 [Larger view] | Symphony X - Odyssey
| ||||||||||
| |
Average user rating:  | |
| Symphony X - Odyssey | |
| Ok - they're compared to Dream Theater, but stand their own. This particular CD is heavier than any Dream Theater, and truly kicks ass. So, let's compare, shall we? Michael Romeo is an AWESOME guitar player. Virtually an underrated, unknown, who BLOWS AWAY alot of big names, but there's only one Petrucci. He SHREDS though, without a doubt... Russell Allen's vocals are VERY good as well. BETTER than LaBrie, but who we kiddin', Labrie ain't THAT great. His voice can range from raspy, to punishing, to melodic, with excellent written harmonies. He can hang with the best of 'em... Michael Lapond is a DAMN GOOD bass player, but who cares about the bass player?? Jason Rullo is a bad-ass drummer. I'm kinda partial to Portnoy, but it's a close call. This guy's got some KILLER double-bass work on here, as well as the other CD's. He's a fluent, pocket-drummer, and REAL good... Michael Pinella,(alot of friggin' Michaels in this band), is a good keyboard player. I personallly like the piano-type melodies on song 4. I can do without the keyboard solos, though not many on this CD. The production and mix is first-rate. The incredible guitar tone makes me damp with envy, and the vocals, bass and drums are awesome as well. It's worth every penny. Unless you're an idiot, you'll wear it out! | |
| A musical Odyssey | |
| 'The Odyssey' is a masterpiece. It even surpasses the albums 'The divine wings of tragedy' and 'V'. It is definitely not the most accessible Symphony X album, but after a few listens all pieces of this ingenious musical puzzle fall into place. It is a wonderful musical journey through different soundscapes with wild bends and turns and full of unexpected encounters. It is truly a musical 'Odyssey'. The musicianship is, as usual, unequalled. Be it the tasteful high octane drumming of Rullo, the heavy bass playing of Lepond or the wonderful (sometimes very atmospherical) pieces of piano or keyboard playing by Pinella, the result is always nothing short of amazing. Special attention on this one to Michael Romeo, who besides being the main composer,an excellent producer and a fantastic guitar player (combining brilliant heavy metal riffs with over-the-edge neoclassical and Holdsworth influenced solos) is also very effective when composing orchestral parts. Special attention also to Allen whose voice has never sounded more diverse. From the ferocious growls on 'Inferno' to the softer edged singing on 'Awakenings', I think no current metal vocalist could surpass the achievement of Allen on this CD. If you buy only one metal CD this year, make sure it's this one. | |
| Evidence that Prog Metal is still alive! | |
| With their latest masterpiece The Odysey, Symphony X proves to the world that they're still alive and still kicking ass. Almost 10 years into their career, this band is still putting out music that rivals the best of the newest Prog Metal bands. As compared to their last album "The New Mythology", Symphony X's latest release is definately less orchestral overall, and more straight forward metal. The opening track Inferno is a firestorm of metal, purely brilliant. After this killer track, the next couple of tunes sound kind of flat, but in no way bad. Accolade II may be my favorite track on the album. It's an amazing combination of heavy rock and classical orchestral elements... Truly a brilliant track. Once again, after a killer knockout track, the next couple sound kind of like filler. No worries though, as the excellence returns with Awakenings, a song about transitions of a person through life. The choruses of this song are what great music is made of. Yet, no matter how great this track is, it pales in comparison to... THE ODYSEY. A 24 minute musical experience... Its heavy, its acoustic, its metal, its gentle, its orchestral, its everything... And watch out for the last part of the journey: "Champion of Ithica". This part of the epic is KILLER... Just the way I describe this album. Epically killer. CHECK IT OUT TODAY! |
![Divine Wings of Tragedy [Digipak]](http://shop0nline.com/image/B00012BD0S.S.jpg)
![Twilight in Olympus [Digipak]](http://shop0nline.com/image/B00012BD12.S.jpg)
