V - THE NEW MYTHOLOGY SUITE

Symphony X is a band that is always mistakenly compared with other bands like Dream Theater or Queensryche. SX always has moved "in between" genres but I think they are mostly a metal band. Too progresive for the metalheads and too metal for the prog- fans, this has always been the issue with them. If we can just forget for a minute the existence of genres and only focus in the musicans' marksmanship then we will find out how a great band Symphony X is.

"V: The New Mythology Suite" is an excellent album. I still can´t decide if its their best if you compare it with other masterpieces like "The Divine Wings of Tragedy". Many people qualify the songs' lyrics as cheesy, but I guess sometimes it's good to just sit down, relax, listen to great music and be moved to this epic fantasy world.

"V" is a conceptual album about the existence of an ancient and lost civilzation. Very advanced for their time, the album tells you the story of this mytical land from its pinnacle to its inevitable destruction.

In my humble point of view, "V" is extraordinary from the begininng to the end with the only low point being "The Bird-Serpent War". The first three songs are magnificent and you can notice the the excellent musical quality of all members specially guitarrist Michael Romeo and keyboardist Michael Pinnella. Their coordination is almost perfect.

"The Communion and the Oracle" can be said is the "typical" Symphony X song. Very much in the way of earlier songs like "Accolade" from The Divine Wings of Tragedy.

"The Death of Balance/Lacrymosa" is a very hard and heavy song that show us the excellent style of drummer Jason Rullo. And of course the whole album is a proof of the magnificent soaring vocals of Russell Allen. Perhaps one of the best singers I have heard in my whole life.