1. Edge of Forever- Just so hauntingly beautiful. Damnation Game is actually my favorite SymX album and maybe my favorite of all time. The "draped in a silken glow of moonlight" part brings tears to my eyes every time, and it's so hard not to sing along to that epic chorus. The only bad thing about it is the ugly guitar chords that come around after the "but there's no one there". Also, at the end, I can't tell whether he's saying "MY LOVE LIIIIIIVE AGAAAAAAIN" or "MY LOVE NEEEEVER DIIIIIES". Anyone know?
2. Evolution (The Grand Design)- That opening riff gets me every time. Not too much going on in the verse, but the prechorus and chorus are two of SymX's most powerful yet. Plus, the background vocals at the end are impossibly great
3. Lady of the Snow- The Japanese feel at the beginning is a little bit gimmicky and uncreative, but Russ's vocals redeem it all by being so amazing. The "Caaaaaptured....by the light of moon" part is just too amazing. The bassline is a little boring, but all in all, it's just too haunting and beautiful to pass up. Twilight in Olympus, being sandwiched between Divine Wings of Tragedy and V, gets way underrated (I actually like it better than Divine Wings but that's just my opinion). Church of the Machine almost made it on here, but there's some pretty stiff competition
4. Egypt- Probably Russ's best vocal performance. The "RIIIIIIIIISE MY MINIONS" section is so amazing words can barely describe it, and the bass solo that precedes it is nearly as great. I love the twist in the lyrics around the last chorus. Also a great keyboard song, especially the little part at the end. All in all, has some of the greatest performances from everyone but Michael Romeo. But every other SymX song is basically a way for him to show off his (undeniably awesome) shredding skills. I'm going with this one for the awesome chorus.
5. The Haunting- Here's a dark horse. Again, Damnation Game is my favorite album, and you can't beat the energy in this one. It was a close decision between "As the knife cuts to the vein, am I going insane? have I lost my mind?" and "arrival dressed to kill, it's a TRAGEEEDY! Could you feel sympathy or PAIN?" but I'm going with this one because the guitar riff is so much more creative than the boring 3/4 one in Dressed to Kill, and besides, the bridge is delightfully evil.
6. Domination- Good one for when I'm pissed off. The opening bass, the mosh-worthy guitar riffs, and the killer, if not standard Russ, vocals all contribute to this awesome motherfucker of a song. First song of their's I ever heard, and I immediately fell in love. I thought Paradise Lost was the best album I ever heard, but then I heard the rest. Just saying that Domination is probably their heaviest and can still incite me to headbang no matter how sad I am.
7. The Odyssey- This, of course. Way too much to take in in one listen, but I remember how well the piano part in Circe and the energy in Sirens stuck with me. I love The Odyssey (the book), so it makes sense that I love this and its epic orchestration. Of course, the music is far more impressive than the lyrics (long ago a legend spoke of a beast? ummmmm...no it didn't). Plus, why would you skip the Cicones, Lotus-Eaters, and Laestrygonians. And Aeolus's bag of winds was referenced in one line. ONE LINE! Still, awesome music and the guitar lead to the tune of Champion of Ithaca is pretty sick.
8. Paradise Lost- 3rd ballad on the list, but I really couldn't help myself. I think it's in 25/8 or something like that, but who gives a shit? It sounds awesome. Whereas Winter's Dream Prelude seems a little hacky and poppy, and Communion and the Oracle is a little bit jarring, this one just flows perfectly from beginning to end. The buildup of emotion, released every time he says the word "Paradise" does something I never thought possible - bring interest to biblical stories. Honestly, the guitar in the beginning seems a tad out of place, but it doesn't detract from the overall awesomeness.
9. Smoke and Mirrors- Love the bassline on this. I love Lepond, but Thomas Miller is still a genius (I actually think Michael Romeo wrote the line, idk). Plus, everything about this is new and original from a SymX standpoint. Of course, they've duplicated the sound of the bridge and prechorus a billion times by now, but it was so fresh and well-performed. I really wanted to put King of Terrors or the Turning on this list, but I think Smoke and Mirrors just has more going on overall.
10. Whispers- I'm prepared to argue with anyone who believes Whispers doesn't belong on this list. I won't fight them though, because they clearly don't have a heart. The harmonies may be schmaltzy (betcha didn't expect that word on a Symphony X forum), but Russ's vocals are too true. It may be a love ballad, but it's the most kickass love ballad ever.
Honorable Mention: Fallen- I wanted to put this on the list mostly because of the "VENGEANCE BY MY HAAAAAAAAND" right before the powerful chorus. Plus, the chorus riff is awesome. The only complaint I have is the gimmicky vocals in the "Thousands now join as one, be afraid" part.
Yeah, that's right, nothing off Divine Wings. Fight me.
