PARADISE LOST

This album starts as a rock-opera and after this quite challenging (and pompous) opening, I was expecting some more novelty from the band. But there are hardly no surprise to expect from their latest release to date.

The usual characteristics of a ''Symphonic X'' album are all here: the frenetic beat, the heavy metal lines, a superb fast guitar play, keyboards hardly noticeable and some deep and shouting vocals (even growling at times). Not much prog in here, I'm afraid.

This album is full of metal clichés, and to listen to ''Domination'' is really not a great experience at all. I guess that band wanted to appear in the Guinness book of records to be one of the fastest out there. I guess that there might be a lot of competition though...

This album sounds very much the same to my old prog ears. It seems that the musicians do compete very well amongst themselves to ensure that he is the most technical of all. But technical aspects and skills don't make necessary a good album. ''Serpent's Kiss'' is a good illustration of this.

The second good moment of this album (after the opener) is the rock ballad and title track. At least, there are some theme variations in here, vocals are pleasant, piano work is more in the front line, and guitar is as usual excellent.

At times (briefly), one gets a very good feeling (''Eve Of Seduction''), but it is rapidly submerged by a wall of sound that has been already heard a zillion times (''Walls...'', ''Seven''). So, what's the use?

At last, another rock ballad is breaking the dull mood: ''The Sacrifice'' is another enjoyable track. Not brilliant and slightly AOR-oriented, but at least I can cope with this. Four out of ten. This is the number of good songs I could identify on this album (the keyboards are more present on the long closing number which is also a fine piece of music).

I guess that I share more ''Prog Jester'' 's point of view than many other reviewers. Two stars.