Customer Reviews

V

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Yes you read the title right. If you click my name you know that I have reviewed two rap albums (I don't usually bother reviewing on amazon but I like reading some of the reviews). Anyways as I was saying I am a huge rap fan (and not that commercial MTV crap like 50 CENT, Eminem, Chingy, Nelly, J-Kwon, Murphy Lee etc.) and to be honest I hate all that pop-punk/metal crap (Blink 182, Sum 41, Slipknot etc.) and I used to hate metal/rock/progressive rock in general. So what made me change my mind? This amazing group.

Ok so it was unusual for me to listen to this kind of music. I just thought it was pointless drum bashing with played out electric guitars... but this group... they have something special I just don't know.... there is three things that make this album amazing.

1. Lyrics... lyrically this album has ten times the talent than of that rat faced b*****d Chingy. It's just amazing how the lead singer delivers them.... I absoloutely love them.

2. Delivery... As I said before the delivery of the man's voice... kind of Freddie Mercury-ish but is very influential. I'm not sure if you can call it singing but he definently has that unique voice that makes you wanna sit down and listen,...

And most importantly in my opinion 3.
The Music- The band musically are just geniuses... the beautiful synchronisation (sp?) with the drums and guitars mixed in with some nice synthesising beats now again with the beautiful vocals is a nice combination.

Sometimes I feel the interludes are a bit too long for me to get into the song.... but that's the whole beauty of it... they can show their musical talent as well as their vocal/lyrical skill on just one song alone.

I am now starting to get into this kind of music. I only just found out other bands like Dream Theatre, Thy Masjestee etc... and they really do get you pumped. If this kind of music was as commercial as hip hop was today I believe it would even be bigger. And remember I am a true hip hop fan and this is porbably the first ever genre of music I have listented to outside of it.

I love you Symphony X, and keep up the good work.

P.S. I know I'm a bit late but hey... we've all gotta start somewhere.

My favourite songs are Fallen (especially the interlude), A Fool's Paradise (probably the best lyrically) and the death of balance (that interlude gets me hyped the most)

Peeeace.

this album is awsome, complex, you name it if it's good it's on hear.
It all starts with a thrash metal meats opera intro, then turns into a complex opening and a classic album from then on out, great for any porgressive fan.

Symphony X are a cool band and this is a cool album. Though only 4 stars cause I don't like the vocalist.

I realize that progressive/melodic/neoclassical metal is a genre that many might not be able to tolerate. With me, I got sick of conventional metal. I was tired of all the rhythm and screaming and guitar playing without much melody, as melody is an important part of music. And between metal, I occupied my ears with bands ranging from Tool to Rage Against The Machine to King Crimson to Primus to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I've always had a niche for orchestra music, and I'll take a symphony over a band any day.

So naturally, with my enjoyment of orchestral music, metal, and progressive music, I felt right at home popping Symphony X's "V" into my CD player. V is a CD that focuses heavily on guitar parts underlined with orchestral sounds, and occasionally, orchestral sounds underlined with guitar parts. The balance created here is one that needs to be appreciated - it is not like Metallica's S&M, where the orchestra acts as filler, or like an acoustic guitar solo where the violin accompanies the guitar in the background. The orchestral sounds in V fill the entire CD, they add luminosity to it, and they help make the melody. The guitar and symphony coincide to create a musical experience that can only be described as neoclassical.

V does have repetition, and the CD does feel very similar throughout. However, that is usually the manner in which progressive CDs are carried out. Looking at albums like "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" or "Lark's Tongue In Aspic," we can see how repetition is used to portray similar musical ideas, and Symphony X follows suite. The Egyptian style is noticeable throughout the entire album, and it is rather enjoyable. From the orchestral sounds to the guitars to the vocals, they all use different variations of a similar theme. The effect is amazing.

Musically speaking, V is pretty well rounded. The drumming is very precise, and good, although nowhere near as good as Neil Pert from Rush or Danney Carrey from Tool. However, I noticed that the drumming isn't brought out that much, and such is the case with many metal bands (Poor Metallica, even though Lars sucks, he still isn't brought out enough). The singing is excellent, and so are the background voices. Choirs add to metal very well, ironic, maybe. The guitar and bass parts are really tight. There are no bad guitar solos, and the bassing, while subtle, is very precise. The bass/guitar solo in Egypt is incredible, and the bass is just as important as the drums.

