SYMPHONY X: Paradise Lost

Choice Of The Month July 2007
Cover	Release	Style
	2007-06-25	progressive metal
	Label
	www.insideout.de / www.spv.de
	Website
	www.symphonyx.com
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	61:06	IOMCD 259 / SPV 79252 CD
	Review by / Translated by	Rating
	Vera	9,5/10
nederlands	Review
Cut the cackle and come to the horses: this is the best album Symphony X ever made. Fortuitously (?) their heaviest and darkest as well. It may be due to the theme – the album is based on the novel of John Milton about the Fall of Man – or maybe Symphony X just canalized all its creativity after the release of ‘The Odyssey’ – we are talking about an album that saw the light of day in 2002 – to come up with a real stunner now. Actually from the very outset with the bombastic prelude called ‘Oculus Ex Inferni’ everything is grand: illustrious choirs herald the drawing near calamity. It sends shivers down your spine. The band is not deterred of this gloomy mood at all, for the following tracks all showcase a refreshing approach in the neo-classical metal genre, by their raucous vocals, heroic structure and accessible choruses. Can it be we even hear some proper thrash riffs interwoven through the music? It soon becomes clear that ‘Set The World On Fire’ and ‘Domination’ do not yield in complexity with Dream Theater. The latter one has some high shriek vocals in Rob Halford style. In ‘The Walls Of Babylon’ this is even more featured. For the rest vocals even remind me of Dio in some tracks. And isn’t he the best rock vocalist of all times? Symphony X does not restrict themselves to classical heavy metal influences. The vocals in ‘Serpent’s Kiss’ would fit on any Amorphis album. Again and again we can enjoy incredible duels between guitarist Michael Romero and keyboardist Michael Pinnella, that’s why the fans should not fear that Symphony X has deviated too much from their original genuine style. A real stunner on this album is ‘Seven’, leaving nothing to imagination, with its combination of strong vocal-lines and amazing instrumental skills. It just blows you away! Our beloved Americans add some dark choirs and incidental eastern influences, without affect the general penchant of their compositions. Even the ballads are not just common tearjerkers; you really get a genuine feeling of sadness. The piano ballad ‘Paradise Lost’ is top notch class and ‘The Sacrifice’ creates a bridge with vocalist Russell Allen’s work with Jorn Lande. Symphony X has realized very well that they had to come up with superb material during the upcoming tour with Dream Theater in autumn. They completely succeeded! It will leave you in awe and it is a merited album of the month. For fast deciders it includes a DVD with exclusive live material. We are not talking about a support act here, but a very special guest during the Dream Theater tour!
Musicians
Russell Allen: vocals Michael Romeo: guitars Michael Lepond: bass Michael Pinnella: keyboards Jason Rullo: drums
Tracklist
Oculus Ex Inferni (2:33) Set The World On Fire (5:54) Domination (6:29) Serpent’s Kiss (5:02) Paradise Lost (6:32) Eve Of Seduction (5:03) The Walls Of Babylon (8:15) Seven (7:00) The Sacrifice (4:49) Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia) (9:17) Special Digipack with bonus DVD (exclusive for Europe): 50 minutes King Of Terrors in Paris Out Of The Ashes in Paris Dressed To Kill in Tokyo In The Dragon’s Den in Tokyo Inferno in Milan Evolution in Madrid The Odyssey – Part II in Hollywood The Odyssey – Part V & VI in Hollywood Smoke And Mirrors in Hollywood Of Sins And Shadows during Gigantour USA
Discography


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