What should the new album sound like?

[Alexander TG]

With all the hope of a new symphony x album coming out sometime soon I was wondering what musical direction people think they should take and what they should do differently i.e fire Russell (joke).

I'm gonna be the first ever to say overall I was slightly disappointed with the material on the Odyssey, the title track is a masterpiece as is Accolade II and Awakenings but overall I found it a bit too harsh and not as magical as previous releases.

For the new album I would like to hear material more like on DWOT and V:

*More keyboards, wash it over with keyboard effects, synth's whatever I just wanna hear Mike Pinella a whole lot more.

*A decent drum mix, higher up and with a better snare sound, the overall sound would be a lot more dynamic, this is an absolute must.

*More neo-classical guitar work from Mike Romeo, try to find a balance between the power metal riffs and technical orchestration not as heavy as songs like Inferno. Oh yeah and don't forget to shred, shred, shred baby!

*Better overall production, it wasn't till I hears Ayreon's 'Dawn of a million souls' I thought the production was lacking, Russell's voice sounds much clearer on this song.

What does everyone else think?

Tee hee, we beat the Aussie's

 

[Wicked Inferno]

i love the oddysey (still cant spell it)
so i cant say anything about what there doing wrong cause there not

just keep doing what ur doing

 

[The Metal Chick]

I love the Odyssey over any album on the planet, and I hope they keep it heavy for next time. However, I do agree with Alex in that Pinnella should be heard more (and this goes for the live shows too!!) His piano stuff is so cool, and I'd like to hear more of that. It seems that everyone wants them to go backwards and repeat V, but they wouldn't be progressing, they'd be regressing. Yeah V was great, but they need to keep moving forward

 

[symphonyXjapan]

I have been thinking about this same topic for a couple of weeks now. I was doing the same type of prognosis in my head as Alexander has done. I was thinking that they wouldn't do another as power metal driven as Odyssey was just yet because they mainly did that for better sounding live tracks. especially after doing V, which has the hardest songs to make sound really good live. But the more I thought about they should go more progressive in keys and have more neoclassic guitar riffs, I just frustrated myself. But now, I just realized it really isn't a big deal because I am sure they won't dissapoint us. I mean, if you know exactly what you want them to do next and it isn't that way, you know you will later write that even though it wasn't what you had hoped that it would be, it is still really awesome. I mean, a lot of people were worried about Odyssey's heavier overtone, but then when it was released they still loved it and know what they would have missed out on if SX didn't go in the musical direction they did with it. No matter what, true Symphony X fans love the style of each members' playing and the sound and atmoshphere of the bands' own personal/unique sound. That is what will make them love their music, and knowing that the members love music and will always write respectable music that isn't thrown together by the conscience of releasing an album quickly to make money.

 

[Knight of the Templar]

I agree with you, Alexander. I hope they find the perfect balance between heaviness and neo-classical stuff (yup, including Mr. Mike "awesome keyboard player" Pinnella). And about the production: better snare sound, higher keyboard sound.

About the songs: maybe they should make a "write-your-own-lyrics-and-send-them-to-the-band" contest. It would be great... Musically, something heavy, but more melodic... heavy riffs with soaring keyboards (and piano) melodies... like "Awakenings" but with neo-classical parts!! And of course, more jazz dammit!!! (I love that part on Awakenings)

My 2 cents...

 

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

I think they should mix Power Metal with Trash, and insert some Jazz here and there. I also think Romeo should do more pentatonic solos, and Pinella should definately be heard more, especially his piano.

 

[R*O*C*K*S*]

It seems that everyone wants them to go backwards and repeat V, but they wouldn't be progressing, they'd be regressing. Yeah V was great, but they need to keep moving forward

that's funny, I think that they regressed with The Odyssey

but that's IMO

 

[Alexander TG]

People say that to be truly progressive each album must take a different approach. However I'm not a fan of that whole 'back to our roots' thing that every fucking band feels they have to do by putting out riff heavy classic style metal, it's been done.

Symphony X are innovators capable of magic, they don't need to regress their sound as they did with the Odyssey albeit a top class album.

 

[Kronikle66]

I would personally prefer more DWoT approarch. Every song on there I loved. V... only a few songs I loved.

-Kronikle

 

[ProgMetalFan]

less neoclassical... more thrash

 

[bball_1523]

I enjoyed the Odyssey. I think the album should be produced a little better. Some of the kick drums were distorting on the levels, but other than that maybe make the guitar tone sound like DWOT tone.

I hope they add epic songs like 'the odyssey' 24 minutes or so. Make the album melodic and have a shredfest on every song. I also want to hear more drum fills and bass solos!

 

[OfSinsAndShred]

I'm gonna be the first ever to say overall I was slightly disappointed with the material on the Odyssey, the title track is a masterpiece as is Accolade II and Awakenings but overall I found it a bit too harsh and not as magical as previous releases.

I sincerely doubt you're the only one who disliked the Odyssey compared to previous releases... most people whose favorite album is V weren't too fond of the Odyssey.

I myself won't care too much, as long as we get some of the neoclassical sound back. Either way, it's Symphony X, and they rock, but I love the neoclassical stuff (I mean... it's the Symphony part after all! It's what they started as - a neoclassical metal band.).

 

[theodyssey]

Death metal. 'nuff said

And come on... don't tell me that there isn't a part of some symX song that wouldn't sound completely fuckin' badass with like a line or two groweld (inferno anyone?) I'm not talking about a death metal album, just throw some growling in sparingly and it would be badass. Also, i like their heavy shit.... i don't know how many times i have to say this, but to everyone who expects them to be strictly a prog band and whines about the odyssey, THEY ARE A PROG METAL BAND. They are METAL. If you don't like metal, go with DT or someone similar.

On Topic, i'd say that they should continue to mix their styles more and more... I'd love to hear more pinella and i want to hear more of lepond's magic... doesn't matter what they play as long as the song quality is still there.

 

[OfSinsAndShred]

Actually, I still don't consider them a prog metal band at most points. Odd time sigs, long songs, but it still has more of a power metal feel to it. Depends on the song, really.

And I don't think I'd like the growls, Russel's melodic vocals are just mind blowing for me.

 

[bball_1523]

odd time sigs, long songs is what makes up portions of progressive metal. They are just influenced by power metal a lot, but imo they don't sound a lot like most power metal bands such as stratovarius. They are like a heavier version of dream theater but way better, imo.

 

[R*O*C*K*S*]

less neoclassical... more thrash

*stunned*

Death metal. 'nuff said

*leaves the room and goes reflect about life*

 

[Pharaoh]

Well, they haven't disappointed me yet, and I highly doubt that they will.
I'm sure they'll continue to try some new things and keep from getting bored.
I tend to agree with OfSinsAndShred.....although Russ has a mean growl voice and it works great for certain songs, his melodic voice appeals to me more. I would rather hear a melodic scream than a melodic growl from Russ any day. But actually, I would be thrilled with anything these guys do.
Symphony X rules.

 

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

less neoclassical... more thrash

+1

 

[Velocity]

I fully agree with the snare sound, Rullo's snare sound on The Odyssey sounds like crap. The drum sound should sound more open and full (hard to explain). On The Odyssey is was like he had a bunch of clothes in his drums!

 

[symphonyXjapan]

less neoclassical... more thrash[/QUO
Are you joking? I hope so. I can't stand thrash, it is not music and has no rythym whatsoever. The name really does do justice to describing the guitar skills players of this genre have.