Artist of the Month:Systematic Chaos Comes from Metal Band Dream TheaterPublished December 1, 2007 At A Glance
"We aren't part of what's on MTV or what's in Rolling Stone," says Mike Portnoy, drummer of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. "We haven't succumbed to trying to be what is popular, because usually that stuff passes within a year or two. But what we've done and continue to do has been on our own terms, so Dream Theater strikes a chord with young musicians and rock fans all around the world, and that's what has sustained us."
Dream Theater has been putting out great albums for years. The New York-based quintet, featuring Portnoy on drums, John Petrucci on guitar, John Myung on bass, Jordan Rudess on keyboards, and James LaBrie as vocalist, has just released its ninth album, Systematic Chaos, and it's pure, uncompromising, progressive metal at its best. According to Portnoy, the record's title "describes the sound of our music, which is methodical and meticulous on one hand, but on the other is acrobatic and abstract." Systematic Chaos takes rock and metal to epic extremes, from the Pantera-esque "The Dark Eternal Night" portraying the battle between a heroic protagonist and a demonic antagonist, to "The Ministry of Lost Souls," reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." Every track features the kind of demanding musicianship that has landed each instrumentalist in the band the long-term respect of peers.
Dream Theater's latest release, Systematic Chaos. From the beginning, when the band debuted with When Dream And Day Unite, Petrucci notes, "Our initial purpose and sound hasn't really strayed from when we got together. As a metal band, we've taken elements of music that aren't deemed cool by younger people into a more modern light. If there's anything we did on this record on purpose, it was that we left out more sensitive, softer material." Now in its twenty-second year, Dream Theater finds itself on a new label, Roadrunner Records, with their sound still enhanced by the same grit, single-minded determination, and independence that has set the band apart from the pack. "You can't compromise with the type of music that we play and the relationship we have with the fans," Petrucci noted. "The integrity factor always has to be there, otherwise people see right through it." With truly progressive tracks, deft and uncompromising musicianship, a dogged touring schedule that has blown minds and developed a devoted worldwide fanbase, and a brand-new release that continues to showcase the capabilities of Dream Theater, we're proud to have them as our Artist of the Month. Make sure to check them out! |
