SYMPHONY X — The Damnation Game (review)

SYMPHONY X — The Damnation Game album cover Album · 1995 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
The Angry Scotsman
Symphony X's second album, "The Damnation Game" is miles ahead of its predecessor.

First, famed Russell Allen appears on this album, (and of course every one to come) and it is a vast improvement over Rod Tyler. His voice is good, first of all, very powerful, and has one hell of a range. Also, I always found his vocals tasteful, they fit perfectly and are not too over the top, which is the case with far too many power metal bands. The production is also much better than the previous album, as is the overall songwriting. Much tighter and just better composed all around.

This album features Romeo's shred like riffing, spaced with syncopated, often angular and heavy riffs. Keyboards play a very prominent role, sometimes matching the guitar work harmonically, sometimes standing out like a rhythm guitar, and of course is often placed at the forefront. Here we also saw another Symphony X classic, trade off guitar/keyboard solos. Romeo's solo's are of course in mind blowing neo classical shred style.

The bass is not very high on the album, when you do hear bass it is often in a quick break either playing the main rhythm or a high speed scale run. Rullo's drumming is effective. He is a great drummer but on this album his work is quite restrained, often playing simple rhythms over long chains of double bass, or simple beats.

Allen's vocals are again superb, ranging from clean to operatic and always spot on.

The songwriting is good, and progressive in nature. My only knock on is the lack of a standout song. Every one is good, none that weak but none really blow you away. Also, while much improved I just still don't feel the band is fully "there" though these are without doubt some great songs.

Really good album, a must for any Symphony X fan and one that prog/power metal fans should enjoy.

Three and a Half Stars
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