PARADISE LOST

Paradise Lost is the seventh studio album from progressive neo classical US power metal band Symphony X. Their previous album The Odyssey is one of my favorite progressive metal albums and without a doubt my favorite from the band. So it´s understandable that I was awaiting the release of Paradise Lost with some expectations. My expectations were unfortunately only partially met.

The music on Paradise Lost continues the more heavy and dark path that was started on The Odyssey. This is a positive thing in my opinion and songs like Set the World on Fire and Domination are great examples of Symphony X when they are most heavy. The Serpent´s Kiss is also a good song and with the title track we have a beautiful power ballad. Maybe the most well composed power ballad ever written by the band ( Micheal Romeo). It´s very much in the vein of former power ballads written by the band but I enjoy it. Of the last five songs I´m most fond of Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia) allthough the quality is high throughout the album.

The musicianship is as always excellent and the production is probably the best Symphony X has had up until now.

I said that my expectations were only partially met with Paradise Lost and I have to mention why. First of all the music is very similar to what Symphony X have made in the past. We have the sharp edgy riffing, neo classical and power metal elements and we have the symphonic epic approach to writing music that has always been one of the trademarks in Symphony X music. It´s done well on Paradise Lost and Symphony X is maybe the best band in their particular sub-genre. They are definitely much heavier than most other bands in the genre which is something I greatly enjoy. The problem is that I´ve heard it all before and if you ask me it´s time for a change of sound for Symphony X. They´ve simply used all the water in the well. Despite my growing concern regarding Symphony X stagnated sound I still think Paradise Lost is an excellent album and it fully deserves 4 stars. But next time I want to hear something new or I´ll probably not be so kind again.