too long to open the album, but did not want to close the album with a long song, as they had with the twenty-four-minute title track of their last album.The song is normally played in its entirety in live shows.
Forsaken
Petrucci said "Forsaken" is a story told through a "short song structure".The song tells of a person who is visited at night by a vampiress. While the man thinks he is being shown "beautiful things", in reality he is having his blood sucked by the vampiress.An anime music video of "Forsaken", produced by Gonzo and directed by Yasufumi Soejima, was released on January 26, 2008.The band allowed Soejima artistic freedom with the design of the video,which was set in a science fiction future instead of the present day.
Constant Motion
"Constant Motion" was released as the first single from the album. It is also accompanied by a music video. The band hadn't produced a music video since "Hollow Years" from Falling into Infinity in 1997, citing lack of interest and lack of rotation on music channels for the latter. The video has received considerable airplay on MTV2's Headbangers Ball, and is arguably Dream Theater's most popular video since "Pull Me Under" in 1992.
According to Chaos in Progress: The Making of Systematic Chaos, the working title of this song was "Song #2" or "Korma Chameleon". As with its previous track, "Forsaken", "Constant Motion" explores various complex time changes. For example, the guitar riffs in the introduction of the song vary between 10/8, 12/8, 15/8 and 20/8 in select parts. Most of the song remains in the standard 4/4 time.
The Dark Eternal Night
Petrucci wrote the lyrics to "The Dark Eternal Night" about a pharaoh who has returned after dormancy as a monster to haunt a town.The song contains an improvised Continuum solo, performed by Rudess while the drum tracks were being recorded; the band members liked the solo enough to keep in the final recording.
Repentance
Portnoy wrote "Repentance" as the fourth part of his Twelve-step Suite,a collection of songs from various Dream Theater albums which revolve around his journey through Alcoholics Anonymous. The song discusses steps eight and nine of the process, which deal with making a list of people whom one has wronged and, if possible, making direct amends with them.Portnoy, who as of 2007 had been sober for 7½ years,invited friends and fellow musicians Mikael Åkerfeldt, Jon Anderson, David Ellefson, Daniel Gildenlöw, Steve Hogarth, Chris Jericho, Neal Morse, Joe Satriani, Corey Taylor, Steve Vai, and Steven Wilson to record spoken apologies, regrets, and sorrows of their own,which were featured throughout the song.Portnoy dedicated "Repentance", "to Bill W. and all of his friends".This saga is concluded in the Band's tenth studio album Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
Prophets of War
"Prophets of War" was written by James LaBrie, who based the lyrics loosely on Joseph C. Wilson's book The Politics of Truth.The lyrics talk about possible ulterior motives behind the Iraq War, while remaining "middle of the road".The title is a play on words, where the "prophets" of the war, could also be gaining a "profit" from the War.During the recording of the song, Portnoy suggested fans could voice certain lyrical chants.In response to a message posted on the band's website four hundred fans gathered outside the recording studio to record the chanting,however only sixty could fit into the studio.
The Ministry of Lost Souls
At just under fifteen minutes in length, "The Ministry of Lost Souls" is the album's second longest track. Throughout the song's lyrics, Petrucci tells of a person who dies in the process of saving a woman from drowning. However, the woman who is saved is filled with "regret and sorrow" until she is able to re-unite with her rescuer.
LYRICS
1. In The Presence Of Enemies, Pt. 1
[Music: Dream Theater / Lyrics: John Petrucci]
[I Prelude]
[Instrumental]
[II Resurrection]
I saw a white light
Shining there before me
And walking to it
I waited for the end
A final vision
Promising salvation
A resurrection
For a fallen man
Do you still wait for your God
And the symbol of your faith?
I can free you from this Hell and misery
You should never be ashamed my son
I can give you power beyond anything
Trust me you will be the chosen one
I was forgotten
A body scorned and broken
My soul rejected
Tainted by his blood
Beyond redemption
A sinner not worth saving
Forever taken
From the one I loved
Do I still wait for my God
And a symbol of my faith?
