Customer Reviews

Paradise Lost 5.1 (CD/DVD)

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

 

 

First off, let me say that the album is nothing short of astounding - well mixed, well balanced, well written, well sung, and well played. This is easily one of my favorite albums of all time.

Alas, the DVD is marred by a poor audio bitrate. The DVD itself is a normal, standard definition DVD. The visuals are simple, but very effective. While the sound is very enjoyable, it simply won't hold up to critical listening.

Since the DVD uses a Dolby Digital audio stream, it's limited to 448 kilobits/sec worth of data. A critical ear will be able to pick this up, even with a run of the mill 5.1 system. I'd rate the disc's sound right on par with the CD when I weigh the the benefit of extra channels against the compression artifacts.

With the CD so astounding, I must say I was expecting more out of the DVD. Including a DTS audio track (at either 768 or 1,536 kilobit) would have gone a long way for me.

The music videos on the DVD have a PCM Stereo soundtrack, that sounds like it's been run though an MP3 encoder, or perhaps prepped for a YouTube upload. Very dissapointing.

I'm left happy with the purchase, and salivating for a Blu-Ray release to get to some of that lucious lossless audio.

The Good
If you missed out on the 2007 release of this album, than SPV has a special treat for you. Paradise Lost 5.1 not only delivers the standard 10 track CD, but also a bonus disc (DVD) that contains a special 5.1 mix of the album, as well as two HD music videos.

Epic is the only word that can describe the music on Symphony X's latest offering. It's almost as if you are listening to a momentous movie. That movie comes to life in you imagination and runs wild. "Set the World on Fire" is a guitar lover's wet-dream. The riffs are meaty and electrifying. The drums are devastating, and vocalist Russell Allen brings the characters to life with his melodic and emotional delivery.

"Serpent's Kiss" brings the tempo down a little bit, but keeps the amplifiers cranked to 11. The track is a twisted story that parallels life in the Garden of Eden, with the focus on the devil's role. The piano takes center stage for the tender tale that is "Paradise Lost." With Allen's passionate vocals here you have to wonder why he chose the metal field, rather than broadway or mainstream rock.

"Eve of Seduction" boils down to a duel between the rapid-fire guitar of Michael Romeo and keyboardist Michael Pinnella. "Sacrifice" is another gut-wrenching ballad delivered over-the-top by Allen and company. The album simply comes to life on the 5.1 mix. It literally surrounds you with electric power and emotion. The HD videos are a mix of digital imagery and live band performances.

The Bad
Once you hear the 5.1 mix, you may find yourself ignoring the regular mix.

The Verdict
Symphony X deliver another powerhouse full of metal fury and emotional heart. The 5.1 mix of Paradise Lost enhances the experience by adding an extra level of vibrancies that literally makes the material come to life.

For years I have been looking for a re entry point into the metal scene and for the most part the filth and violence, I can get that for free on television, that form the themes of too many albums has been off putting.
I came across Dream Theater at the suggestion of Amazon and then had Paradise Lost presented, the 30 second limit on previews not withstanding, I purchased the album and have been very pleased with that purchase. The idea of a theme album for me goes way back to Rick Wakeman and this albums inspiration taken from Milton's work just add to its great appeal to those with literary sensibilities.

The guitarwork is blistering and the drumming thunderous. Unless you are craving sleaze you should enjoy this album. Its great there is a section of the industry for people who, like me remember the beginnings of metal and are intelligent enough to apprecate albums like this. So it took five years...it was worth the wait

I loved this album it seemed to just arrive in time, although many criticise it, it is a epic in own sense and the band seem to be experimenting, for Econoclast....

while waiting for their new cd,this one stands out as their best production to date.Symphony X never fails to amaze its fellow listeners but this cd is one of my favorite piece of music which i find myself listening to it once every month, this 5.1 version comes with a nice package of the regular cd and the bonus dvd at a nice price even with the shipping included to Turkey:)

The 5.1 is not a huge leap in sound, not enough to pay more. The Cd itself however is great!

Much more focused than The Odyssey, Paradise Lost is the best work from Symphony X since The Mythology Suite. It is not as strong as that work, but has many great moments. Russell Allen's vocals devolve into growls too often. I know that's in vogue, but you don't need to pander to the lowest common denominator just to sell records. He has a great voice but he only uses it half the time. The playing, especially Michael Romeo and Jason Rullo is outstanding. Michael Pinnella on keyboards isn't as burried as he was in the Odyssey, but it's not the same combination of keyboards AND guitar that they used to be. This is so much Michael Romeo's show, as was The Odyssey. Great production and 5 years in the making. The effort shows, I'd just like to see the complete band represented again and Russell's wonderful, clean vocals placed on display where they belong. Considering their target audience, that may not happen.

listen to the song paridise lost. the rest of the album is good, some songs are cheesy, but the songs that you like will grip you for days. I you like the band paradise lost (reflections, or one second) and amorphious ( silent waters) then this cd will make a good addition to your collection