Although Dream Theater is one of my favorite bands, I don’t follow Dream Theater websites, news, or forums to learn about their upcoming releases; I like to be surprised once a year or so to stumble across a new album while browsing the music store. That’s how I came upon Systematic Chaos, their newest effort, earlier this week.

One thing I love about Dream Theater is that they know what they do well, and they tend to stick with it. Apart from a brief stray into slightly more “alternative rock” territory with 1997’s Falling Into Infinity, they’ve been plugging along almost since the beginning with their signature style: hard and surprisingly agile progressive metal. Albums filled with 10+ minute metal epics and long instrumental showing-off do not make for a lot of radio airplay, but if prog metal is your thing, nobody does it better.

Systematic Chaos does not buck this trend; right out of the gate they’re Doing Their Thing with “In the Presence of Enemies,” a 25-minute epic (spread across two tracks) with heavy guitars, symphonic pacing, and sweeping vocals to match any of their past half-hour pieces. The lyrics paint a picture of brooding and nebulous spiritual struggle–a bit grimmer and more theatrical than Dream Theater’s typical fare, but it works very well.

“Forsaken,” “Constant Motion,” and “The Ministry of Lost Souls” are all strong examples of Dream Theater’s style (although “Ministry” is the only one of the three that strikes me as particularly memorable). “Repentance” is a continuation of a piece from an earlier album, and is an extended reflection on regret and the need for forgiveness in our everyday lives. “Prophets of War” is a perhaps obligatory anti-war piece, but as with most of Dream Theater’s social-commentary songs, it gives the impression of reasoned passion rather than mindless anti-establishment rage. Lyrics throughout the album are interesting and mature. The songs are complex and reward multiple listens; on each subsequent listen, one can try to follow another of the many different interweaving song elements: guitars, drums, keyboards, vocals. Key changes, tempo shifts, and long instrumental interludes are everywhere.

All in all, Systematic Chaos is a great album. As you may have gathered, it’s a pretty typical Dream Theater album; if you like or dislike Dream Theater already, this album won’t change your mind. It’s Dream Theater doing what they do best. And judging by Systematic Chaos, they’re still at the top of their game.