SYMPHONY X

Symphony X

Progressive Metal

2.87 | 243 ratings

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The Crow
Prog Reviewer

I'm surprised by this debut album by Symphony X, because it's better than I expected.

The Symphony X's personal style was starting to develope here. In songs like The Raging Season or Masquerade we can hear the dirt guitar style of Michael Romeo between the neoclasical sound of the elaborated choirs and keyboards, a trademark of this band. The Yngwie Malmsteen's influence it's obvious, like the power metal smell that this record gives, but I'm still thinking that Symphony X is one of the most influential bands of the 90's itself.

One thing I don't like of Symphony X, it's that if you compare this first record to their fifth, for example, you'll see that the sound has improved, like all the instruments and the voices (Russen Allen he's very much better singer than Rod Tyler, who sang in this album)... But the style it's very similar. They has not changed almost anything throughout the years, a fact that makes this band very predictable and repetitive... Nevertheless, I'm still thinking that this is a great band, and a must for Prog Metal lovers.

This album could be better, because it's repetitive and the production isn't good enough to show the great potential of the band, but the instruments sound good and all the musicians make a very good work (specially the awesome bassist Thomas Miller...) except Rod Tyler, a weak singer in my opinion. But it has great moments...

Best songs: Masquerade, Absinthe and Rue (with a tipical Romeo's riff...), the fast Taunting of Notoruous and the epic A Lesson Before Dying.

Conclusion: maybe not recommended for everyone who loves progressive, because this album it's too Power Metal oriented, but I'm sure that this record can be enjoyed by every Prog-Metal's fan.

My rating: ***

The Crow | 3/5 | 2005-8-30

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