V - THE NEW MYTHOLOGY SUITE

People often compare SYMPHONY X to DREAM THEATER and other prog metal bands, but I can't see the relation. SYMPHONY X is much heavier, more neo-classical-type-metal, and has more agressive lyrics than DT. So beware DT fans like me: just because you like prog metal, it doesn't mean you'll like SYMPHONY X quite as much. This is their most critically-acclaimed album, but is not my favorite of theirs. It basically retells the story of Atlantis in a very interesting way. I'm not a huge SX fan, and the vocals are a little too much like power metal for me, but then again that's kind of what SX are. I love most of the music, and the musicians have an immense aount of skill, however to listen to the whole album is where the poblem begins. All of the music sounds very similar, and it's not because it's a concept album. There are really no acoustic parts, slow parts, or emotional parts of V. It all has the same power metal sound, which is fine, but really isn't at all what FATES WARNING or DREAM THEATER sounds like.

Basically V is a great album for a power metal fan, but could dissapoint the typical prog rock or prog metal fan because of the lack of emotional and slower parts. If you really want good SX go for The Divine Wings of Tragedy first.