What do you think about Iconoclast?

[Prismatic Sphere]

^Interesting. I've always thought that the instrumental section after the hymn part was awesome. Starting with the chimes, and then hearing each individual part come in one at a time, adding to a larger whole. It seems so magical every time I listen to it, and it's sad to realize that something like that may never again be part of their music.

Agreed.

And if those who state that Iconoclast has more consistency due to nearly every song sounding the same(like an AC/DC record[though more complex]), then I also agree.

 

[Detective Clarence Beauregard]

Taking Divine Wings for example, the album that many SX fans proclaim as "The Greatest Prog/Neoclassical Metal Album Ever", I would personally compare it to biting into a peanut M&M if you're allergic to peanuts. On one end you've got the outer layer of chocolate in Of Sins and Shadows, Sea of Lies, and Out of the Ashes. All 3 are very good songs. Then you get to The Accolade which is of course great, but for some reason I feel it should end after the "hymn-like chant" section. The last 3 minutes or so just feel rather unnecessary and it makes the song drag on for longer than it should. Whenever it comes up on my Ipod I typically end up shutting it off right after the second chorus. From that outro onward is where the peanut comes in. The next 3 songs just scream filler for me. Some are better than others, but none leave a real lasting impression on me. But then we get to the other side of the M&M with the chocolate once more, in the form of the title track and Candlelight Fantasia.

Hilarious, as I happen to be snacking on peanuts right now.

While I agree that tracks 5, 6, and 7 are filler (not Medusa as much) when compared to the rest of the album, you'll be hard-pressed to find many who dislike any part of The Accolade. I think the hymn part in the middle can get a bit boring sometimes, but in the end I think it showcases the diversity they used to have wonderfully.

I've always thought that the instrumental section after the hymn part was awesome. Starting with the chimes, and then hearing each individual part come in one at a time, adding to a larger whole. It seems so magical every time I listen to it, and it's sad to realize that something like that may never again be part of their music.

It's one of Symphony X's defining moments, in my opinion. One of the most beautiful things they've ever recorded.

 

[Marwen]

Romeo said in an interview that the next album will be different from PL and Iconoclast.

He did? Cool. I did think they'd do something different now.

It's one of Symphony X's defining moments, in my opinion. One of the most beautiful things they've ever recorded.

Totally agreed.

 

[UnholyCrusada]

He did? Cool. I did think they'd do something different now.

Yeah. Here's just a quick excerpt from it:

Other than 'Fuck you, it's my music!', what would you say to those who are apparently rather disappointed with the new direction of your music since Paradise Lost? Those who prefer more of your 'neoclassical' era, as one might say. Why have you decided to do this?

I mean, I don't think it's that different. It's really not, it's just a little heavier but I think it just has a lot to do with the concept of the records. Like the last album Paradise Lost, just the theme itself is a little darker and the riffs needed to be a little heavier and with this album, it's a man vs. machine thing so it's a little aggressive, a little abrasive. Every album is different, you know?. I think if we do the same thing over and over… (pauses) We try not to repeat ourselves. Obviously there are some records that's a little more progressive, there are some that are neoclassical, there are some that are a little more metal and heavier and the next album will be different, too. It might be really progressive or it might be this or that, but to me it’s not like we’ve changed anything drastically.

The last couple albums may be a little more guitar driven and that’s what I grew up with. I grew up with Sabbath, Maiden and Priest… You know, Pantera and stuff. Those were always my influences anyway, so I think the subject matter of the last couple albums being darker and heavier, lends itself to that. And a lot of times as an album grows on some people, I think their perception changes. Maybe at first they’re like “Oh man, that's so heavy” and so on… But there are some progressive things on the new record. For instance, the first song on the album, it’s a long song and there’s some shit in there, you know?

If you compare let’s say Dehumanized to The Turning, obviously you can make a really clear distinction between the two. So if people refer to your older albums as neoclassical and progressive and as you say Iconoclast is heavier, could you put a tag on it? What’s this new formula of yours?

I don’t think about any genre and we’ve always been a metal band. This is… As I said every album’s gotta be different. There’s some neoclassical on Iconoclast. Some songs that have that influence and the progressive thing has always been there. I think depending on what we’re trying to say with a record with the lyrics and all that. Like the song The Odyssey, it needs to be this big epic, thing. So for Paradise Lost, we didn’t really need anything like that. Maybe the next record will be something like that. Some kind of big epic… who knows?

 

[Harris The Epic]

But there are some progressive things on the new record. For instance, the first song on the album, it’s a long song and there’s some shit in there, you know?

That's exactly how I'd describe Iconoclast song.

 

[donKyle]

I can't help but laugh at the "there's some shit in there" part. lmao

 

[AsoTamaki]

As far as my comments about re-recording a track or two from Damnation Game, I wasn't talking about the proggier tunes, but rather songs like the title track and Dressed To Kill. These are heavy, hard-hitting songs that aren't terribly different from the more recent style of the band. I definitely think a re-recording of The Edge of Forever or A Winter's Dream, for example, would kill the charm. And yes, I'm sure with their style as of late, Romeo would destroy these songs buy adding more rhythm guitar parts, burying the bass in the mix. No one wants that.

