Customer Reviews

The Odyssey

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You almost have to look at Symphony X's 2002 epic the Odyssey as two separate albums. At the very least, it might make you wish for the days of vinyl, where each side of a record had its own character.

In this case, side A would consist of the first 7 tracks. Call it "the Heavy Side". These tracks build upon the same style the band displayed on previous albums, but they are just that much heavier on this album. Michael Romeo's Malmsteen-like shredding takes a back seat to more bludgeoning riffs, and while Russell Allen makes full use of his amazing vocal range, he's much more growly and aggressive on this album. This is Symphony X after a Pantera binge, and while it may be heavier than this kind of music usually gets, it's nice to see Symphony X emphasizing the "metal" in progressive metal.

The B-side - let's call it "the Epic Side" would boast just one song (2 if you have the limited edition), the 24-minute title track based on Homer's epic saga of Odysseus. This is the Symphony X we all know and love. This isn't the band's first attempt at a lengthy epic song, but it is by far their best. The Odyssey is an extremely well structured song, with each chapter in the story having its own distinct musical style. The whole band is in top form on this one. Michael Romeo in particular shines, and while he has plenty of opportunities to demonstrate his considerable guitar skills, it never veers into self-indulgence. Michael Pinnella's keyboards are strong as well, and help tie the song's individual parts into a cohesive whole. Russell Allen's powerful voice works wonders as well, finding the perfect emotions for each stage of the hero's odyssey.

This is a shining example of what progressive metal can accomplish. Symphony X builds on progressive rock foundations and adds metal's heaviness and aggression. Listen to this song after the Kansas songs "the Pinnacle" and "Icarus: Born on Wings of Steel" from the Masque album, and you get a very good idea of where Symphony X's influences lie. In fact, there are moments on the Odyssey (particularly Odysseus's return to Ithaca) where you'll swear you're listening to a vintage Kansas epic. Combine those influences with Romeo's obvious appreciation for Yngwie Malmsteen, and the result is a 24-minute epic that demonstrates the band members' talents and despite its length never gets boring. The title track alone makes the Odyssey one of the best progressive metal releases of the past five years.

NOTE: The track listing Amazon provides is incomplete. You actually get 8 songs on this album.

NOTE 2: There is a limited edition version of the Odyssey featuring get a bonus track called Masquerade. This is a remake of a song from Symphony X's debut album, which sadly did not feature Russell Allen on vocals. It's a nice addition, though it makes me wish the band would go ahead and redo that album with the current lineup.

that dream theater wish they were! And that's saying a lot because dream theater frickin owns. What to say about this cd and where to start...man, i don't know. First of all, the cover art is very imaginative. By just looking at it, you know this cd is going to be one great ride and it's going to be one epic piece of artwork.

Vocals: Best vocals of any progressive band that i've heard. Unlike a lof progressive singers (geoff and james mainly), he doesn't try to sound epic by doing a soprano/not quite power metalish voice. He is actually got some pretty harsh sounding vocals, although it's no where death metal or even bands like pantera, if that's what your thinking. He almost sounds like some dude from a southern rock, except the music behind him isn't back water blues...just grandious, epic, metal with a slicing edge.

The guitar? simply put, it's just plain amazing. If there was ever a definition of "guitar hero" then it's this dude. Easily one of the greatest players to ever pick up the instrument. Crushing riffs, very heavy for this type of metal and some AMAZING solos that just pull you in.

Drums? Some of the best drumming you will ever here from a non-death metal or thrash band. The double bass on the cds just pounds and never lets up. A lot of times, the snare is just hit like he has machine gun arms.

Keyboards: Keyboards are great! they don't ever try to sound overly bombastic, therefore coming off as corny. They never try to pretend they are what makes the band and try to over come everybody. They blend in perfectly, as if they are a second guitar.

Overall sound? Like dream theater but only in the feel and type of the music. They are much more consistent with their music than dream theater is and they have way more of a metal edge.

UP THE IRONS!

