Released: 1998
Style: Progressive Metal
1."Smoke and Mirrors" 6:08
2."Church of the Machine" 8:57
3."Sonata" (instrumental) Ludwig van Beethoven, Romeo 1:25
4."In the Dragon's Den" 3:58
5."Through the Looking Glass"
"Part I"
"Part II"
"Part III" 13:06
6."The Relic" 5:03
7."Orion - The Hunter" 6:56
8."Lady of the Snow" 7:07
Russell Allen โ lead vocals
Michael Romeo โ guitar, sitar, mini-harp, background vocals
Michael Pinnella โ keyboard, background vocals
Thomas Walling โ drums
Thomas Miller โ bass, background vocals
Review:
This Album by Symphony X is a masterpiece!
Ever have an album where every song is great and you don't mind listening to the ones you don't like as much as the others?
If not, then get this album and you sure will!
To start off, I'm new to Symphony X. I was looking for a band like Dream Theater; (Good) Progressive Metal, and Symphony X's name appeared everywhere, so I said eh, why not?
I listened to a few songs on The Odyssey and never really got into them (Until after I listened to this and got into their music and style). Then I tried this album and I was completely blown away! People who say Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite are better are dead wrong...This was my first album not the two aforementioned albums (If you read the other reviews, most say: "Good album, but new comers start with Divine Wings or V." I say that is COMPLETELY FALSE!) This album is the one you must start with
Now onto the actual review of the music itself:
The music on this album is mainly neo-classical metal mixed with great prog metal. When I first heard it, it was very original (Not that it still isn't) and the songs are just great.
Tracks:
1. "Smoke and Mirrors"- This track starts the album out rocking! The intro is very neo-classical and cool. Then you hear the main riff and then the song takes off. Great opener for this album.
2. "Church of the Machine"- This track is one of the top songs not only on this album, but of Symphony X's career! The intro is keyboards and then the cymbals are struck and Russell Allen's soaring vocals come in. Very good piece!
3. "Sonata"- This is an instrumental, It does give us a break from the madness for a minute and it's pretty. But it's naturally my least favorite track on the album! :p
4. "In the Dragon's Den"- As a drummer myself, I love this song's intro; a six-second speed metal drum fill. and this is the heaviest song on the album (Maybe Orion-the Hunter is a little heavier) but certainly a great song still. another top track from the album
5. "Through the Looking Glass"- For those of you who have heard "The Accolade" from The Divine Wings of Tragedy, this is similar but I like "The Accolade" better. Still a nice song and very entertaining.
6. "The Relic"- This song is tied with "Church of the Machine", "In the Dragon's Den", and "Orion-The Hunter" as my favorite of this album. In a similar style to "In the Dragon's Den", it's a fast, Neo-Classical Metal piece, but like all the other songs, it has a nice, melodic chorus (one of my fave features of all Symphony X songs (Until Paradise Lost))
7. "Orion-The Hunter"- Defiantly a heavier song, the main riff says it all...It's very heavy but I'd say a bit majestic at the same time...Another high point of this album
8. "Lady of the Snow"- A ballad, it's a pretty song. But at the same time, the music is kinda haunting. I must say that it is a brilliant song and ending to this masterpiece album.
Final Verdict: If you have never listened to this band before, then ignore the other reviews; GET THIS ALBUM 1st! If you have heard Symphony X before and have most albums but this one, then take a chance with this beauty. This is their best and I like the song diversity...GREAT, GREAT ALBUM! |
