SYMPHONY X — Iconoclast (review)

Album · 2011 · Progressive Metal

4.5/5 · 2011-06-24
adg211288

Iconoclast is the eighth full-length album from US Progressive/Power Metal act Symphony X, which was released in 2011. Ever since The Odyssey (2002) the gaps between Symphony X albums have been quite long, and this is their first offering since 2007’s Paradise Lost. Like the last time, they’ve returned with a slightly new take on their sound. The album has been released in two editions; a one CD version which features nine tracks, and a 2CD ‘special’ edition which features a total of twelve, some of which are slightly re-ordered on this version. For reviews I normally base my judgement on the regular edition however in this case I intend to make an exception, as the 2CD version is actually the album as it is intended to be by the band. As far as I’m concerned if you’re holding a copy of this and there’s only one disc in the case you’re holding an incomplete album, and you need to take in back and demand your second disc! Now onto the review proper.

Symphony X is one of those bands that has never disappointed me. With perhaps the exception of their self titled debut since that didn’t feature long-time vocalist Russell Allen (who is pretty much a staple of the Symphony X sound), the band has never delivered an album that wasn’t at least solid to my ears (The Damnation Game), and most of the albums went beyond being solid into the realms of being truly exceptional (pretty much everything else). Even when they changed their sound a bit on Paradise Lost to be more heavy hitting than on earlier albums, especially in Allen’s vocals, they still managed to produce something amazing that sat just as well with their older material. With Iconoclast Symphony X continue going in the direction that Paradise Lost began, resulting of one of the heaviest albums in their catalogue.

The title track begins the record and is the longest track on offer. The guitar work in the intro is highly technical and progressive and to be honest would sound equally fitting in a tech death band as it does here. Russell Allen’s vocals however seem more in line with what he did on the older release rather than Paradise Lost. This is okay though, since this guy seems to be able to carry a record to perfection regardless of how he sings. The music is less symphonic than on earlier works as well, although of course the keyboards of Michael Pinnella remain and there are certain still some symphonic moments on the album, just not in so much of the limelight, so to speak. Also notable is the lack of neo-classical stuff, although guitarist Michael Romeo still delivers guitar work of the same calibre as before.

There are many amazing tracks on Iconoclast. One track I’d like to bring particular attention to is Reign in Madness. According to Michael Romeo this is the song that is the true closer to the album, as opposed to When All Is Lost, which closes the single disc version. While that song is another highlight as far as I’m concerned, Reign in Madness is notably completely absent from the single disc version, and as one of my favourites from Iconoclast, only strengths my view that the one disc version is a bastard of the machine that is the music industry. Seriously just get the 2CD, you will not regret it. Other amazing tracks include The End Of Innocence, Children Of A Faceless God, Prometheus (I Am Alive) and The Lords of Chaos.

While the amount of really amazing tracks by far outweighs those that aren’t, there are a few that don’t quite make it. They’re all still pretty good tracks though, ones such as Dehumanized and Heretic, but they do make Iconoclast one of the Symphony X albums that sits on what I’d consider the lower tier of excellence, that is to say this is still a mighty fine album worthy of an exceptional score, however there are a few releases in the Symphony X catalogue that make it all the way to the higher tier. But once again Symphony X fails to disappoint and Iconoclast showcases that even after eight albums and a seventeen year existence that Symphony X is still growing and finding new ways to hook us listeners with their progressive power metal.

Iconoclast is another excellent album under Symphony X’s belt. It’s likely to appeal most to those who preferred the sound on Paradise Lost the most, but I certainly think any Symphony X fan should be getting into their collection as soon as possible. Just don’t get the 1CD version.

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven, scoring 9.3/10)

more than 2 years ago
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The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Greedy labels...what a money grabbing move! Especially knowing us fans can't buy the single CD : (

Coffin Joe wrote:

more than 2 years ago

link to the full interview: http://www.campuscircle.com/review.cfm?r=13474&h=Symphony-X-The-Convergence-of-Sophistication-and-Brutality

Coffin Joe wrote:

more than 2 years ago

From an interview at the campus circle website:
"Iconoclast comes out as a regular release and a special-edition double disc album that Romeo says is the “real” album.

“Most of our fans and people who know what we do, they kind of know that the double record isn’t like the regular record with some leftover junk or some bonus tracks. We wrote 85 minutes of music, and that was our intention from the beginning,” Romeo continues. “There’s a lot of new people coming on board who maybe haven’t heard of the band or really aren’t familiar, so maybe they’ll test the waters with the single record.”

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

All together now: "BUY THE 2 CD VERSION"!!!!
;-)

Coffin Joe wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It' just plain weird. Who would want to buy the 1 cd version? I think the label have missfired with this one, I betcha there's gonna be sold a lot of 1 cd versions, just 'cause people dont realize there's a two cd version. I almost did that myself, 'cause I dont want to waste money on spec. editions with non-essential extras. Luckily I read the review here before buyng - I would be damn pissed, had I bought the lesser version. The company is screwing the people, who actually goes out buys the music instead of downloading it illegally of the net. This is really the part, I don't get, why slap the hand that feeds you? That's not a solid business strategy.

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I read an interview with some of the Symphony X guys, and they also preferred the 2CD version. According to them, it was the label who wanted a 1CD version, too.

The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Too much? Not at all. It's simply right...ever hear of a label taking the actual CD and splitting a few songs off juts because? As fans, we have to buy the more expensive one there's no way we'll accept less than the full intended CD. I feel strongly as well. We're alike it seems! I almost never buy special editions and usually say they are pointless, this time an exception of course

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I probably attacked the 1CD version a bit too much in this review, but I do feel strongly about this. The label makes the fans think that they're getting a bonus by buying the 'special' edition, when all they're getting is the album Symphony X actually made, for an inflated price. It's quite sneaky, really. I rarely buy special editions unless they're only a little bit more money than the normal edition, and in some of my reviews I've actually encouraged getting a regular edition over the special (like my review for the most recent Wolfchant album). This move though has, as you say, greed stamped all over it. I'd be really annoyed if I bought an album only to find it incomplete.

The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Great review for a great album!

Glad to hear so many are getting the 2 CD, as you said...the alternative is having an incomplete work. Greedy labels!