PARADISE LOST

This is a killer album! I used to be a huge Symphony X fan, but my interest in them died down quite a bit about a year or so before this album came out. When I heard a new Symphony X was going to come out, I decided to pick it up despite my lack of interest. Boy am I glad that I decided to pick up this album! It is probably their heaviest album and it is nonstop fun! I just love this album. It starts with a symphonic overture with bombastic choirs. It is an exciting opening, before the heaviness of "Set the World On Fire" starts in. The album continues in the same fast pace with incredible crunchy riffs from Michael Romeo and Russel Allen singing heavier than he ever has on any album.

"Domination" is another heavy track with a great metal groove to it. There is a face melting solo by Michael Romeo in this track and Michael Pinnella shines on keys. This is heavy music, but really fun at the same time. "The Serpent's Kiss" may be one of the weaker tracks of the album, but it still rocks hard and has a great repeating guitar riff. After all the heaviness of the first three tracks comes the most beautiful ballad the band has written, "Paradise Lost". It is sort of ironic to me that the heaviest Symphony X album is named after its only ballad. The keyboards and acoustic guitar underneath Russel Allen's beautiful voice makes for a magical combination. This is a great track, one of my favorites on the album and a necessary breather between all the heavy tracks. The chorus is heavenly! Not to be missed for sure.

"Walls of Babylon" is an awesome track that has some choirs on top of the brilliant interplay between keyboards and guitars. It is a really fun track that showcases all the band members in an excellent way. I just can't get enough of it! "Seven" is another killer track with more virtuosity at show from all musicians involved. "The Sacrifice" starts softly and leads into a killer chorus that is very memorable to me. This leads into the thrilling conclusion, "Revelation". This is my favorite track on the album and it weaves its way through several different movements complete with soaring guitars and crazy quick keyboard flourishes. The drums and bass pound heavily throughout the whole song and Russel Allen has his moments to shine as he sings. There are instrumental breaks throughout the song and they are out of this world! I am just blown away by this song!

This album is a breathtaking metal ride. For those who like their progressive metal more on the metal side than the progressive side, this is the album for them. I generally like the progressive stuff more, but this album is so killer I can't deny that it is tons of fun to listen to. I am blown away by the guitar solos and riffs. This is my favorite Symphony X album because it is consistent and has sections that are truly mindblowing. I will be rocking out to this album for quite some time.