I can lead you down the path and back to life
All I ask is that you worship me
I can help you seek revenge and save yourself
Give you life for all eternity
Servants of the fallen
Fight to pave the way
For their saviour's calling
Of this wicked day
Through a veil of madness
With a vicious blade
One man rises up
Standing in their way
Redemption
Redemption for humanity
2. Forsaken
[Music: Dream Theater / Lyrics: John Petrucci]
For a while I thought I fell asleep
Lying motionless inside a dream
Then rising suddenly
I felt a chilling breath upon me
She softly whispered in my ear
(Forsaken)
Forsaken
I have come for you tonight
Awaken
Look in my eyes and take my hand
Give yourself up to me
I waited painfully
For night to fall again
Trying to silence the fear within me
Out of an ivory mist
I felt a stinging kiss
And saw a crimson stain on her lips
I have to know your name
Where have I seen your face before?
My dear one don't you be afraid
Forsaken
I have come for you tonight
Awaken
Look in my eyes and take my hand
Give yourself up to me
Take me far away
Close your eyes
And hold your breath
To the ends of the earth
Forsaken
I have come for you tonight
Awaken
Look in my eyes and take my hand
Forsaken
Fly away with me tonight
Awaken
Renew my life
Now you are mine
Give yourself up to me
3. Constant Motion
[Music: Dream Theater / Lyrics: Mike Portnoy]
Tunnel vision at blinding speed
Controlling my thoughts, obsessing me
Void of any uncertainty
Throughout my very soul
Lost illusions of mind control
Resisting all hope of letting go
Racing impulse of dark desire
Drives me through the night
I try to shut it down
It leaves me in the dust
No matter what I've found
I can never get enough
Frantic actions of insanity
Impulsive laced profanity
Long for elusive serenity
Way out of my control
Traveling through both space and time
(Out of body, out of mind)
Out of control
My wheels in constant motion
Spinning round and round it goes
(I can't let up, I can't let go)
Can't stop this flame from burning
Forever more
Into the night
Blistering
Focus here, focus there
Cannot see the light
(Falling down through the night)
Sprawling everywhere
Searching left, searching right
(Panic setting in, I can no longer fight)
When will this end?
Accelerate, dislocate
(Set to crash and burn, haven't got time to waste)
Not planning to return
Aggravate, agitate
(When will I ever learn?)
There's no way out of here
Nowhere to turn
Obsessive yearning
Compulsive burning
Still never learning
Insane random thoughts
Of neat disorder
Scattered wasteland surrounding me
Tattered memories of what used to be
Apocalyptic mind debris
Until we meet again
Traveling through both space and time
(Out of body, out of mind)
Out of control
My wheels in constant motion
Spinning round and round it goes
(I can't let up, I can't let go)
Can't stop this flame from burning
Forever more
Into the night
Blistering
Traveling through both space and time
(Out of body, out of mind)
Out of control
My wheels in constant motion
Spinning round and round it goes
(I can't let up, I can't let go)
Can't stop this flame from burning
Can't stop the wheels from turning
Traveling through both space and time
(You get yours, and I got mine)
Out of control
My wheels in constant motion
Spinning round and round it goes
(I can't let up, I can't let go)
Can't stop this flame from burning
Forever more
Into the night
Blistering
4. The Dark Eternal Night
[Music: Dream Theater, Lyrics: John Petrucci]
No one dared to
Speak of the terrible danger
The hideous ancient warnings
Forged in the void of night
He has risen up
Out of the blackness
Chaos
The last of the prophets
Sinister
A sickening monstrous sight
Through the stifling heat
Underneath the pale green moon
I burned with a thirst
To seek things not yet seen
Climbing endless stairs
Leading to the choking room
Eager to explore
His most shocking mysteries
Drifting beyond all time
Out of a churning sky
Drawn to the beckoning light
Of the dark eternal night
Black forces
Rage in the vortex,
Fighting
Waves of destruction
Swallowing
The echo of the universe
I am the last
Born of the blood of the pharaohs
The ultimate god of a rotting creation
Sent to unleash this curse
Restless crowds draw near
Nameless hooded forms appear
Amidst fallen ruins
Grotesque creatures battle
Shadowed on a screen
Yellow evil faces leer
Vacant monuments
Corpses of dead worlds left behind
Drifting beyond all time
Out of a churning sky
Drawn to the beckoning light
Of the dark eternal night
Trapped in a hellish dream
Spinning past worlds unseen
And frightfully vanishing
Into the dark eternal night
Drifting beyond all time
Out of a churning sky
Drawn to the beckoning light
Of the dark eternal night
Trapped in a hellish dream
Spinning past worlds unseen
And frightfully vanishing
Into the dark eternal night
5. Repentance
[Music: Dream Theater / Lyrics: Mike Portnoy]
[VIII Regret]
Hello, mirror, so glad to see you my friend
It's been a while...
