Complete SymX noob

[DoomsdayZach]

i got into symphony x through the metal blade website. I've never listened to more than one dt song here and there. I hate dream theater, always have, always will.

In fact, i remember a friend of mine bought a change of seasons used and we listened to it and just went "what the fuck is so special about this?" and turned it off after a few minutes and eventually they sold it. What a fucken waste of air that band is.

 

[EyeballKid]

it seems the people are spilling out of the DT thread already, without it even being closed...

 

[DoomsdayZach]

i don't visit the dt thread because they are balls. it was simply a response to Lorem's post, but you got one in the way. And my quote button is broken.

 

[EyeballKid]

haha, sorry 'bout that Zach. And I think equating DT to balls is a very good description.

 

[DoomsdayZach]

haha, sorry 'bout that Zach. And I think equating DT to balls is a very good description.

Because proulxski likes both?

 

[Detective Clarence Beauregard]

Because proulxski likes both?

 

[Amirite]

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it. Probably gonna go out and pick up Divine Wings of Tragedy (or iTunes it if i get lazy), but I'm still not sure yet.

ps- The DT forums are one of the main reasons I started looking for more bands...there's only so much pissing and moaning about a band one man can take. So you guys win the forum battle, for sure.

 

[Kenneth R.]

hehe...I'd say DT is prog metal, whereas Symph X is power-prog metal. But I'd recommend The Odyssey or V first

One is good and the other was good. That's all there is to say.

 

[dparker88]

Whoever recommended against The Damnation Game... die!

Great album. Not the best, but awesome nonetheless.

 

[Sabin17]

The problem with recommending SX albums is....well it's like ranking your kids. I can never find a proper placement with PL in terms of the rest of their discography, and I feel that I'll put other albums of theirs at a disservice if I place PL above them. But I don't want to discourage people from listening to a band's latest release as it's a good place to begin (usually).

If your coming from the Dream Theater-scape of music, a possible album progression would go:

Divine Wings --> Twilight in Olympus --> The Odyssey --> Anything goes from there.

Damnation Game rocks; Edge of Forever, Dressed to Kill, A Winter's Dream, Whispers, all FANTASTIC prog songs. V is great too.

Bah, the consistency in their music (post-Tyler, of course)!

 

[CttN]

DG just isn't one of my favourites. I love listening to it, but the other albums hook me in much further.

 

[EyeballKid]

DG just isn't one of my favourites. I love listening to it, but the other albums hook me in much further.

Yeah, I agree completely. It's a great album, but the overall feel is disjointed, whereas each other SX album as a specific "feel" prominent throughout.

I still think Dressed to Kill and Edge of Forever are two of the best SX songs of all time.

 

[Ultroniar]

I'll agree with the consensus. Divine Wings of Tragedy is the best one to start with. From there though is really up to you. I feel Divine Wings is their most rounded, showcasing neo-classical elements, prog elements, heavier songs, an epic long song and a couple of nice ballad style songs. There is no weak song and this is probably the most accessible to new listeners, while still giving an over all idea of the bands style.

After that I'd go for The Odyssey because it is one step below their heaviest and has the greatest song ever written on it (title track). That, or go for V for the most prog/melodic album. Really it depends which you are into heavy metal or melodic metal. But if you like one album, you'll like the other.

Then it's up to you - I'd probably go for Paradise Lost but only really because it's the newest (and the more copies bought, the better); Twilight in Olympus and The Damnation Game are equally as good. The debut is excellent, but production isn't as good and I'm just not a big fan of Rod (the original singer).

But in case you think my ordering here has anything to do with quality it doesn't - first of all, all 6 albums with Russell are in my top 6 of all time, and the debut is in my top 10. And even though I'm recommending it as the 4th one to get, PL is my favourite - but it's not the best for a first time listener.

 

[squidfetish]

I got into SX through DT too. And yes, a lot of people I know like both too.
I'd say Divine Wings of Tragedy (that's where I started), Odyssey or Paradise Lost, but ... let's face it.... you'll probably buy the whole back catalogue once you get into it anyway. Just avoid the self-titled one like someone said.
SX is a bit more power-metally and symphonic than DT, but it PWNS just as much in my view. Welcome to a whole new world of awesome sounds!!

 

[bolivershagnasty]

I recommend V for your first listen. It is aggressive and melodic with great chorus'. It's the first one I bought and I was instantly hooked!
Stay away from the self titled one.

 

[Setsu]

*itching to retort against ACOS being hated*

I'd say start with anything other than the self titled album.

 

[Lucidity]

Heh.. I love Damnation Game but would say Divine or V would be the best to start with.

Paradise Lost and Odyssey after that.

 

[MnoruS]

The explanation to SX board's fixation with Dream Theater is the penis envy, that DT is the bigger band.

A similar situation is found with Metallica and Megadeth. Metallica boards barely mind Megadeth, while Megadeth boards constantly have something about how Metallica sucks.

 

[CttN]

But Metallica does suck.

 

[anacrucix]

I'm gonna jump in just for the sake of playing devil's advocate and say:

TWILIGHT IN OLYMPUS!

its a good album but i had to cut the intro off church of the machine, now it just takes like 2 seconds to fade in instead of a minute, much better.