Listening to Symphony X - Iconclast. Godly. Just godly. Love the title track, and though this one is so much heavier than past works, the song writing is just stellar and Russell Allen is just amazing as always. He truly steals the show.
Same here, although they did a remarkable job of keeping the album contained. I (gradually) got over my disdain for them which was brought on by their PL abortion -- Good thing I did too, I would have missed out.
I'm listening to the title track as I type and it's definitely epically proportionate, I don't think that chorus is among their best (FIGHT!! FIGHT!! FIGHT!!??), it's not too bad though.
I didn't grab the full album of course. I pre-ordered the 2-disc+t-shirt+picture set some weeks ago and wanna be somewhat surprised when I pop the CDs in...
Update: I typed that whole thing using my shitty PS3 keypad, I deserve a fucking medal!
It seems the loving crowd over in the SX (no I'm not abbreviating it as "SyX" or "SymX", fuck off) forums are pretty much "meh" at best about the full album. Yeah it's a sucking shame that they've all but cast off the "Symphony" in their namesake and are merely "X" now as Det. CB put it. (props man!) but somehow I dig it.
I'm glad that Pinnella isn't completely buried in this album, his keys really bring that much-needed atmosphere especially in the loudness-war inspired production. I have far more good to say about this album than bad but I'll just leave it here for now. By the way, "Light Up the Night" owns faces! So here's to Heavy X!
As for my "Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy" follow-up, yup I was hasty based on sampling some songs from the album. "Eyes of Fire" is one of the most fucking amazing fucking songs they've ever motherfucking written.
But the lyrics make me wanna punch through a car window and fistfuck myself as there's far too many Strato-esque moments in the album where Nils is practically saying shit like "believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything", I'm surprised Fred Rogers wasn't listed in the thank-you's for the lyrical inspiration. Lyrics is one of the last things I care a lot about but this is damn near Care Bear shit. Follow Your Way is an exception though as it's another personal favourite with a very atmospheric and vocally amazing chorus.
I'll digress now... It's a solid album and unmistakeably Pagan's Mind, but stripped down, more melodic, and more accessible.
Here are my top 3 picks:
- Eyes of Fire
- Follow Your Way
- Never Walk Alone