I love Symphony X - When I first heard them, they were the band I'd waited for all my life. A mix of incredible technique, feel, classical beauty and shredding to make you want to kill somebody, they take my breath away. A band to let you really fantasise and go somewhere special - how often do you get that these days ? V and DWoT mixed classical with speed metal in a way that this album doesn't. The vocals are harder, more shouted and agressive - to me Symphony X are at their best in songs throughout all their albums that are similair to 'The Turning' - The beautiful cathederal organ, the anthemic power of Sir Russell Allen's vocals, guitar shred that is technically perfect. Bass and drums weaving a speed partnership that I can't describe for tightness, inovation and skill. As a drummer, I feel Jason Rullo has not had the attention he deserves - what a player - forget Vinnie Collaiuta, Mike Portnoy, Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers - this is your man - go for it my son, I love ya !! High points are the intro to Incantations of the Apprentice, The Turning and just the fact that this, my favourite band of 4 years has produced another album. See you in the UK in March !! Oh, and just in case you felt there was any ambiguity about this review - I LOVE SYMPHONY X !!

First off, any review that refers to what Symphony X does as "Speed Metal" should be immediately discarded as worthless. Symphony X's influences come from many genres and sub-genres, both within Metal and without. While SX has clearly gone for a heavier, more aggressive sound, to reduce a band that offers the listener as much diversity as Symphony X does to "Speed Metal", is to clearly demonstrate a lack of knowledge regarding what it is you are listening to.

The first thing you will notice when you listen to "The Odyssey", is the larger presence of Michael Romeo's guitar. Where Romeo and Pinnella use to dual for time and space, Romeo is clearly showcased on this CD. As one would expect, he doesn't wilt in the added heat of a brighter spotlight. It is his brilliant guitar tone that gives "The Odyssey" it's crunchier sound. Throughout this CD, Romeo constantly reiterates why he deserves to be considered Metal/Rock's finest guitar player. He never overplays, never underplays, and never flaunts his virtuosity to the detriment of the song. Also given more room to shine is Jason Rullo, whose amazing drums match Romeo's guitar in the mix. Unfortunately, Mike LePond's brilliant bass playing occasionally gets lost in a mix that affords Romeo and Rullo as much volume as this one does. However, when all is said and done, it's Russell Allen who shines the brightest. He has clearly spent the time since the recording of "V: The New Mythology Suite" fine tuning his already amazing pipes. Whether he's flashing his throaty side along side one of Romeo's run-away-train-like riffs, showing off his soulful side on one of the disc's more subtle moments, or teasing you with his ever expanding range, as he does during a jaw-dropping moment in "Wicked", Sir Russell has taken his rightful place near the pinnacle of Rock and Metal's vocal hierarchy.

While there isn't a flawed track on this disc, I would be remiss if I failed to specifically write about this CD's title track. Many bands get lost when they go over the six or seven minute mark. However, Symphony X is one of those few, special bands that can make 24 minutes and 7 seconds pass in what seems like 6 or 7 minutes. "The Odyssey" is simply a phenomenal song. While some may call it heresy to suggest that the title track of this disc outshines the title track of "The Divine Wings of Tragedy", to my ears it does just that.

Suffice it to say, that "The Odyssey" has just overtaken my #1 spot of calendar year 2002 (out of the 400+ CDs I've listened to this calendar year).

If I were Yngwie or any other symphonic metal band, I would seriously consider taking a sabbatical for a few years to regroup and rethink how to handle/compete with the phenom that is Symphony X. This band continues to soar to new heights of composition and performance that no band is even close to matching. It is scary how good they are! The writing is amazing, the performance is jaw-dropping, and the production is incredible. This is definitely their best cd and raises the bar another notch...above the notch they set last time. Michael Romeo and Russel Allen are the standouts on this with soaring vocals and absolutely mind-boggling guitar work. Neither has any equal in their field...period. The others turn in astounding performances as well, but this is definitely a guitar/vocal focused cd! All of the songs are incredible, but the title cut, Inferno, and Accolade 2 will blow your mind and redefine what the term music means. The inclusion of Masquerade 98 was a welcome addition as many of us missed out on the hard to find collection cd. Long live Symphony X!

If your reading these reviews trying to decide whether or not to buy this disc, think about this. I bought this CD in Nov 2002. It is now Nov 2003 and I still listen to it almost daily! This is a truly great cd!

To give a little insight to it's content, I'll give some background as to my musical tastes. I've always been into what is considered by many to be the standard of prog rock/metal, early Queensryche, Dream Theater, and Fates Warning. I enjoy the soaring, smooth vocals and complex musical stylings of these types of bands. I also like heavier music like early Metallica, Pantera, music with a bit more crunch to it. But I've never found a band that could pull off both styles of music successfully, let alone on the same ablum. Symphony X has done just that.

The first Symphony X I heard was Divine Wings and I was blown away. I was certain that this would be the best disc they would ever make, so I tried not to get my hopes up for the follow up. When I heard 'V', I was amazed. It was even better! But again, I did not believe it could be equalled. When I heard 'The Odyssey' I became a true believer. This disc is the perfect blend of metal meets prog. I won't doubt these guys again, I will but the next album on blind faith because if it is 1/10th of what 'The Odyssey' is, I'll be more than happy.

If you like metal and you like prog, and I know I can't be the only one, then pick up this disc, you will find something you like. You might even love the whole thing from beginning to end like me. Maybe, if you're lucky, you'll have discovered your new favorite band, with a perfect mix of metal and prog, just like I did.

Symphony X is a band I've really been digging as of late. The first album of theirs I got, "V", was very impressive, and quickly became one of my favorite albums. This album, their newest release, has had nearly the same effect. After being severely disappointed by Pain of Salvation, it feels good to have found a band that has given me the experience I was denied from the aforementioned band. Their music is complex, energetic, and highly addictive.

With "The Odyssey", Symphony X have put less emphasis on the orchestral arrangements, and more on straight-ahead metal. This may disappoint a portion of the prog. crowd, but seeing as how metal has always been first and foremost for me, I am quite pleased. The songs are a bit slower and much heavier, and the Pantera influence is more evident than ever. The crushing, infectious riffage of "Wicked", "Inferno", and "King of Terrors" would almost fool you into believing that Dimebag himself stepped in for guitar duties. However, the Ynwgie-like sweeping and melodic choruses assure you that it is all Symphony X.

For me, every song here is a highlight. The aforementioned three songs are powerful fist-pumping metal, "King of Terrors" being my favorite. It is a perfect balance of pulverizing riffs, combined with a catchy melodic chorus. "The Accolade II" is a worthy successor to the first. It's slower and more emotional, and a nice break from the heaviness. I think I prefer the first "Accolade", but both are amazing in their own way. "The Turning" is full-on speed metal, with vocals that often bring Dio to mind. "Awakenings" starts out soft and peaceful, finally building to a climax at the end. All throughout, the band is extremely tight, and Russel Allen's vocals are better than ever. He is an incredibly vocalist, going from the Dio-like operatic style, to smoother melodic vocals, to almost Phil Anselmo-like aggression. The dude can just flat out sing.

Yes, all of the above should be an indication of this album's greatness, but the greatest moment of "The Odyssey" is, without a doubt, the epic title track. At 24 minutes, it makes for an exhilirating ride. It starts out with a 4-minute overture, moving into a soft emotional ballad section, from there building into a barrage of crushing heaviness and stunning technical wizardry, finally wrapping up with a nearly overwhelming emotional finish. Russel's vocals are at their peak on this track. I already had a great deal of respect for him as a singer, but after one listen to this, he has definitely made his way into my favorites list. Serving as the voice of Odysseus, he is primarily what makes this awesome retelling of the classic Homer poem so incredible. Just a powerful and jaw-droppingly perfect song (not to mention a nice complement to Blind Guardian's ode to "The Iliad", "And Then There Was Silence", released earlier in the same year). 24 minutes of pure perfection.

If you like Symphony X, this is one album you need to run, not walk, to pick up immediately. I'm not quite sure whether or not I like it over "V" (they are both brilliant, but in different ways), but it is a remarkably solid album nonetheless, and undoubtedly one of the best of the past year. Check it out today, and let Russel and co. take you on a prog. metal odyssey you'll want to enjoy again and again.

Symphony X is one of the most innovative, unique bands I have ever heard. The Odyssey as an album is heavier than V and Divine Wings. The songs are relentless guitar-solo filled epics, some fast and hard, others slower and guitar-heavy.

From the very start of the album, "Inferno" attacks the listener with a relentless guitar riff/solo; Michael Romeo is an amazing musician. The vocals on this one are low and heavy and reveal a side of Russell Allen that is rarely seen, yet utilized much more in the songs to come. This first song has lots of instrumental breaks and the chorus is somewhat softer than the main verses. "Wicked" is heavy and unremarkable, probably the weakest track on the disc, but its far from bad. "Incantations of the Apprentice" is a fast song with some impressive double-bass drumming. Jason Rullo abandons his usual 16th note patterns on the bass drum and switches to a very fast technical beat, almost in the style of quick punk rock drumming. "Accolade II" is a continuation of one of their older songs, and in my opinion much better. The chorus is cathcy and the lyrics are story-driven and fun to listen too. The whole beginning album seems to be keyboard-deprived, but The Accolade II uses it well. "The Turning" is a song based on Edgar Allen Poe's short story "The Pit and The Pendelum." This is one of the heaviest songs on the disc, with a slower, heavy metal guitar riff; not as complex as some of the others on the CD. The chorus is also catchy on this one, and it captures of feeling of the story very well. "The Turning" is a fast tune with a chorus that reminds me of the main theme of The New Mythology Suite, although the song fits much better on this album than V. Cool drums and guitar solos. "The Awakening" is also reminiscent of V. Not nearly as heavy as the other tracks, this one has some very cool keyboard work and chilling, driving solos and piano chords.

