| CD review: Symphony X - Paradise Lost |
| InsideOut Music Records, 2007 | Review published: 2008/03/01 |
|
 Neoclassical masters Symphony X return with 'Paradise Lost', their latest album of... wait... neoclassical masters?
This band was once a very original band, adding neoclassical elements in the guitar and keyboards to the new genre (at that moment it was quite new) of progressive metal. But this just has glimpses of anything remotely neoclassical. What I see here is just above average power/progressive metal, relying on cool riffs and catchy choruses. They did this on 'The Odyssey', and it seems they like it, so we have to adapt to the new Symphony X.
Enough of musical lessons. It shouldn't be wrong with the genre if the music is still good. It is? Unfortunately, no. As usual with other albums of this band, songs could be divided in three categories. First we have the short and catchy songs, like the opener, 'Domination' and 'Eve of Seduction'. These songs at first don't sound bad, and live, they really deliver. But it gets old really, really fast. Some riffs are really good, like the one at the beginning of 'Eve of Seduction', and the choruses are catchy so you can sing along those to those on a live performance. But that's the problem: Symphony X changed their sound after doing their first tour, just before doing 'The Odyssey', so songs now are much better for live play. But in fact are quite worse. Even Allen's voice sounds much harsher. If I wanted to hear power metal, I know a lot of bands that have a similar sound and sound much better.
Well, that shouldn't be a problem, since we still have the other two kind of songs: ballads and epics. But there are just two ballads in this album, the title track and 'The Sacrifice'. 'Paradise Lost' is a very nice ballad, probably on the same level as other classics like 'The Accolade' and 'Communion and the Oracle', but 'The Sacrifice' is just... quite average. Compared to the title track, it's just pointless. At least it has a very cool guitar solo.
Fortunately, the best Symphony X tracks are usually the longest ones. 'Revelation' is the best track of the album. It's not as great as 'The Divine Wings Of Tragedy' or 'Rediscovery', but it's still an amazing addition to their discography. 'The Walls of Babylon' and 'Seven' aren't really epic songs, just a bit longer than the other songs. Both have cool intros (the one in 'Seven' is neoclassical!), but are just too long and have very boring riffs, choruses and solos. The worst tracks on the album.
After all that, it seems like this is a really bad album. It isn't. Fans of power / progressive metal, Symphony X and those who liked 'The Odyssey' will find something to enjoy in this album, and probably enjoy it a lot. But if you are tired of the same, old power metal, you won't find anything new. I still give it a spin or two sometimes, but if I want to hear this band, I'll rather listen to 'V' or 'The Divine Wings'.
Carlos Pozo
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01. Oculus Ex Inferni
02. Set The World On Fire (The Lie Of Lies)
03. Domination
04. The Serpent's Kiss
05. Paradise Lost
06. Eve Of Seduction
07. The Walls Of Babylon
08. Seven
09. The Sacrifice
10. Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia)
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