Staring at the empty page before me
All the years of wreckage running through my head
Patterns of my life I thought adorned me
Revealing hurtful shame and deep lament
Overwhelming sorrow now absorbs me
As the pen begins to trace my darkest past
Signs throughout my life
that should have warned me
Of all the wrongs I've done for which I must repent
I once thought it better to regret
Things that I have done than haven't
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn the hard way
And sometimes you've got to be strong
When you think it's too late
Staring at the finished page before me
All the damage now so clear and evident
Thinking about the dreaded task in store for me
A pit of fear at the thought of my amends
Hoping that this step will help restore me
To face my past and ask for forgiveness
Cleaning up my dirty side of this unswept street
Could this be the beginning of the end?
I once thought it better to regret
Things that I have done than haven't
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn the hard way
And just when you're through hanging on
You're saved
[IX Restitution]
"Until that moment, I'd never felt like I'd failed at anything...And I felt like I failed her...And I failed myself, and I failed my children...It's still really hard to deal with."
"I want to thank you for helping me to see my own selfishness and to tell you how regretful I am it has hurt you."
"I'm sorry I didn't visit you in the hospital, Grandpa when you were on your deathbed. I'm sorry I didn't come to your funeral...I don't know if I was selfish or just too scared to face it. It's one of the biggest regrets of my life."
"I'm here to confess with you that what I did, was wrong... And I'm asking for your forgiveness..."
"The only unforgivable thing hauls itself out of bed, looks over my shoulder at the bloody English weather..."
"I really regret not being able to see my friend Andy..."
"One of my best friends who's the godfather of my daughter, he asked me to sing or play something at his wedding, and I turned it down because I was busy and too much of a chicken shit to do it...And I feel sorry for that, because it was a very very close friend of mine..."
"So, I wanted to apologize to anyone that I've upset or offended.. they're just words, it's just an opinion, but unfortunately, I tend to express it as a fact, and that's kind of arrogant. Isn't it?"
"I think it's the betrayal...it still haunts me."
"I'm sorry for what I did back then... I was a different person. I really was and I'm so sorry. I wish it wouldn't have happened, but it did, and I'm sorry. Forgive me. I'm sorry..."
"I guess I'm simply sorry for being me and not you. I so often wish you could be here with me to show me the way..."
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.
"You're only as sick as your secrets, but the truth shall set you free..."
"The truth is the truth and the only thing you can do is to live with it."
6. Prophets Of War
[Music: Dream Theater / Lyrics: James LaBrie]
It burns deep down inside of me,
We have ourselves to blame.
Not questioning, accepted as the truth.
Debate this fight it's just cause
The facts do not support theirs
To liberate a people
And rid them of tyrant rule
Is it time to make a change?
Are we closer than before?
Can we help them break away?
Are we profiting from war?
It's time to make a change.
Intrigued
Got your attention - deceived
Since the inception - our brave
Fight for what reason
Compelled
Can we clean up this mess?
The loss of loved ones
A perverse request
They continue the same rhetoric
These derelicts that profit
Win or lose
Is it time to make a change?
Are we closer than before?
Can we help them break away?
Are we profiting from war?
It's time to make a change
Time for change
Fight the fear
Find the truth
Time for change
The only thing
That I believe
Will help us see this through is faith.
Pray they will forgive,
Forgive our arrogance,
So we can make it right,
Right what they have wronged.
