THE ODYSSEY

After making what I believe to be their finest record (V: The New Mythology Suite) Symphony X released The Odyssey. To begin with it's obvious from the track listing that album follows the same basic pattern of Divine Wings Of Tragedy which definitely doesn't show any sign of progress but let's not judge the album by it's (back)cover!

The album starts with Inferno which is the obligatory power metal opening track. Although the composition works well I can't help but draw a comparison to the previous Sympony X openers which makes me feel like their power metal well is starting to dry up. The guitar playing is still mesmerizing but the composition doesn't have the same force in comparison to the previous works.

By the time Accolade II-intro starts playing it was obvious that Symphony X weren't trying recreate the spirit of Divine Wings Of Tragedy instead this actually was a direct sequel and the album even features a follow-up to Accolade. The resemblance between the two track is almost as big as the one between the Kansas tune Icarus from Masque and its follow-up from Somewhere To Elsewhere. I guess that comparison was unfair considering the large timespan between the two. How about Rush compositions Cygnus X-1 books I and II? Hopefully you'll get the general idea here. As a matter of fact I actually consider Accolade II to be this albums highlight with its slow progression and strong delivery.

I was really looking forward to the new 20+ minute suite The Odyssey and it was great to find out that it sounded almost as interesting as Divine Wings Of Tragedy. At the same time this epic shows exactly what is wrong with the entire set-up of this album. Every time I listen to it I can't help but think that it has already been do to death by Symphony X and I basically lack any sign of progression. If the band thinks that they can get away with rehashing the same album time and time again then they definitely have another thing coming! At the same time I honestly don't know where Symphony X should go next in terms of development. Somehow I doubt that Michael Romeo would consider to add jazz elements to the next album or how about avant-garde power metal!

Hopefully they'll think of something more creative for their next release but until then this album remains a shameless clone of Divine Wings Of Tragedy. Good but unnecessary and therefore non-essential.

***** star songs: Accolade II (7:06)

**** star songs: Inferno (5:32) Incantations Of The Apprentice (4:21) King Of Terrors (6:19) Awakenings (8:21) The Odyssey (24:09)

*** star songs: Wicked (5:32) The Turning (4:44)