Symphony X- Paradise Lost

Syx (6) listens in, I absolutely love this album, and I'm far from the biggest SyX fan. I'm a riff man, but I'm not a big fan of the fast "scootchy" riffs of most modern speedier prog/power metal. I prefer the slower, more grooving riffs, mid-tempo. Like Sabbath. Then Savatage. And Therion. This album has a lot more of that.

In a way, this album reminds me of Savatage - Poets and Madmen, in that it is a total riff-fest. If you don't like the current riff, just wait a minute and a new groove awaits. They are packing a buttload of really cool hooks into each song. Seamlessly blended. Brilliant songwriting, IMO.

Not quite as great as Gothic Kabbalah, but a definite top-5 contender for album of the year for me.
 
I've listened to the new SX about a half dozen times. And I have to say, it's grown stronger for me with each listen. And I have to say, the title track, may be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Not quite as great as Gothic Kabbalah, but a definite top-5 contender for album of the year for me.
Hmmm... I passed over this pretty quickly. Revisiting... now.

Zod
 
Anybody else think that MJR slacked off on some of his solos? By slacked off, I mean that for many he seemed to just ... pull from what he's done in the past. Scale run after scale run at insane speed and accuracy. But... some of his other solos seemed really good. I don't know. I think that's the only thing holding this back. It has the best vocals and the best harmonies that I've heard from them.
 
Anybody else think that MJR slacked off on some of his solos? By slacked off, I mean that for many he seemed to just ... pull from what he's done in the past. Scale run after scale run at insane speed and accuracy. But... some of his other solos seemed really good. I don't know. I think that's the only thing holding this back. It has the best vocals and the best harmonies that I've heard from them.


The only thing I think, is that you are out of your F'n mind! Are you just looking for something to hate about PL? Listen to the last 3-4 DT cds and tell us if you fell the same way....
 
The only thing I think, is that you are out of your F'n mind! Are you just looking for something to hate about PL? Listen to the last 3-4 DT cds and tell us if you fell the same way....

Not looking for anything to hate man. Its just how some of the sections of the songs came across to me. I think its more that there are parts about MJR's soloing that I really like, and parts that I don't. And the parts that I don't like tend to be the sections when he plays really fast. Not that I'm against playing fast. But I'll pick up this album and listen to it more and see what I think about it.
 
Anybody else think that MJR slacked off on some of his solos? By slacked off, I mean that for many he seemed to just ... pull from what he's done in the past. Scale run after scale run at insane speed and accuracy. But... some of his other solos seemed really good. I don't know. I think that's the only thing holding this back. It has the best vocals and the best harmonies that I've heard from them.
I'm not a guitar player. Perhaps if I was, and if you're correct, this would be more obvious to me. However, if someone came to me and said, "What should I check out by Michael Romeo?" The new disc is the one I'd hand them. Every aspect of his play, from his tone, to his rhythms, to his solos, is just jaw-dropping.

Zod
 
So...it's a DT vs SX reference l see. Geez...and coming from a SX forum Mod even. :rolleyes:

STRICTLY an example:Smug: . Don't read too much into it. Perhaps since he posts to the FK forum, I should have used Mattias instead. Just looking at another guitar player who has a VERY defined style, who's "style" doesn't vary as much, but continuously produces outstanding ways to use it. I'm a fan of all 3 guitar players, and if you've read ANY of my previous posts on ANY of the forums, you'd know I *HATE* who's better/best/vs threads.
Quit trying to start shit! :heh: I have enough of that on that other forum!
 
Quit trying to start shit! :heh: I have enough of that on that other forum!

Wasn't trying to start it...just heading it off at the pass....and you're absolutely correct on the other forum. Especially the dwellers there that want to dominate/hijack threads with childish quips and rarely ,if ever , adding any substance.

Similar to what Jack said once..."That place needs an enema".

Good luck
 
I've listened to the new SX about a half dozen times. And I have to say, it's grown stronger for me with each listen. And I have to say, the title track, may be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Hmmm... I passed over this pretty quickly. Revisiting... now.

Zod
Opposite reaction in a way .... didn't listen to it at all today. It needs to sit for a few days ... then we'll see if something calls me back or not.

All in all it's quite good ... just not in the mood for them right now for some reason. There's lot of good tunes, but not one I could find that had me wanting to play it over and over.

Symphony X takes time for me to fully get into on occasion, so perhaps that will be the case again with this new one.

Britt
 
LOL, well, I'd say you need to hear Repentance. And pay attention to everything on it. I wouldn't say replacement.
I made it 5 or 6 minutes into that tune .. then it bored me to tears. I like the first few minutes, but then it went onto Pink Floyd mode or something, and totally bored me for a few minutes. I think the disc is pretty decent overall .. I liked a few cuts.

Britt
 
I think Symphony X may have just made the best album of their career. The only thing preventing me from saying that at this point is DWoT (the song), and even then, I still like Paradise Lost better as an entire album.

Gotta love the fans who whine about "evil Russ." This is Paradise Lost. He sings from the perspective of Satan/Lucifer at times, so of course he's going to sound more gritty. Grow a pair and enjoy. :p That being said, the title track is definitely one of their best ballads ever. What an emotive vocal performance by Russ at the end. :notworthy
 
The comments on this album are making me drool all over myself uncontrollably, haha. Something tells me this record has been worth the agonizing wait for it. I MUST HEAR THIS!!!! All Hail SYMPHONY X!!!