Can anyone tell me about Symphony X ?

[SoundMaster]

I d/l a few samples this weekend & liked what I heard. I heard samples from their (I think) most recent record "Odyssey". I'd understood that they were a "progressive" band (but progress is always in the ear of the beholder) but the samples reminded more of straight-forward metal with little wankery.

In fact, the guitar tone/sound was not far removed from the late Dimebag's work in Pantera. There were also some "Yngwie-esque" sweeps.

And contrary to typical ultra-feminine prog and flower-metal vocals, the singer actually had a rich, deep, emotional voice.

Is this band worth investigating?

 

[Wyvern]

Many here will give you a better panorama.

I heard their three first albums and didn't like any. Up to this day I keep skipping this band. The singer is one of the best in business, but as a band is not my cup of tea.

 

[Hawk]

Well, they are my second favorite band. YES they are worth investigating! Hard heavy and at times with great "wankery" and odd time changes.

Guitarist Mike Romeo is one talented dude and their singer Russel Allen is fantastic. Their music leans heavy on classical themes and their lyrics make use of mythology.

Their real strength is that they can do all of this without losing any power.
I would recommend their latest "The Odyssey" and "The Divine Wings of Tragedy.

Btw they also deliver live, I have seen them 4 times and each time they were better. Especially Russel Allen is very good live.

Thus; should you check them out? Yes, yes and yes!

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

Well, we have Wyvern on one side of the fence and Hawk on the other. I'm gonna straddle that fence.

Although I am not a huge Symphony X fan, it isn't because they aren't an incredibly talented band. I'm not a huge power metal fan, and Dream Theater never really wiggled my willie either. For those two reasons, I have only one Symphony X album (V) and decided to stop collecting there. (On the rare occasions where I'm in a SX mood, V will suffice.)

SX is definitely a progressive band. They often change time signatures and their pacing ranges from bombastic mid-tempo symphonic sections (ala Savatage) all the way up to the blasting double-bass drum beats of traditional power metal. They do have kind of a muffled guitar tone, and their speedy, "scootching"-style riffs remind me of Dream Theater.

The singer is superb, and the supporting band is more than talented enough wow you with their skills. I wouldn't shy away from them completely as Wyvern suggested, just because if you do end up liking SX, you'll probably end up LOVING them.

If you like or can tolerate speedy power metal, you should be good to go. If you are a fan of Dream Theater, you should be good to go. If you like Savatage, parts of SX will moisten yer shorts. If you like all of the above, don't hesitate any longer. Just buy one of their albums and enjoy.

 

[sixxswine]

I like the Odyssey record, it probably their most accessable record. I have heard others, but I didn't much like them. I think they have developed into something great & look forward to their new record. I would highly recommend Odyssey...

 

[JonnyD]

Is this band worth investigating?

YES! Get Odyssey! Alll you fuckers Get Odyssey! it is one of the best albums I have ever heard .... and it IS their Best record!!!! Get it GET IT GET IT!!!!

 

[Igor_Cavalera]

Amazing band!
Get "The Odyssey" as soon as you can
Then if you love it (which you will, hehe) get "The Divine Wings Of Tragedy" then "V" and eventually all of them except possibly the self titled..

Brilliant vocals, brilliant guitar work and some nice drum work too. They play very emotional, well written songs which show off the many many tallents these guys have. I highly recommend them!

 

[delize]

I recommend the Odyssey. It's just a wonderful album. I don't have any of their other albums.

 

[wdiv]

DEFINATELY one of the best bands to come about in the past decade!
Odyssey, V, and Divine Wings are all ESSENTIALs.
Incredible guitar work, powerful vocalist, with a great "progressive" rythym section.

I don't think that Dream Theater is a fair comparison, since SyX has a much more consistent, aggressive, interesting sound than Dream Theater who tends to bore me frequently.

