SYMPHONY X

For any progressive rock fan, this is the CD for you. Many people disregard this album because of the supposidly poor sound quality (?) and the absence of Russell Allan, but I think this is their best album, only rivaled by Twilight in Olympus.

The opening song Into the Dementia is an instrumenal that sets the tone for the whole album, and segues into the first real song, The Raging Seasons. I was blown away by this song the first time I heard it. The middle section is wicked...I was instantly reminded of the middle section of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody (I see a little sillouhette of a man...) and I basically jumped with joy...not really...but I came close. Next comes Premonition, which isn't bad...the chorus is catchy, and I like it. Next...MASQUERADE. Best song on the album, and probably the most progressive as well (which isn't saying much, this is probably their most progressive album). The intro with Bach's Tocatta & Fugue is simply breathtaking.

The next songs, Absinthe and Rue, and Shades of Gray, are both good songs, but by no means their best. Other than that, the only songs worthy of individual recognition are the original Thorns of Sorrow (I love the guitar/organ part in the beginning), and the 12 minute epic A Lesson Before Dying.

Complaints about the album? Of course. The sound quality is definetly worse, but I didn't really notice it until going back and listening to the others. The only noticable thing is that Romeo's guitar seems more quiet that usual. And the vocalist? Well, its different than Russell Allan, but Rod Tyler isn't NEARLY as bad as people make him out to be. He struggles on the higher notes and he doesn't really "roar" well on the lower notes. But who cares? He isn't terrible and this was his only album. Overall I find it very hard to resist this album. I would recommend buying Twilight in Olympus and Divine Wings of Tragedy first...but after that? This CD then the Damnation Game. These are the most progressive...and the best.