Symphony X
Biography
The Dark Chapter, Symphony X and The Damnation Game (19941995)
In early 1994 Michael Romeo (ex-Phantom’s Opera, ex-Gemini) recorded a demo tape entitled The Dark Chapter, which featured himself and keyboard player Michael Pinnella. The tape attracted a fair share of attention, particularly in Japan. He then recruited bassist Thomas Miller, drummer Jason Rullo, vocalist Rod Tyler, and finally keyboard player Michael Pinnella. Their self-titled debut album was recorded in the same year, and released to a positive reception in Japan by the now-extinct record company Zero Corporation Label. The band’s second studio album, The Damnation Game, followed six months later. Singer Rod Tyler had left the band by then and was replaced by current singer Russell Allen.
The Divine Wings of Tragedy and Twilight in Olympus (19961998)
The Divine Wings of Tragedy was the album that first gave Symphony X exposure in metal circles. It took a considerable time to record the album, with the recording sessions beginning in 1996 and concluding in 1997. The positive feedback from the specialized press served to establish Symphony X in Europe; their success in Japan only continued to grow.
At the end of 1997 and for part of the next year, Jason Rullo, their drummer, had to stay away from the band in order to solve personal issues. He was temporarily replaced by Thomas Walling. Even with a temporary drummer, the band recorded Twilight in Olympus, released in early 1998. That year also saw the first live performances from the band, which by then had already gathered many fans from around the globe. Their first official show happened in 1998, in Japan. It was soon followed by a world tour. Bassist Thomas Miller left the band and was replaced by Michael Lepond in that year.
A compilation album, Prelude to the Millennium, was released by the end of 1998. As an extra, it featured a second version of the song “Masquerade” from the first album, with Russell Allen on vocals.
V: The New Mythology Suite and The Odyssey (19992002)
Jason Rullo returned to the drums for the band’s fifth album, V: The New Mythology Suite, released in 2000. It was the band’s first release on major progressive label InsideOut Music. The album was their first concept album, dealing with the myth of Atlantis. The album features classics such as “Communion and the Oracle,” “Egypt” and the mini-suite “Rediscovery,” and includes pieces of classical music.
The band went on a European tour shortly after its release and recorded their first live album, Live on the Edge of Forever.
In 2002, the band released The Odyssey, an album prominently featuring a 24-minute long musical interpretation of the Homeric epic, the Odyssey.
Solo albums (20032006)
Keyboardist Michael Pinnella released a solo album, entitled Enter By the Twelfth Gate, on October 12, 2004. Vocalist Russell Allen’s solo debut, entitled Atomic Soul, was released in the summer of 2005. With this album, Allen took a different musical direction from that seen in his work with Symphony X. It was considered by manyncluding Allen himselfo be a hard rock album. Also in 2005, he recorded an album called The Battle with former Masterplan vocalist Jrn Lande under the moniker “Allen/Lande.” The two would later record a follow-up album entitled The Revenge, released May 11, 2007. In 2005 Symphony X was featured on Gigantour, a summer festival headlined by Megadeth with Dream Theater and Anthrax. Two Symphony X songs from the tour, “Inferno” and “Of Sins and Shadows,” are featured on the Gigantour DVD and CD-set, released in September 2006.
Paradise Lost (2007resent)
Lead vocalist Russell Allen performing at a concert in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 27, 2007.
The band’s album Paradise Lost, a concept album loosely inspired by John Milton’s epic poem of the same name, was recorded in Romeo’s studio and released worldwide on June 26, 2007. The band claimed this work had darker themes musically. The album included a special DVD of footage shot by the band throughout their history, available in FYE stores. The release coincided with a 14-month world tour, including a tour through all of Europe with Dream Theater in the fall of 2007. The band also revealed plans to perform in Japan and other Asian countries, as well as appear for the first time ever in Russia, India, and the Middle East.
