SYMPHONY X — Paradise Lost (review)

SYMPHONY X — Paradise Lost album cover Album · 2007 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
AtomicCrimsonRush
"Paradise Lost" is a heavy powerhouse of prog metal.

"Paradise Lost" is the latest Symphony X from 2008. The album is as heavy as the band get featuring a much more aggressive approach. Gone are the heavy reliance on big bombastic orchestras from "The Odyssey" and gone are the pretentious conceptual themes of "Twilight In Olympus", this is just solid power metal with killer riffs, and it's awesome. Russel Allen is angry and darker on these tracks, The concept is present though it is more based on john Milton's epic poem rather than retelling it.

It begins with the instrumental 'Oculus Ex Inferni' that features mass choirs and orchestra, but it stands alone in this regard.

'Set The World On Fire' is a riff heavy guitar dominated thrasher. The lead break is incredible trading off between Romeo's guitar and Pinella's keys.

My favourite track on the album is 'Domination' that riffs along at a blistering speed. There is a scorching lead solo that tears the fabric of time apart itself.

'Serpent's Kiss' is another very good track with a strong melody. Romeo goes ballistic on guitar with time sig changes to die for.

'Paradise Lost' slows things down a little with a nice piano interlude and sustained synth pads. It builds up to an infectious chorus with catchy lyrics.

'Eve Of Seduction' is a quick tempo speed metal blaster, with very significant time shifts in tempo and feel.

'The Walls Of Babylon' is a wonderful metal triumph. Russell tears it up on this with dynamic expression.

'Seven' is a fast metal bltzkrieg that has on onslaught of drums and bass. Romeo is incredible on guitar throughout and the lead sol is a fireball onslaught.

'The Sacrifice' is like an 80s power ballad that is interesting to compare with the rest of the power metal and makes a nice break form the blistering riffs, showcasing Allen's vocals.

'Revelation' is ultra heavy and violent with chunky distortion and crunching riffs like machine gun blasts. There are synth passages and piano to break the mayhem and then it locks into an infectious riff after 7 minutes.

"Paradise Lost" is the best thing Symphony X have done; creative, powerful, intense and a strong melodic approach are the main points. I am not into the concept, which is way too dark for my tastes; demonic and overbearing in places, however credit where credit is due; this is a monster riffng metal powerhouse. 4 blazing stars.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Deviance Deathcore
ASHES INTO BLOOD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Equilibrium Atmospheric Sludge Metal
BESRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tension Between Rot And Genesis Sludge Metal
ANTHESIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Recycle Brain Crust Punk
C.P.G
Buy this album from MMA partners
Cartography Of The Mind Deathcore
TETHERED
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Besra – Unsullied (Music Video)
BESRA
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
Tethered - Breathe (Official Video)
TETHERED
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Saltwound - Walking The Blade (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)
SALTWOUND
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Saltwound - The Negative (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
SALTWOUND
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Saltwound - Drowning feat. Taylor Barber (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
SALTWOUND
Bosh66· 1 day ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed