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LIVE ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER
New Jersey prog/metal rockers have been an underground sensation since the
mid 90's with their early works such as "Devine Wings of Tragedy", "Twilight
In Olympus" and the recent "V". For the most part, these guys have been
completely ignored in their homeland for a longtime, until Metal Blade
Records decided to release Symphony X's last studio effort "V". But this
bands strengths lies within it's live performance, and this double disc set
shows just how much these guys can do. Let me first start off by saying that
Michael Romeo is a master guitarist and one of the most fluid and intense
players on the east coast. His solos on "Communion and the Oracle" are
breathtaking and intensely melodic and never resorting to grand-standing
gimmicks. Lead vocalist Russel Allen is tremendous in his delivery and
presence. His vocal stylings remind me of early Dio (circa Black Sabbath's
Live Evil), with a cross into some more modern metal stylings. Allen
delivers each track with clearity and vigor, punctuating his words with a
heavily flavored Bruce Dickenson vibe on some passeges. Bassist Michael
Lapond, Drummer Jason Rullo and Keyboardist Michael Pinnella are a force to
be reckoned with and would put a big smile on any Dream Theater fans face.
But, I will state this clearly, Symphony X are not Dream Theater clones.
Everywhere you turn, if the word progressive metal comes up, people
automatically use the DT comparison. Symphony X are gloomier and more rooted
in traditional metal, such as Iron Maiden, old Judas Priest, old Queensryche
and Dio. The standout cuts on this live document include: "Evolution (The
Grand Design)", "Communion and the Oracle", "Eyes of
Medusa" and the sweeping epics "Through the Looking Glass" and "The Divine
Wings of Tragedy", which showcase this band in peek form. I can only hope
that one day, these guys deserve their just deserts, because they are sadly
overlooked in this country.
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