Alright, yeah. They should definitely draw some attention to their older, heavier songs. I wouldn't mind live bonus tracks, but if they are going to actually re-record something in studio, it needs to be "Absinthe and Rue".

 

[Harris The Epic]

I can't help but laugh at the "there's some shit in there" part. lmao

You can't fathom just how much the words "some shit" can encompass.

 

[Postulate]

Then you get to The Accolade which is of course great, but for some reason I feel it should end after the "hymn-like chant" section. The last 3 minutes or so just feel rather unnecessary and it makes the song drag on for longer than it should. Whenever it comes up on my Ipod I typically end up shutting it off right after the second chorus.

Why would you do that?

I literally have nothing bad to say about The Accolade. I am always finding new things to love about it.

 

[Prismatic Sphere]

I didn't and do not think that there is any filler or bad songs on any SX albums pre-PL(not counting the debut). DG and Divine Wings each only had really one song that wasn't up to par with the rest of the records; "Secrets" and "The Witching Hour", respectively(the semi-cheesiness of "Out Of The Ashes" aside). Twilight was perfect, but not complete. And V is well...V. Odyssey's two sleeper songs "Incantations..." and "The Turning" as well as the above mentioned songs blow away 2/3 of anything on either PL or IC.

I just can't see how anyone can say that the musical strength of the band is greater now on the two latest records. Hell, even MJR's Star Wars suite is way more interesting and creative than songs like "Serpent's Kiss" and "Bastards Of The Machine".

And what happened to that idea of SX doing covers for a fan club CD? I'll gladly take their versions of Queen's "Princes Of The Universe" and Rainbow's "Gates Of Babylon" over the current drivel any day.

 

[Marwen]

The Accolade is perfect. I love those last 3 minutes.

Hell, even MJR's Star Wars suite is way more interesting and creative than songs like "Serpent's Kiss" and "Bastards Of The Machine".

+1

 

[Wander]

If there is anything bad about the Accolade, it's the horrid synth violin. Otherwise it's perfect. Especially the second half.

 

[Marwen]

I hear you. It all used to sound fine to me until I got into really realistic sample libraries and all that stuff, that's when I started to notice how crappy/fake the violin in Accolade or Death of Balance etc. really is. But I still enjoy it, it's still listenable. They always did great with whatever means they had. I know bands that could hire and studio-record real orchestras but still suck compared to the old financially restricted Symphony X.

 

[Postulate]

If there is anything bad about the Accolade, it's the horrid synth violin. Otherwise it's perfect. Especially the second half.

True. I don't count production values as far as merits go, though.

 

[Exodus Prime]

Iconoclast is my favourite Symphony X album by far. It sounds modern and kicks all kinds of ass! Great riffs, and being a bit of a thrasher, that central breakdown in Heratic has got to be one of the album highlights for me.
I got into Symphony X through the Odyssey, which is a great album, but now I've heard most of their back catalogue it's my least favourite.

 

[RuRoRul]

Iconoclast is my favourite Symphony X album by far. It sounds modern and kicks all kinds of ass! Great riffs, and being a bit of a thrasher, that central breakdown in Heratic has got to be one of the album highlights for me.
I got into Symphony X through the Odyssey, which is a great album, but now I've heard most of their back catalogue it's my least favourite.

You're what's wrong with the world, go die.

... or words to that effect, is what to expect for saying you like Iconoclast and saying the word "modern" without negative connotations. Unfortunately folks round here don't take kindly to that kind of talk.

Good to see appreciation for Iconoclast on this forum, although The Odyssey is possibly my favourite Symhphony X album (V through to Iconoclast are all very close in quality and have different things going for them).

 

[_Gentleman of_the Snow_]

You're what's wrong with the world, go die.

... or words to that effect, is what to expect for saying you like Iconoclast and saying the word "modern" without negative connotations. Unfortunately folks round here don't take kindly to that kind of talk.

Good to see appreciation for Iconoclast on this forum, although The Odyssey is possibly my favourite Symhphony X album (V through to Iconoclast are all very close in quality and have different things going for them).

Iconoclast close to V in quality? UHWHA? Just...no. This goes beyond opinion now.

 

[UnholyCrusada]

Iconoclast close to V in quality? UHWHA? Just...no. This goes beyond opinion now.

Agreed. I love Iconoclast, but V is just in a whole different league. Hell, I'd personally put it in a whole different league from every other album ever made.

 

[RuRoRul]

I disagree.

 

[_Gentleman of_the Snow_]

It would be much more difficult to craft an album like V over Iconoclast.
Does that make it better? Potentially, no, but in this case, I feel it does.

There are other albums of equal quality to V by other bands, IMO, though.