Paradise Lost debuted at number 123 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States, selling 6,300 copies in its first week. The record also debuted at number 1 on the Top Heatseekers Chart.
Symphony X released their first music video for the song “Serpent’s Kiss” on July 28, 2007. It was followed by a video for “Set the World on Fire,” released on January 11, 2008. The band toured North and South America from October to November 2008, and toured Asia in February 2009. The band are also currently in the process of gathering material for a Live DVD. However, a recent interview with the magazine Classic Rock Presents… PROG made it apparent that a new album was currently in the works and that they hoped for it to be released some time in Spring of 2010.
Sound
Symphony X is often compared to other progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater and Fates Warning. Their music includes complex timings and odd meters while incorporating elements of symphonic metal and more traditional heavy metal. It also contains strong neo-classical elements reminiscent of Yngwie Malmsteen, Cacophony, Randy Rhoads, and other neo-classical metal artists.
Recording Studio : The Dungeon
The Dungeon is the studio located at the home of Symphony X’s guitarist and composer Michael Romeo. The albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite were partly recorded in The Dungeon, while The Odyssey and Paradise Lost were fully recorded there and produced by Romeo himself. Symphony X spent a sum of money upgrading The Dungeon and buying state of the art orchestration software and tools for the rich symphonic arrangements in their songs.
Line-up
Current members
Russell Allen vocals (1994-present)
Michael Romeo guitar (1994-present)
Michael Pinnella keyboards (1994-present)
Michael Lepond bass guitar (2000-present)
Jason Rullo drums (1994-1998, 2000-present)
Former members
Rod Tyler vocals (1994)
Thomas Miller bass guitar (19942000)
Thomas Walling drums (19982000)
Discography
Year
Title
Type
U.S.
FR
1994
Symphony X
Studio
–
–
1995
The Damnation Game
Studio
–
–
1997
The Divine Wings of Tragedy
Studio
–
–
1998
Twilight in Olympus
Studio
–
–
1999
Prelude to the Millennium
Compilation
–
–
2000
V: The New Mythology Suite
Studio
–
–
2001
Live on the Edge of Forever
Live
–
145
2002
The Odyssey
Studio
–
67
2007
Paradise Lost
Studio
#123
60
2010
TBA
Studio
Music videos
The Serpent’s Kiss – 2007
Set The World On Fire – 2008
References
^ “Ex-Priest Halford Sets Metal Tour”. The Week in Pop. United Press International, Inc. March 22, 2003. http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2003/03/22/Rock_News_Two_The_week_in_pop/UPI-52221048320000/. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage & More: Metal File”. Metal File. MTV Networks. November 8, 2007. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1573877/20071108/lamb_of_god.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Things to do Wednesday, April 30”. Tampa Bay Times. tampabay.com. April 30, 2008. http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/article478985.ece. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Ma, Zhenyan (February 6, 2009). “Groove on progressive metal for Valentine’s”. Shanghai Daily (Shanghai Daily Publishing House). http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090206/article_389981.htm. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
^ a b c Edwards, Owen (March 4, 2008). “A Perfect Symphony Part One: 1970’s to 2000”. alloutguitar.com. http://www.alloutguitar.com/interview/artists_and_bands/michael_romeo_interview_%E2%80%93_perfect_symphony_part_one_1970039s_2000. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Edwards, Owen (May 19, 2008). “A Perfect Symphony Part Two: 2002 – 2008”. alloutguitar.com. http://www.alloutguitar.com/interview/artists_and_bands/michael_romeo_interview_%E2%80%93_perfect_symphony_part_two_2002_2008. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Symphony X”. PROG METAL BLOG. blogspot.com. January 9, 2007. http://progmetalblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/symphony-x.html. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Symphony X Band Info: Members: Michael Romeo”. symphonyx.com. July 5, 2005. http://www.symphonyx.com/michael_romeo.html. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Official Symphony X FAQ: Why did Rod and Jason, and Tom Walling leave the band? How did you find Russell?”. symphonyx.com. September 2003. http://www.symphonyx.com/faq_band.html#7. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Enter By the Twelfth Gate: Michael Pinella”. Amazon.com. December 22, 2004. http://www.amazon.com/Enter-Twelfth-Gate-Michael-Pinnella/dp/B00031R810. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Turner, Joshua (June 3, 2005). “A Little Bit O’ (Atomic) Soul – An Interview With Russell Allen”. progressiveworld.net. http://www.progressiveworld.net/allenrinterv.html. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Sandvall, Anders (November 11, 2005). “Russell Allen of Allen/Lande”. metal-rules.com. http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/content/view/411/62/. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Rockitt, Rob (June 21, 2007). “Allen/Lande – The Revenge (Release Year – 2007)”. hardrockhideout.com. http://hardrockhideout.com/2007/06/21/allenlande-the-revenge-release-year-2007/. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Beaumont, Christopher (August 23, 2006). “DVD Review: Gigantour 2005”. Blogcritics Magazine. blogcritics.org. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/08/23/090555.php. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Gigantour: Various Artists”. Amazon.com. September 5, 2006. http://www.amazon.com/Gigantour-Various-Artists/dp/B000G8NY4A. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Ritchie, Jason (2007). “10 Questions with Symphony X”. getreadytorock.com. http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/symphony_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Jax VH, Symphony X Internet representative (June 27, 2007). “Bonus dvd, tour dates, and sales figures, oh my!”. Symphony X MySpace Blog. myspace.com. http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=54655229&blogID=281611759. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ a b “Official Paradise Lost Press Release”. symphonyx.com. March 26, 2007. http://www.symphonyx.com/news.html#plpress. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Paradise Lost reaches 1 on Billboard Heatseekers Chart”. billboard.com. July 2007. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=266094&model.vnuAlbumId=801027. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Paradise Lost Sales”. symphonyx.com. July 13, 2007. http://www.symphonyx.com/news.html#sales. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Watch Symphony X’s ‘Serpent’s Kiss’ Video Online”. metalunderground.com. July 28, 2007. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=27803. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Video Premiere: Symphony X et the World on Fire”. Headbangers Blog. MTV Networks. January 11, 2008. http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/01/11/video-premiere-symphony-xs-set-the-world-on-fire/. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Symphony X Plans North East Shows In Support Of 5.1 Special Edition of “Paradise Lost””. metalunderground.com. November 6, 2008. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=40065. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Symphony X Announces South American Tour Dates”. metalunderground.com. August 20, 2008. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=38492. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Symphony X: More Asian Tour Details Revealed”. blabbermouth.net. November 18, 2008. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=109108. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ Begrand, Adrien (September 16, 2005). “Fates Warning: Awaken the Guardian (Expanded Edition) – PopMatters Music Review”. PopMatters. PopMatters Media, Inc. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/f/fateswarning-awaken.shtml. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Official Symphony X FAQ: Who influenced each of the band members?”. symphonyx.com. September 2003. http://www.symphonyx.com/faq_band.html#1. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ “Recherche pour: Symphony X”. lescharts.com (online database of record charts compiled by France’s record industry). June 30, 2007. http://lescharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=Symphony+X. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Symphony X
Symphony X’s official website
Symphony X’s official MySpace page
v d e
Symphony X
Russell Allen Michael Lepond Michael Pinnella Michael Romeo Jason Rullo
Thomas Miller Rod Tyler Thomas Walling
Studio albums
Symphony X The Damnation Game The Divine Wings of Tragedy Twilight in Olympus V: The New Mythology Suite The Odyssey Paradise Lost
Live albums
Live on the Edge of Forever
Compilations
Prelude to the Millennium
Related articles
Gigantour
Categories: 1990s music groups | 2000s music groups | Former Metal Blade Records artists | New Jersey heavy metal musical groups | American progressive metal musical groups | American power metal musical groups | Musical quintets
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