THE DIVINE WINGS OF TRAGEDY

First off, let me begin by saying that I am not a Symphony X "fan". In fact, this is the only release by the band that I've listened to. Nor am I a necessarily a prog-metal fan. I lean more toward old school prog-rock bands like Kansas, Alan Parsons Project, Yes, ELP and Rush. I have seen/heard Dream Theater live(opened for Yes) and REALLY enjoyed their music. I have one DT CD, "Scenes from a Memory". I don't necessarily like that CD since it's too dark for my taste. Nevertheless, I can see why folks would like it and praise it as a masterpiece......All that being said, I must say that "The Divine Wings of Tragedy" is a beautifully crafted recording. Symphony X are serious musicians. All this talk of "cheesiness"; I simply don't get it. What's so cheesy about this music? They set out to overpower the listener through symphonic prog-metal while using all the tools at their disposal. What's wrong with that? I am a jazz, classically trained pianist/keyboardist and I find NOTHING wrong with the keyboard work. Is it over the top? Hey, there is music out there for EVERYONE and for every occasion. Would I make a habit out of listening to this type of music? Probably not. The heavy metal riffs, although of the highest caliber and virtuosity, would wear me down after constant listening. Nevertheless, I see a place for this kind of music in my collection. If you are a fan of classical music and have widened out to include prog-rock in your music diet, then by all means give this CD a try. If you are a die-hard prog-metal head and enjoy the work of Dream Theater then this album is a must-have. Does SX rip off DT? I don't think so. From my limited experience listening to this type of music it sounds to me like SX may actually eclipse the work of DT. Symphony X sounds much more refined and tighter than DT. But again, I am not a prog-metal expert. I just go by what my ears tell me..... 5 stars for this one!