Pagan's Mind vs Symphony X

CCVP wrote: dtguitarfan wrote: CCVP wrote: sleeper wrote: Pagan's Mind are a pretty bog standard DT clone (and have even stole whole parts of Dream Theater songs for tracks on Celestial Entrance, I was not impressed when I first heard Back to the Magic of Childhood Pt2 (I think its that song, havent listened in several years now) and found it to be a rip off of Learning to Live)with nothing special about them bands like Suspyre and Haken do the same thing with far more creativity and quality. Blending Neo-Classical Power Metal and prog was a pretty original thing back in the early-mid 90's and, granted SX havent progressed much, if at all, in the near 20 years since but I find their music very enjoyable still with each album. One of the very few vanilla prog metal bands that I still listen to on even a semi regular basis.   I disagree with you on this last paragraph, bro. They changed their sound since the 90's, but they  stagnated after V - Mythology Suite. Stagnated?  Their last two albums are more metal, and more widely appealing to fans of other sub-genres of metal, than any other of their albums.  I, personally, prefer The Odyssey to anything else they've done, but I can recognize the development of their style in the last two albums and appreciate it for what it is as well. But they have not brought anything new to the table except being heavier.

That depends on your viewpoint.

If i had to take one album between the two it would be Celestial Entrance but overall Symphony X would easily be my choice.

Never understood why so many people got excited about Iconoclast ... I loved Paradise Lost, and Iconoclast sounded like Paradise Lost - only less diverse. Too many moments when I went "hang on I know this riff ..." to interest me. Plus the exact same production as the previous album.

progbethyname wrote: ^. Agreed! ICONOCLAST is badass. I love it. When i feel like a really good tech metal/heavy metal album I through that double discer on! Great stuff indeed. Saw them live last year. They opened for ICED EARTH.

Woops! Forgot the question. Yes. SYMPHONY X over PAGAN any day for me. 😜

Chozal wrote: Never understood why so many people got excited about Iconoclast ... I loved Paradise Lost, and Iconoclast sounded like Paradise Lost - only less diverse. Too many moments when I went "hang on I know this riff ..." to interest me. Plus the exact same production as the previous album.

Whoever said Celestial Entrance takes some parts from DT is correct. I also noticed a couple of Fates Warning parts in there. However, the album as a whole is pretty good.

This is a tough call. I don't like everything Symphony X has done. I don't like everything PM has done either.

In the end however I would probably choose Symphony X. Through The Looking Glass is one my favorite songs ever. (Though it does bear some resemblances to Under A Glass Moon. Anyone else pick this up?)