ICONOCLAST

This has indeed been a spectacular year considering that many of my favorite artists have new releases coming my way (at least the ones I pre-ordered). Even though there were a few less interesting albums in the batch, I can safely say that the overall score has so far definitely been on the plus side!

I wasn't actually planning on hearing the new Symphony X release even though I'm a fan of both The Divine Wings Of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite. I've basically been sensing a fatigue in the band's output all throughout the last decade with Paradise Lost being the low point of their career, even though many fans might disagree with this statement. Either way, it's safe to say that I was completely blown away the first time I heard the opening album-titled track off Iconoclast. This composition has pretty much everything I hold so dear about Symphony X; memorable guitar riffs from Michael Romeo in combination with nicely structured and upbeat Progressive Metal progressions!

Unlike most of the band's previous output, this one clearly keeps away from pure Power Metal references in favor of Progressive Metal compositions and neatly crafted arrangements. I don't want to praise Iconoclast to skies since it's not a perfect album but I can easily declare it to be the band's most consistent release to date, which is something I can't even say about V: The New Mythology Suite! Even tracks like Heretic which I consider to be the weakest moment here, due to it's predictable outline and somewhat uninspired chorus, has nice qualities throughout the verses and the instrumental sections.

Cloaking at just over 80 minutes, it's quite spectacular to see that the album actually manages to be this consistent all the way to the end. For anyone who still haven't decided whether you are enough of a fan to by the complete special edition version, let me simply state that you'll be missing out on a lot of great material. This is after all the track order that the band originally intended to release but were eventually overruled by their label. The final 'so called' bonus tracks actually serve as the proper conclusion to the epic that is Iconoclast and the final track Reign In Madness definitely proves this in all it's glory!

Symphony X have once again managed to win me over with one of their releases. These are clearly not the words that I ever could dream of writing again but how can I not do it when Iconoclast is truly worthy of such a recognition!

***** star songs: Iconoclast (10:51) Children Of A Faceless God (6:21) When All Is Lost (9:10) Light Up The Night (5:04)

**** star songs: The End Of Innocence (5:27) Dehumanized (6:48) Bastards Of The Machine (4:56) Heretic (6:25) Electric Messiah (6:14) Prometheus (I Am Alive) (6:47) The Lords Of Chaos (6:10) Reign In Madness (8:38)

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