See you sweat
Unexpected, controversial
Get used to it
Things are gonna get personal
Your sympathy
A pitiful display you stutter
Your empathy
Means nothing if there is no honor
Responsible
Of this you are incapable
We implicate
Incriminate - Exacerbate - Too much at stake
Our Fathers, Mothers
Sisters, Brothers
Sons and Daughters
Forced
Perpetuating their ideals
A mindless act
To stay the course
Is it time to make a change?
Are we closer than before?
Can we help them break away?
Are we profiting from war?
Is it time to make a change?
Are we closer than before?
Can we help them break away?
Are we profiting from war?
Is it time to make a change?
A change from what it's been
Can we help them break away?
Is our patience wearing thin?
It's time to make a change
Time for change
Fight the fear
Find the truth
Time for change
7. The Ministry Of Lost Souls
[Music: Dream Theater / Lyrics: John Petrucci]
The water's edge
Is where she waits
Lost soul still wandering
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
(a burden to my soul)
Is living in a worthless world
So I will call on you...
Remember me?
I gave you life
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 while direct you
Do you remember me this time?
Even in death I gave you life
I gave you life
I wanted to deserve a place
A place beside you
This time when I reached 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
8. In The Presence Of Enemies, Pt. 2
[Music: Dream Theater / Lyrics: John Petrucci]
[III. Heretic]
Welcome tired pilgrim
Into the circle
We have been waiting
Everyone's gathered
for your arrival
All the believers
Angels fall
all for you
heretic
Demon heart
bleed for us
I've been waiting for you,
Weary preacher man
You have been expected
Now we can begin
Let this hollowed Day of Judgment reign
I have known you father
And your sacred quest
Blessed soldier fighting
You shall never rest
I have known you but do you know me?
Angels fall
all for you
heretic
Demon heart
bleed for us
(My soul is yours Dark Master, I will fight for you)
Dark Master within, I will fight for you
Dark Master of sin, now my soul is yours
Dark Master, my guide, I will die for you
Dark Master inside…
I cannot see his face
But I could feel his spite
A presence from the dead
Abandoned by the light
This shadow will consume him
from within
This power that I sense
The rage behind those eyes
Is just a shrouded ghost
A spirit sealed inside
The body and the soul both threats
For they are one
Angels fall
all for you
heretic
Demon heart
bleed for us
(My soul is yours Dark Master, I will fight for you)
Dark Master within, I will fight for you
Dark Master of sin, now my soul is yours
Dark Master, my guide, I will die for you
Dark Master inside…
Dark Master, amen, I belong to you
Dark Master within…
Heil! Heil! Heil! Heil!
Heil! Heil! Heil! Heil!
[IV. The Slaughter of The Damned]
Don't
Bother trying to find them
They will be coming to you
Fight,
Fight and destroy until you can't take anymore
Slay
Spill the blood of the rebels
They are the children of hell
Flesh,
Of the undead
Stopping at nothing to kill
Sin,
Caught in a moment of weakness
Committed the greatest of all
Sold,
Half of my soul
And now it's too late for you
I judge us
my eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak of the beast
That lives in all of us
Unwelcome ones
your time has come
Lord,
You are my god and my shepherd
Nothing more shall I want
Walk,
Through the abyss
Into the shadow of death
Fear,
There is no evil to fear now
For I know you are with me
My,
Cup overflows
With my enemy's blood
I,
Decay in the house of the lord
Forever, amen
Death,
Will follow me
All the days of my life
I judge us
my eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak of the beast
That lives in all of us
Unwelcome ones
your time has come
Servants of the fallen
Fight to pave the way
For their savior's calling
On this wicked day
Through a veil of madness
With a vicious play
One man rises up
Standing in their way
It's time for your reckoning
[V. The Reckoning ]
[Instrumental]
[VI. Salvation]
My soul grows weaker
He knows and he waits
He watches over me
Standing at the infernal gates
In the hour of darkness
The moment I feared has passed
The moment I lost my faith
Promising salvation
My soul is my own now
I do not fight for you
Dark Master
