Scott's Spotlight #52: Symphony X

Welcome to Scott’s Spotlight (#scottsspotlight) issue #52.  For more information about this series, please click here:

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For today’s spotlight, I’ll be checking out a band that I have heard of for some time, but am not very familiar with, Symphony X.  I chose them because they keep coming up in discussion posts on Facebook in recent weeks. (There is another band as well in that boat, but they will be for another day.)  As I have said on my blog, I do not claim to be an expert on any of the artists I cover, and this is part of my journey to discover as much great music as I can.

Symphony X began in 1994 after New Jersey guitarist/composer Michael Romeo (yes, that’s his actual name) made a demo tape of his music in his apartment, assisted by keyboardist Michael Pinella. This demo was recorded between 1992 and early 1994. The demo was called “The Dark Chapter”.  After he sent it to multiple record labels, and guitar magazines, a Japanese label called Zero Corporation, which is now defunct took an interest.  The label released a re-recorded version of the album under Michael Romeo’s name in April of 1994.  The album was fully instrumental and featured only Romeo and Pinnella (Romeo programmed a drum machine).  While I have not heard this album, I can tell you that many of the songs on the album make reference to the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Apparently, the album was successful enough that Zero asked Michael if he had a band that could produce similar music.  Romeo quickly made Pinnella a member, and recruited bassist Thomas Miller, drummer Jason Rullo, and vocalist Rod Tyler.  The band’s name came about, according to Romeo, that the band felt that Symphony was an apt description of the music they were creating, and the letter X stood for the unknown.  The new line-up recorded a demo for Zero (it is unclear whether they also sent the demo to other labels) called “Danse Macabre”, which gave the band a deal with Zero. However only two songs from that album made it to the self-titled debut, released in December of 1994.  Not long after the album’s release, however, Rod Tyler would leave the band due to “creative differences”.  Ironically his replacement, Russell Allen was introduced to the band by none other than Rod Tyler himself.  While this album is generally rated lower than future albums by Symphony X (2.86 out of 5 on Prog Archives or PA), I have enjoyed the tracks I have heard so far: “The Raging Seasons”, “Masquerade”, “Absinthe and Rue” and the 12 minute closing epic “A Lesson Before Dying”.

The follow up album, “The Damnation Game” came out the following year, with Russell Allen now in place as the vocalist.  The album was released by Zero in Japan, but also by noted prog label InsideOut in Europe. Romeo’s playing is often compared to Yngwie Malmsteen, and I can certainly hear that influence.  An example of that is in the guitar solo to “Dressed to Kill”.  Another track I have heard from this album is “Secrets”, on which Allen shows his range and dynamic singing skills.  I do agree with the assessment that Allen is a better singer than Tyler, although Tyler did a good job on the first album.  I do like the changes of mood in “Secrets”, and Pinnella’s keyboards are not super prominent, they do add dimension to the sound.  One thing I noticed, however, is that this album is approximately 10 minutes shorter than the first, with no 10 minute + tracks.  The final two tracks are part of one song: “A Winter's Dream”. Part one of it is subtitled “Prelude” and I truly enjoyed the vocal harmonies on it. Part two is  subtitled “The Ascension”. This album has a better rating than its predecessor, earning 3.37 out of 5 on PA.

The third Symphony X album, “The Divine Wings of Tragedy” would maintain the same line-up.  It was released in November of 1996 in Japan and March of 1997 in Europe.  This is the album on which Symphony X seems to have fully “arrived”.  They more than made up for the lack of epics on album #2 with a 20 minute full epic title track with seven movements.  Other strong tracks include “Sea of Lies”, “The Accolade” (which is just under 10 minutes), and "Pharaoh”. Bassist Thomas Miller gets a solo in “Pharaoh”.   The epic title track begins with an a cappella choir. Following that, there is a bit of Holst’s “Mars the Bringer of War”, which is becoming a bit of a prog standard, with renditions from both King Crimson and Emerson Lake and Powell. Allen doesn't sing a note until more than 5 and a half minutes into it. I do believe that Symphony X are finding their own identity here.  Many of the tracks that I have heard from the first two albums are more like Yngwie Malmsteen style neo-classical metal than full out prog metal.  I am listening to the title track as I type this, and it feels more like a band effort than a showcase for Michael Romeo’s (admittedly insanely good) guitar skills.  Pinnella is really shining on this track, trading solos with Romeo. Drummer Jason Rullo gets a spotlight as well in this one.  No wonder this is one of the 2 Symphony X albums tied for their highest rated ones at a 4.14 out of 5 stars on PA.