And now for the title track. Wow. The Odyssey is a 24-minute masterpiece, complete with an overture and several different parts all relating to different events that occur in Homer's epic poem. The song even uses some of the literary motiffs and repetitions used in the poem: the consistant mention of "home," for example. Michael Pinnella's keyboarding talent finally gets its due attention on this one: the song starts out with what sounds like a full symphony orchestra--brass, strings and timpani are all mimicked with incredible composition and technique. Truly amazing. The separate parts to this song are diverse and fitting to the actual poem: "The Journey Home," a sort of second intro after the overture is softish and very catchy, Allen's vocals are at their best. "The Eye," representing the debacle with the Cyclopes, is heavy and driving with some awesome guitar solos afterwards (my favorite is Romeo's little piece in 5/4 time--very cool). The section about Circe is probably the weakest part of the song--cheesy and soft, not very likable (some of it is pretty catchy though). "The Sirens" is another extremly heavy part, but the vocals and angrier than those of "The Eye." The following section about the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis are instrumentals, very well orchestrated with the keyboards, though not as complex or impressive as the Overture in that regard. The concluding section ends the story with a trimphant--and rather cheesy--chorus with Allen raising his voice, reminding me of AC/DC or Guns and Roses.

This is truly an amazing album--the beginning might seem overly heavy and keyboard-deprived, but it all evens out with the last two tracks, including The Odyssey itself.

Score: 9.4 out of 10

Listening through The Odyssey is like hearing two different albums, and two different Symphony X's.

As you hear the first 6 tracks (roughly 30 minutes' worth, or 1/2 the album's length), you get the distinct impression that Symphony X got a lot of fanmail saying, "Fellas, I really like your band, but I wish you'd cut it out with all the mamby-pamby prog stuff, and just rock out metal-style!" And so, Symphony X obliged with this half of the album. Allen's vocals growl and rage, and Romeo's riffing and soloing are turned WAY up on the mix. These songs are all heavy -- and I mean heavy like slamming the door on a Mercedes HEAVY -- and technical like mad. And if you're one of the Symphony X fans who really wants to hear a tight, skilled band playing metal behind the glorious fretwork of a bona fide guitar god strutting his stuff for all to see, then baby let me tell you, this is your half an album. If you bought V, only to discover you always quit listening after the first couple tracks when things got "softer," then the first 30 min's here will have you foaming at the mouth.

If, however, you like a more progressive, more artistic Symphony X, where Allen's vox soar, Romeo's guitars are more seamlessly integrated, the keys and percussion really start to shine, where stories are told both lyrically AND musically, then the 2nd half of The Odyssey will be your cup of tea. You can almost feel a switch flick as the first notes of The Awakening drift out of the speakers, and you think, AHA! Now, THIS is what I thought a prog-metal follow up to V would be like! The Awakening and the 24-minute behemoth title track pack so much prog-metal majesty into the 2nd half of the album that you can't help but wonder what boundaries they might have pushed if they'd gone all out in this direction, rather than spending 30 minutes proving that they can rock a little harder when they want.

When all is said and done, both halves of the album have a lot to offer for their respective audiences. The problem is, I have a hard time imagining there will be too many people who are so deeply interested in both styles of music offered here that the whole album will keep their attention over multiple listens. And that, ultimately, is what keeps this good album from being a great one. 30 more minutes like the first half, and we'd have reset the bar for melodic power metal greatness. 30 more like the second half, and we'd have set the prog-metal world on its ear. But in this case, the two halves don't make a whole, and the listening experience is lesser for it.

I really enjoy this title; much more than Iconoclast or V:The New Mythology Suite. If you like Symphony X's "Paradise Lost" you'll like this one too. I'd love to see these guys do an instrumental album! Not to dis on the singer--he's good--but man these guys are talented!