Symphony X - The Odyssey
2002 - Inside Out
By Gaz
/covers/symphx_odyssey.jpg
The Odyssey is Symphony X's 5th studio album and the follow up to last years double concert set Live On the Edge Of Forever. Ive been a fan of theirs since their watershed 3rd release, The Divine Wings Of Tragedy, which many consider to be one of the best albums of its genre. The following 2 discs failed to ignite the spark that Divine Wings... had generated and I began to lose interest in the band.
Are Symphony X really a progressive band or are they content to release the same stuff over and over ? The Odyssey doesnt give us any clear answers, but gives hints that they are ready to do something a little different.
The most immediate thing is Michael Romeos guitar, which is pretty upfront in the mix, for most the keyboards and left in the background. Russ Allens voice is as powerful as ever and angry on songs like King Of Terrors. Throughout the album, Allen uses his amazing voice to great effect in many different ways, from opener Inferno (Unleash The Fire), where he uses an almost deep growl.
There is less neo-classical sounds on The Odyssey, whether its deliberate or not, Romeos solos are less speed and more on the melodic side than ever. The albums best moment is saved to last, the epic title track, 24 minutes of glorious progressive metal, perhaps the best thing the band has ever done, throwing in everything but the kitchen sink.
Perhaps not the best Symphony X album, certainly not the worst, but perhaps lacking in memorable songs and the bands once trademark harmony vocals all but gone. One of those albums and bands that you get the feeling that they are capable of doing much better.
7.5/10
2002 - Inside Out
By Gaz
/covers/symphx_odyssey.jpg
The Odyssey is Symphony X's 5th studio album and the follow up to last years double concert set Live On the Edge Of Forever. Ive been a fan of theirs since their watershed 3rd release, The Divine Wings Of Tragedy, which many consider to be one of the best albums of its genre. The following 2 discs failed to ignite the spark that Divine Wings... had generated and I began to lose interest in the band.
Are Symphony X really a progressive band or are they content to release the same stuff over and over ? The Odyssey doesnt give us any clear answers, but gives hints that they are ready to do something a little different.
The most immediate thing is Michael Romeos guitar, which is pretty upfront in the mix, for most the keyboards and left in the background. Russ Allens voice is as powerful as ever and angry on songs like King Of Terrors. Throughout the album, Allen uses his amazing voice to great effect in many different ways, from opener Inferno (Unleash The Fire), where he uses an almost deep growl.
There is less neo-classical sounds on The Odyssey, whether its deliberate or not, Romeos solos are less speed and more on the melodic side than ever. The albums best moment is saved to last, the epic title track, 24 minutes of glorious progressive metal, perhaps the best thing the band has ever done, throwing in everything but the kitchen sink.
Perhaps not the best Symphony X album, certainly not the worst, but perhaps lacking in memorable songs and the bands once trademark harmony vocals all but gone. One of those albums and bands that you get the feeling that they are capable of doing much better.
7.5/10
