SYMPHONY X — V: The New Mythology Suite (review)

SYMPHONY X — V: The New Mythology Suite album cover

Album · 2000 · Progressive Metal

4.5/5 · 2012-02-26
Warthur

Whilst many cite The Divine Wings of Tragedy as the album where it all came together for Symphony X, personally I consider V to be their first really great album. Where I think the band really excel here, to an extent that they didn't on Divine Wings, is that they manage to seamlessly blend the conventions of classic power metal and progressive metal, delivering the best of both worlds whilst deftly evading the weaknesses of the two styles.

For instance, from progressive metal they draw the high level of technical complexity and the prog rock song structures whilst avoiding the pitfall of putting technicality and instrumental wanking above atmosphere, emotion, and tight song structures. For those three factors, they look to power metal, with its soaring emotional highs and epic atmosphere (perfect for the album's Atlantis mythology), but at the same time unlike many power metal bands (and prog metal bands who draw on power metal) they never cross the line from entertainingly over-the-top to embarrassingly cheesy on here, which I felt they did a little too often on Divine Wings.

In short, this album offers the listener all of the cream and none of the crud of the two genres most closely associated with Symphony X, and on the whole puts the band in the front rank of progressive metal.

more than 2 years ago
Permalink
Report #263747

Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer

Please login to post a shout

The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

olol

And yeah, I was really glad to see Symph X "make it" with their last 2 albums and especially Iconoclast, though I feared many of these new fans would be..just that. So I try to do my part and tell them to try the older material. Some take some don't but I do what I can!

J-Man wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Oh trust me, the DT fanboyism is nowhere near gone. ADToE completely restored my faith in them being my second favorite prog metal band after Pain of Salvation.

Symphony X really didn't grab me until Iconoclast, but now I like their backcatalog a lot more.

The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yes, it took a while to shed your horrible DT fanboyism Jeff. Now you can acknowledge other prog metal bands besides DT :P And the production (pre Odyssey) has never been a strong suit of Symph X. Never bothered me, though admittedly it would make the music even better.

J-Man wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I used to hate this album back when I first heard it, but I've grown to love it over the years. The production - while admittedly not the best in the world - suits the music perfectly IMO.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

The production has always bothered me. It´s one of my least favorite albums by the band.

The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I cited Divine Wings as that album (stern face)

lol just kidding, great review. I always thought this was probably their most outright progressive album, and you are so right..the blend of styles is perfect on V, and they have both technical skill as well as emotion and song writing.
Wonderful review man!