The Damnation Game [Limited Edition, Original recording reissued]

Symphony X | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition, Original recording reissued
• Label: Inside Out U.S.
• ASIN: B00012BD0I
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,245 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Damnation Game

2. Dressed To Kill

3. Edge Of Forever

4. Savage Curtain

5. Whispers

6. Haunting

7. Secrets

8. A Winter's Dream ( Part I) Prelude

9. A Winter's Dream ( Part Ii) The Ascension

10. Enhanced Element

Editorial Reviews

1995 album by the acclaimed speed/ prog/ symphonic metal quintet from New Jersey. Nine tracks. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The real birth of SX, February 17, 2005

By 

T. Paul "anori" (New York,) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Damnation Game (Audio CD)

Symphony X put themselves on the progressive scence with this album. This album introduces the new singer, Russel Allen.

The instrumentals on this album will blow your mind! (actually I can say that for any other SX albums after Damnation Game :D )

Though this album is not as great as "V" or "Divine Wings of "Tragedy", it is still a decent prog metal album.

Here are my ratings: (5/5 would be a perfect progressive metal song)
1)Damnation Game - 4/5
2)Dressed to Kill - 4/5
3)The Edge of Forever - 6/5, very beautiful song.
4)Savage Curtain - 3/5
5)Whispers - 4/5
6)The Haunting - 3/5
7)Secrets - 4/5
8)Winter's Dream (Part 1) - 5/5
9)A Winter's Dream(Part 2) - 3/5

If you are new to SX then I suggest getting this album first or Divine Wings of Tragedy. The Odyssey is quite different from thier previous albums.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A strong effort from Symphony X, January 25, 2003

By 

Ironblayde (Omaha, Nebraska, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Damnation Game (Audio CD)

"The Damnation Game" is certainly an improvement over Symphony X's self-titled debut album. The songwriting is more controlled, the production is better (though still leaves something to be desired), and most importantly, this album marks the arrival of vocalist Russell Allen. Allen is an emotive, versatile, downright amazing vocalist, one of metal's finest. I think the only other metal vocalist I enjoy as much is Roy Khan (Kamelot).

Though not as strong an album as later efforts, this is still an essential addition to the collection of any Symphony X fan, and will not disappoint. If you're new to the band, it's probably better to start with 1997's "Divine Wings of Tragedy," or 2000's "V: The New Mythology Suite," but if you enjoy those, pick this one up right away.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wimpy production blights intense, passionate music., July 25, 2001

By 

Lord Chimp (Monkey World) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Damnation Game (Audio CD)

With a more powerful production, The Damnation Game could have been so much better than it is. It's sad that guitars buzz instead of crunch, drums click instead of slam, and the overall power just isn't there.

The Damnation Game, SyX's second album, brings god-like metal vocalist Russell Allen into the ranks. Although his ability never really shines through in this production, one can immediately see the promise in this man's pipes. Sounding like a younger, more vicious Ronnie James Dio, Allen fits SyX's aggressive music direction much better than the hopelessly bad Rod Tyler (from the debut).

In the song department, the band has their frantic songwriting more under control, with tighter arrangements and more intensity. The neoclassical element is still strongly evident, although the band is now exploring more interesting avenues. "The Edge of Forever" is a beautiful song with fast and slow passages, lamenting poetry, and inventive melodic progressions. It really sets the tone for the band's later brand of progressive/neoclassical metal found on Twilight In Olympus and V. Michael Romeo, one of the reigning champs of metal soloing, has his neoclassical leads coming fast and furious, with technique that might cause our good friend Yngwie to take notice. Romeo's partner in devastating soloing is the lightning-fast Michael Pinnella, whose blistering keyboard leads smoke through the song and arrest one's attention as much as any guitar solo. Songs feature trademark SyX features... majestic harmonies, symphonic textures, and killer leads, but the band has yet to explode. On the next several albums, they certainly erupt with all the ambition and quality hinted at here.

You've probably discovered SyX with either The Divine Wings of Tragedy or V. If that's the case, be sure to add The Damnation Game to your collection. It is flawed, but it's great moments give it the "must-have" status. And if you're new to Symphony X, start with one of the aforementioned albums.