Before the fourth album was released, drummer Jason Rullo departed from Symphony X for “personal reasons”, although he would later reveal in an interview that he and bassist Thomas Miller were having issues getting along. Thomas Walling was hired as the new drummer.  Romeo says that the fourth album, called “Twilight in Olympus” (1998)  was rushed due to pressure from Zero records.  While it does not contain a 20 minute epic like its predecessor, it does have a 13 minute one called “Through the Looking Glass (parts I, II, and III)”. Additionally I have enjoyed “Church of the Machine”, “Sonata” (a brief instrumental based on Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata #8- Pathetique”), and “Lady of the Snow”.  Keeping in line with Romeo’s assessment that the album was rushed, it does not score as high on PA as its predecessor, garnering 3.76 out of 5 stars. Interestingly, after the first round of tour dates in Japan, both Thomas Walling and Thomas Miller left the band due to an unwillingness to tour.  This led Jason Rullo to return to the band.  They hired bassist Andy DeLuca as a touring member, then decided on Michael LePond as a permanent replacement.

Album #5, released in 2000, is called “V: The New Mythology Suite” .  It is the first album to feature LePond on bass and the return of Jason Rullo.  This line up of Romeo, Pinnella, Allen, Rullo and LePond remains stable to this day.  Additionally, the album was released worldwide by Inside Out, the first album not involving Zero.  The album is a concept album, based on the mythical lost city of Atlantis.  The album starts off with the gothic introduction, “Prelude” before segueing into the fast and furious “Evolution (The Grand Design)”. I am also enjoying “Communion and the Oracle” as I type this.  “The Death of Balance/Lachrymosa” is full of meter changes, then shifts to a choral section. The showcase of the album is the closing epic over the final two tracks:  “Rediscovery Part I: Segue” and “Rediscovery Part II (The New Mythology)” which add up to around 13 and a half minutes in total.   Michael Romeo has stated that this piece is a reworking of what was to be the title track of “Twilight in Olympus”, but wasn’t ready in time for that album.  This is the other album on PA tied for their highest scoring album, at 4.14.

The sixth Symphony X album would be released two years later in 2002.  “The Odyssey” features a 24 minute title track/ closing epic. Based (of course) on Homer’s “Odyssey” over seven movements.  I am currently listening to “King of Terrors” which features Russell Allen using a much harsher vocal tone than I have heard before.  The playing, however, is as tight and virtuosic as ever.  I must say, based on a run I just heard where LePond matches Romeo note for note, I believe that he may be an upgrade from Thomas Miller, who was pretty good, but LePond seems even better.  “Awakenings” is another track I am enjoying, with Russell Allen back to his normal tone of voice, for much of it, only occasionally distorting his voice. The title track begins with a grandly orchestrated overture. The following section is very melodic with nice vocal harmonies, before going into a display of precision playing, nearly on par with Dream Theater.  This track is EPIC in every sense of the word, very dramatic with lots of contrast. I am not quite sure why this album does not rate as highly as “The Divine Wings of Tragedy” and “V: The New Mythology Suite”, as what I have heard from it is every bit as good as the tracks I have heard from those two albums.   It is the third highest ranked album on PA at 3.96 out of 5 stars, so it is close.   

There was an extended touring cycle following “The Odyssey” culminating in 2005, with Symphony X being a part of the Gigantour festival tour, organized by Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and featuring many prominent metal and progressive metal bands including Megadeth, Dream Theater, Anthrax and several others.

Following the Gigantour, Symphony X set to work on album number 7 in 2006.  The album was delayed numerous times, due to water damage in Romeo’s basement home studio called “The Dungeon”.  Finally released in June of 2007, “Paradise Lost” is a concept album based on John Milton’s epic poem of the same name.  The poem refers to the temptation of Adam & Eve by Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden in the Christian Bible.  While there are some longer tracks, there is nothing over 10 minutes here.  Of course that doesn't mean it isn't good!  “Set the World on Fire” once again sees Allen using his harsher vocal tone, at a fast tempo that reminds me of “Through the Fire and Flames” by Dragonforce.   The title track is a more melodic affair with odd meters.  “The Walls of Babylon” is riff oriented with gothic choirs, and more shifting odd meters.  At times on this, Allen’s vocals remind me of Judas Priest’s Rob Halford in the higher registers.   The closing track, the longest at over 9 minutes is “Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia)”, begins with harmonized guitar parts. It is a very active piece, to be sure!  A lot going on there.  The PA rating is slightly lower than its predecessor at 3.8 out of 5 stars.  Once again Symphony X toured extensively following this album’s release, including a European tour with Dream Theater.