 

[Bryant]

Great responses by our professionals here at oldschool. There isn't much I can add, but I will put in my $0.03

It is very fair to call SX "Prog" but I think they also have a very big "neoclassical" style to them. I suppose "neoclassical" in itself is a subgenre of "prog" but in many ways SX takes older Yngwie to new levels. I don't mean that as far as solo composition, but more song composition (if you are a musician.)
If you like ballads, you have come to the right place. Russell Allen is a very gifted vocalist singing all of their material, but when he does the softer stuff, he is absolutely incredible. The title track and second movement to the song "The Odyssee" showcases his ability as does a song from the previous release entitled "The Accolade II." I really enjoy the band and one of the few negatives I can say about them is the lack of power in the guitar. The very gifted Micheal Romeo plays a lot of single notes in his rythm as opposed to using many powerful chords that nail you to the floor. I still enjoy his playing tremendously, but the lack of "knock your dick in the dirt" power from their guitar sound and style keeps them from being played over and over again in succession.


Bryant

 

[MetalAges]

One of my fav Metal bands, period. While they fall into the "progressive" genre it is unfair to dismiss them as one of those boring Prog bands. At times they are very power driven. The only album I DON'T like is the first S/T album. Every album after that is high thumbs up in my book. I would start with Odyssey and work your way back.

 

[SoundMaster]

OK, so picked up "Odyssey" based on the number of glowing reviews from the folks on this board. I've listened to it about 6 times through.


First impressions:
- great production. Each instrument is clearly heard.
- good vocals, but not a great as expected.
- the first 6 songs friggin' kick ass! The band seems to encompass many
genres of metal. It's got it all!

I really like all of the songs with the exception of the 25 minute-long song.
Basically, it represents everything that's wrong with most prog bands. It's the curse that makes Dream Theater suck as much as they do. It's as if they sacrificed song-making for the sake of simply piecing together various 'parts'. It's like a musical frankenstrein. Take some pieces, throw them together quickly & label it an "epic". Nonsense.

With that said, I think I shall explore their back catalogue.

I ALSo picked up a CD from a British prog band named Threshold. The disc is "Subsurface" and is totally awesome!! GREAT songwriting!! Great sense of melody & hooks!

 

[Hawk]

I ALSo picked up a CD from a British prog band named Threshold. The disc is "Subsurface" and is totally awesome!! GREAT songwriting!! Great sense of melody & hooks!

Too bad you don't like the last songs of the Symphony X Album.
And Threshold simply RULE!! They have a pretty big catalog so you'll be have some discovering to do.

 

[wdiv]

I really like all of the songs with the exception of the 25 minute-long song.
Basically, it represents everything that's wrong with most prog bands. It's the curse that makes Dream Theater suck as much as they do. It's as if they sacrificed song-making for the sake of simply piecing together various 'parts'. It's like a musical frankenstrein. Take some pieces, throw them together quickly & label it an "epic". Nonsense.

As a counterpoint, I think that the Odyssey (song) is a great epic piece, which flows seamlessly. I think it's the pinnacle of the cd.

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

I really like all of the songs with the exception of the 25 minute-long song.
Basically, it represents everything that's wrong with most prog bands. It's the curse that makes Dream Theater suck as much as they do. It's as if they sacrificed song-making for the sake of simply piecing together various 'parts'. It's like a musical frankenstrein. Take some pieces, throw them together quickly & label it an "epic". Nonsense.

Did you try out Shadow Gallery? They're a little less speedy in tempo than SX, but they have all the songwriting talent without so much of the wink-wonk, diddle-daddle of the traditional instrumental prog metal. Their album Tyranny might just wet yer willlie.

 

[MetalAges]

I agree get Shadow Gallery 'Tyranny' album, one of my all time fav albums! I also agree about Threshold, killer band. Extinct Instinct, Psychedelicatessan and Hypothetical are my favs from them (and happen to have a different singer on each of those albums no less).

 

[Hawk]

Shadow Gallery are also excellent! They have been picked up by the Inside-Out label. At the moment they are working on a new album. Makes me impatient to even think about it.

So how are you Deron? Great to see you pop in now and then.

 

[JonnyD]

I really like all of the songs with the exception of the 25 minute-long song.
Basically, it represents everything that's wrong with most prog bands. It's the curse that makes Dream Theater suck as much as they do. It's as if they sacrificed song-making for the sake of simply piecing together various 'parts'. It's like a musical frankenstrein. Take some pieces, throw them together quickly & label it an "epic". Nonsense.

I like the Epic ..... But I must disagree with the reasons why you think DT sucks ... for me DT is so terrible because they have all the potential to be the BEST Metal band ever With exception to Lebrei he is a douche but they Squander it on Sappy crap the only really great song they did was "Pull me Under" IMHO