Symphony X
Symphony X is a
North American progressive metal band from
New Jersey founded in
1994 by guitarist
Michael Romeo. Their 1997 album
The Divine Wings of Tragedy and their 2000 release
V: The New Mythology Suite brought the band atop the mainstream progressive metal field. Musically Symphony X is similar although heavier than most other progressive metal bands to which they are commonly compared to:
Dream Theater,
Fates Warning,
Machinae Supremacy, and
Pain of Salvation. They play in a style similar to that of
power metal acts
DragonForce and
Rhapsody Of Fire, however in a very
syncopated, progressive fashion, also incorporating elements of
symphonic metal into their sound. Their music contains strong neo-classical elements in line with the music of
Yngwie Malmsteen,
Randy Rhoads and other influential
neo-classical metal artists.
In early 1994
Michael Romeo (ex-Gemini) recorded a
demo tape entitled
The Dark Chapter, which featured himself and keyboard player Michael Pinnella. The tape attracted a fair share of attention. He then recruited bassist Thomas Miller, drummer Jason Rullo, vocalist Rod Tyler and finally keyboard player Michael Pinnella.
Their self-titled debut album was recorded in the same year, and released in
Japan by now-extinct Zero Corporation Label. The album was positively received in Japan and in some
European markets.
The second album,
The Damnation Game followed six months later. Singer Rod Tyler left the band and was substituted by Russell Allen, who - not surprisingly - influenced the band's style in a noticeable way, emphasizing the classical side of Symphony X.
The Divine Wings of Tragedy is considered by many to be their masterpiece. It took a considerable time to record. Recording sessions started in
1996 and were finished in
1997. The positive feedback from the specialized press served to establish Symphony X in Europe; their success in Japan only continued to grow.
In the end of that year and for part of the next, Jason Rullo had to stay away from the band in order to solve personal issues. He was temporarily replaced by Thomas Walling. Even with a temporary drummer, the band recorded
Twilight in Olympus, released in early
1998. That year also saw the first live performances from the band, which by then had already gathered many fans from around the globe. Their first official show happened in 1998, in Japan. It was soon followed by a world tour. Bassist Thomas Miller was also replaced by Michael Lepond in that year.
A compilation album,
Prelude to the Millennium, was released by the end of 1998. As an extra, it featured a second version of the song
Masquerade, from the first album, with Russell Allen on vocals.
Jason Rullo returned to the drums for the band's fifth album,
V: The New Mythology Suite, released in
2000. The band went on a European tour shortly after its release and recorded their first live album during a show in
Paris:
Live on the Edge of Forever.
In
2002, the band released
The Odyssey, an album prominently featuring a 24-minute long musical interpretation of the
Greek tale
The Odyssey.
2004 saw their pianist Michael Pinnella release a solo album, entitled "Enter by the Twelfth Gate."
Vocalist Russel Allen's solo debut was released in summer
2005. It was titled
Russel Allen's Atomic Soul. This took a different musical direction from his work with Symphony X. It was considered by many including Allen himself a
hard rock album. He went on to record the album called
The Battle later with
Masterplan vocalist Jorn Lande. The pairing went under the title
Allen/Lande.
Symphony X was featured on
Gigantour, a summer festival headlined by
Megadeth with
Dream Theater and
Anthrax. Having begun recording sessions in July of 2006, their next album is set for release in late
2006/early
2007, presumably followed by extensive touring. The band claims this work will have darker themes musically, though the style of vocals will not change. The album is rumoured to be called "Paradise Lost" and is likely to have a song (judging by the approach to the album "The Odyssey") based on the poem by John Milton of the same name. Some people claim this has been clarified by the Symphony X webmistress but it has not been confirmed by the band on their website.
Current members
*
Russell Allen - Vocals
*
Michael Romeo - Guitar
*
Michael Pinnella - Keyboard
*
Michael Lepond - Bass
*
Jason Rullo - Drums
Former members
* Rod Tyler - Vocals
* Thomas Miller - Bass
* Thomas Walling - Drums
*
Symphony X (1994)
*
The Damnation Game (1995)
*
The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997)
*
Twilight in Olympus (1998)
*
Prelude to the Millennium (Compilation, 1998)
*
V: The New Mythology Suite (2000)
*
Live on the Edge of Forever (Live CD, 2001)
*
The Odyssey (2002)
*
Symphony X's official website*