The eighth Symphony X album “Iconoclast”, appeared in 2011.  It came out in a one disc or two disc version, with the 2 disc version having a slightly altered running order and 3 additional tracks.  The album doesn’t have a storyline, but rather is a thematic album, based on the idea of “machines taking over everything…pretty much being our demise” according to Michael Romeo.  The opening/title track has an extremely difficult, technically complex riff in parts of it, very fast and technical, perhaps representing the machines, and Allen uses his harsher tone.  It is also the longest cut on the album at nearly 11 minutes in length.  Another standout track is “Children of a Faceless God”.  Romeo’s solos in this song show how much he has found his own personality as a player compared to the earlier albums, where his Yngwie Malmsteen influence was very obvious.  “When all is Lost” is the second longest track at just over 9 minutes, it begins in a ballad-like style with Allen using his cleaner vocal tones, supported by Pinnella’s piano.  It goes through various tempos and stylistic portions as the song progresses; I am really enjoying it.  “Light Up the Night” is another dazzling display of technical ability from the band.  The album rates 3.76/5 on PA.

The ninth, and still most recent Symphony X album came out in 2015, titled “Underworld”. Once again, while it is not a concept album per se, it is inspired by Dante’s ”Inferno” and Offenbach’s opera “Orpheus in the Underworld”.  The longest track is “To Hell and Back” at almost nine and a half minutes.  The title track is very heavy with Allen’s harsher vocals, and a gothic counting backing vocal part.  Pinnella gets a nice synth solo between Romeo’s guitar solos. “Charon” makes reference to the Greek mythological figure who ferries dead souls to the underworld across the rivers Styx and Archeron.  The song is also very much metal, but uses Allen’s cleaner voice.  “Legend” starts with a very complex riff before locking into a groove in 7-8, parts of it sounding like a much more metal version of Rush’s “Xanadu”.  The album scores in line with its 3 predecessors, with a PA score of 3.79/5 stars.

In the decade since “Underworld” was released, Symphony X have remained active both as a band and with solo albums.  The most notable are probably Michael Romeo’s 2 volume series of “The War of the Worlds”  Romeo and other band members have confirmed that they are working on a new album, and in August of 2025, stated that the album would be released in 2026.  They have frequently toured in the interim, however.  So fans may have something to look forward to in 2026 from Symphony X.  

For me, Symphony X falls somewhere between that prog metal of Dream Theater and power metal like Dragonforce.  The most appealing albums to me are the ones starting from “The Divine Wings of Tragedy” through “The Odyssey",  however there have been things to enjoy one each of them.

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Prog On!

Scott

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 Links for Listening:

From “Symphony X”

The Raging Seasons:

https://youtu.be/Te2KvHdkoV8

“A Lesson Before Dying”

https://youtu.be/bUSzBHSAWiI

From “The Damnation Game”

Secrets:

https://youtu.be/oR_4QUA39H0

A Winter’s Dream (Both Parts):

https://youtu.be/18DtlhhOdwU

From “The Divine Wings of Tragedy”

Sea of Lies:

https://youtu.be/rCQ4tUwNy4U

“The Divine Wings of Tragedy”

https://youtu.be/zFZFB0-VTrU

From “Twilight in Olympus”

“Lady of the Snow”:

https://youtu.be/tJ-1lBfFgNE

“Through the Looking Glass”

https://youtu.be/LF63a0xEK00

From  “V: The New Mythology Suite”

“Communion and the Oracle”:

https://youtu.be/DtS6tmjMDfA

“Rediscovery” (Both Parts)

https://youtu.be/4xyycpgmu_w

From “The Odyssey”

“Awakenings”

https://youtu.be/UUrsaoTvGQs

“The Odyssey”

https://youtu.be/inqC_yDCfc4

From “Paradise Lost”

“Set the World on Fire”

https://youtu.be/cG8orlq6_yE

“Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia)”

https://youtu.be/4ndh1E1AAnE

From “Iconoclast”

Iconoclast:

https://youtu.be/2oyu9eLoZi0

“When all is Lost”:

https://youtu.be/dfjWjCRZwtw

From Underworld

“Underworld”

https://youtu.be/MfrbXPlV76Y

“Charon”

https://youtu.be/wgS_ivw__DU