Reviews :              

Symphony x- Paradise Lost
InsideOut Music - 2007
Posted : 29.07.2007
Done By : Valeria

 

1. Oculus ex Inferni
2. Set the World on Fire (The Lie of Lies)
3. Domination
4. The Serpent’s Kiss
5. Paradise Lost
6. Eve of Seduction
7. The Walls of Babylon
8. Seven
9. The Sacrifice
10. Revelation (Divus Pennae ex Tragoedia)
 

Paradise lost. Of course most of us have thought about the famous john Milton poem, in which he told the Lucifer’s fall from the heaven, and actually Mr Allen and co based their new album on this work, creating a strictly-made concept. But we are sure that symphony x guys haven’t lost their paradise, neither the one they have always created with their music for the fans; in fact this album is the proof that these men are something more than simple musicians.

With a first heard someone could insinuate there is some repetition of the past works, maybe ‘cause symphony x are always coherent with their own style, an amazing mix of prog and power metal, idillyc arpeggios, speed and technical solos, bass wreck-fingers parts, accompanied by a very versatile voice, but in this album we find a lot of good developed ideas! Actually in the complex we find our men more and more heavy, almost dissonant in some points – romeo’s stuff is assassine!- but they’re always able to ipnotize us with their sublime melodies, even if they have a few abandoned lyrics chorus, and we miss those..

Every paradise lost piece lives by its own, although perfectly dipped in the concept context, and the elegance of the lyrics- yes, they’re poets too! - Goes married with the dynamics of the music. The fine neoclassical intro , oculus et inferni, opens the way to a first stout power song, where Allen’s voice is more aggressive than ever, more than in ‘the odissey’; than ‘domination’ could remind us sea of lies, maybe too much, even if it is more strong. But we ‘fly’ –after all we’re still in paradise- directly to the title track, that could be a third accolade, a semi ballad of rare beauty, in which we refind an Allen sweet, and warm, and one of that expressive melodies I told before. Then go ahead with ‘eve of seduction’. It is a really nice and representative song, so chasing at the start but very melodic in the refrain, with a great solos fight between micheal romeo and micheal pinnella. Let’s fascinate ourselves by the alarming intro of ‘the walls of babylon’, extreme prog piece, without forgetting ‘seven’, real power metal episode, and ‘the sacrifice’, a pearl, a beautiful ballad that will touch you if you loved ‘candlelight fantasia’.

The album has its end in a typical symphony x song (about ten minutes longer), maybe a little foreseeable as an end, but we like it.

In the conclusion, after the heard of ‘paradise lost’, we can confirm that symphony x are master in what they do, and sure one of the most important icons of power/prog scene, but also in the general metal scene. Keep on working this way!

Rating : 8.7/10

 Myspace :  http://www.myspace.com/officialsymphonyx

 Website : www.symphonyx.com