New Symphony X - Iconoclast

[Lowberg]

I'm listening to it for the first time right now, half way through it and loving it!
Definitely heavier and darker than their other stuff. Symphony X never seems to disappoint!

Anyone else really digging this?

 

[Felix Neumann]

I´m loving it! And the production is amazing, would call it perfect!

 

[colonel_claypoo]

never listened to this band before but I'm starting to like them after reading rave reviews about iconoclast.

 

[jarenare]

OMFG, the production blow me away! Any info on this? Amps used?

 

[Skinny Viking]

This disc is fuckin SLAMMIN!

 

[Lowberg]

Yeah its really fucking heavy for them. As far as the amps go, I know Romeo used to use ENGL Powerball on albums and Line 6 live, but I dont know anything about current gear. Sounds kind of like the power ball to me.

 

[Mago]

I hate that I love the album (we allready discussed that on FB Felix )

Production is amazing, best prog production ever for me. The drums, the bass, the guitars, the keys, the vocals, everything awesome.
Songwise I even expected more from SX though.
I think this album is better then Paradise Lost, there are more songs on it that I really like.
But riffs remind me of older SX stuff A LOT at places.
Normally I'd be pissed and would never listen to that album (see latest disturbed) but this one is just too awesome to skip.
Still pissed that they copy that much though.

Yeah its really fucking heavy for them. As far as the amps go, I know Romeo used to use ENGL Powerball on albums and Line 6 live, but I dont know anything about current gear. Sounds kind of like the power ball to me.

Booklet says it's been reamped by someone else, even if it was recorded by Romeo.

 

[Felix Neumann]

Yeah Mago! I agree in certain points! For old Symphony X fans it may be a little disapointed, but I think for Syx newbies it´s the perfect record to dive in the band´s music. They´re using their own trademarks very often, but in such a perfection that it isn´t not boring for one second...at least for me Though I get the point. I know all records of em, if this wouldn´t be the case, I´d enjoy It even more. Absolutely!

 

[Mago]

I know all records of em, if this wouldn´t be the case, I´d enjoy It even more.

Perfectly put Felix!
But yeah, still awesome album, love the SX'ish aggressiveness
Don't even have a favorite song, cause a lot of them are really great

 

[demirichris]

You guys think it's mostly powerball on the album? The guitars sound so solid state to me.

I like the album, but I think I still prefer paradise lost. Iconoclast sounds a bit like paradise lost 2.0 to me.

 

[Skinny Viking]

Booklet says it's been reamped by someone else, even if it was recorded by Romeo.

Eric Rachel at Trax East studio

He used to be their go-to guy for recording & mixing. I think he did everything up to "V"

 

[TonyS.]

I really love the album...but I also like the older stuffs, which are completly different. Almost my fav. band!

The production is killer again! I think Romeo did all the recordings, Eric Rache did the reamps and mix/master by Jens Bogren.

 

[Mr.Skull]

Loving the album. Although it definitely sounds like they just picked up right where the last one left off.

The production and mix are awesome, but I also wish the guitars were 'warmer'. I'm not convinced he used an Engl, nor any other tube amp. Romeo's rhythm riffing and tone has always reminded me of Dimebag...which is awesome, but C'MON MAN, GET A TUBE AMP.

 

[Chryst Krispies]

Just bought this yesterday. The mix is FUCKING UNREAL.

Michael Romeo is fucking out of hand on this disc. Really sick playing all over the place.

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

I keep hearing good things about this album. I'm not a fan but I may have to pick it up.

 

[Felix Neumann]

FUCKING UNREAL.

^THIS

Btw I seriously start to prefer the new album to the last one.

Perfectly put Felix!
But yeah, still awesome album, love the SX'ish aggressiveness
Don't even have a favorite song, cause a lot of them are really great

 

[aytchster]

It's a fine mix of Symphony X's usual elements and some new stuff introducing a bit of a new feel. Loving it!

Although I personally find myself disliking some songs at this point, I still think I'll start to appreciate them down the line.

It's always been the case to me that good prog isn't enjoyable to the fullest from the first few listens because there's just so much happening it almost gets intimidating to listen to .

My negative comment about it would be that the album has a "dry" feel to it, I feel like a lot more of a cinematic approach to the production could've come into place. I'm not talking about orchestrations, I'm actually happy there aren't many orchestrations on this record, BUT I do think it would've been topped off really nicely with some more texturing and coloring.

Hadi

 

[grywolf627]

... BUT I do think it would've been topped off really nicely with some more texturing and coloring.

Hadi

This. Throw some damn reverb on the snare for crying out loud! But other than that, this has to be my favorite SX release for quite some time. Everything....songwriting, performance, production, mix...is right there! Except for that snare. It's not BAD at all, just too dry, and generic sounding.

 

[TonyS.]

This. Throw some damn reverb on the snare for crying out loud! But other than that, this has to be my favorite SX release for quite some time. Everything....songwriting, performance, production, mix...is right there! Except for that snare. It's not BAD at all, just too dry, and generic sounding.

???? I love the snare/roomsound --> bam in da face!

 

[Mago]

???? I love the snare/roomsound --> bam in da face!

haha same here, I even think the snare is the favorite part of the mix for me