Dream Theater-Systematic Chaos (2007)

It's 2007, and Dream Theater were firmly established as the spearhead of progressive metal. That year, the band, led by John Petrucci and James LaBrie, along with Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess, and John Myung, released their ninth studio album, "Systematic Chaos", a work preceded by the phenomenal "Octavarium" from several years prior. While not a fully conceptual album, it explores recurring themes ranging from anti-war sentiment and science fiction to self-confessed vices. Undoubtedly, the most progressive tracks on the album are the expansive and instrumentally intricate "The Ministry of Lost Souls", a dark composition featuring an anthological performance by guitarist Petrucci, and the intriguing "In the Presence of Enemies Part 2", a progressive track divided into four sections with extraordinary work from the entire band. The rest of the album is comprised of intense, harrowing tracks like "In The Presence of Enemies Part 1", vigorous and accessible canvases like "Forsaken", powerful anti-war thrash metal like "Prophets of War", and Pink Floyd-influenced "Repentance". While not reaching the heights of works like "Images and Words", "Awake", "Metropolis Part 2 Scenes from a Memory", or "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence", with this release Dream Theater continued to explore their majestic progressive structures, sublimely fusing them with heavy metal and a magical, grandiose epic feel.