With all that said, I suggest that if you are a fan of metal or progressive music, then you should go check this CD out. It is well worth your money, and your time. I guarantee you that you will listen to it more then once, and that you will enjoy the perfect blend and balance of orchestral sounds with metal. Everything about this CD is complete, especially the sound.

Music composed by a virtuoso, classically trained guitarist and combine it with lyrics that are either painfully cliched, plain cheesy or are a result of bad thesaurus usage and you have Symphony X. Intelligent music . . . unintelligible lyrics.

As often noted, "Prelude" a direct quote of Verdi's Dies Irae from his Requiem Mass. The interlude in "A Fool's Paradise" is from Bach's 5th Brandenburg Concierto. And the melodic ending of "Death of Balance (Lacrymosa)" is a direct quote of one of the most famous and beautiful classical pieces ever composed, that being Mozart's Lacrimosa from his own Requiem Mass (not very similar to Verdi's).

So yes, Symphony X is indeed classically influenced.

I'm trying not t be too harsh because my review is going to be quite bias in the sense that I'm not really a Symphony X fan. I bought this album because I like bands such as 'Blind Guardian', 'Kamelot' and 'Stratovarius' but Symphony X didn't really do it for me. First there is the vocals which are rally hash and sound like something from a grunge band. Secondly, 'Evolution' and 'Communication and the Oracle' were OK but generally all the songs soud the same. Maybe I just can't handle loud banging music.

An intense triumphant release by Symphony X. This is "Melodic Power Metal" at it's best.
Fantastic songwriting with soaring vocals and brilliant guitar harmonies by the guitar wiz Michael Romero.

This has to be the best Symphony X album I've heard! Michael Romeo plays like never before. His solos are simply incredible, and the way they turn on the power in their music is a one of a kind.

The opening track, "Evolution (The Grand Design)" simply blows you away! It has been a while since I heard something that impressive in terms of power! This is not cheesy in any ways, so don't be afraid.

And then you get "Fallen" which starts kinda slow but somewhat mysterious, and then out of nowhere you hear the guitar. Well done!

"Communion and the Oracle" is well arranged too, a bit slower but still great!

Then you get "The Bird..", "On the Breath of Poseidon", "Egypt", "Death of Balance, Lacrymosa" which are all played very carefully. You can see that Symphony X always make sure that they play their stuff top notch before releasing something.

Then there's "Absence of Light", which is the 2nd song I heard from that album since a friend of mine had this album before I bought my own of course! Let's say I was very impressed, awesome choruses, good guitar, nice vocals! What could you ask more?
"A Fool's Paradise" is let's say another high tempo song, with no flaws at all!

Finally, you get a masterpiece : "Rediscovery". It might be 12 mins long, but it never gets boring! This is a must for any Power/Prog Metal fan!

Yep. Blown away. That's how you will find yourself after listening to this album. I mean seriously. First of all. The classic Influence. Verdi's Requiem in the Prelude played with Metal Instruments. Lacrimosa originally crated by Mozart(oh that was sweet) or Verdi's Requiem again in "A fool's paradise". Some people may not be the most patient people in the world and they actually think is boring. Just like what happens with Blind Guardian's Night at the Opera. But my friends, listen to it. Not only to Evolution(The Grand Design) which is surely the most impressive song in the album and probably in the history of the band. And also in the history of metal.I mean we have to say it. That song is something that can impress anybody. Even a Rap fan(if nobody is looking at him in that momet ;) ) can be impressed by that song.Everything else is great. Check out those guitar and keybords solos in "Fallen","Communion And The Oracle,"Egypt",Absence Of Light" or "A Fool's paradise". Another two songs have solos too by the way.Romeo is awesome just like in his previous works. Pinella is one of the best keybordists in Metal today(If not the best).Leopold and his bass can actually be considered "big time players". Rullo, the same thing. An awesome drummer. And Allen has a voice that may not be the favorite for some but that fits in the idea of the music here. In addition to all this, Here you guys have a band in which everybody writes the music and lyrics. yes, everybody. Not too common in not massive known Metal bands.
If you think about it. Before the "Cataclysm" there is a different atmosphere to the one after it. Is like if this guys actually made the earth and water enviroment in each half of the album. Is so weird but is true. Anyway.Worried about the Lyrics? thay are not so cheesy as thay may seem. If you read them you actually find idea based in historical facts and known legends. The conclusion. Do yourself a favor. BUY THIS MASTERPIECE. Is a HUUUUUUGE FAVOR by the way.