The Odyssey is the sixth studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X. It was the first to be recorded entirely at guitarist Michael Romeo's home studio. The fourth track, Accolade II, is a sequel to The Accolade from The Divine Wings of Tragedy. The album is heavily influenced by the band Kansas. The eighth track is the album's grand finale: a 24-minute musical take on Homer's The Odyssey about the journey of Greek hero Odysseus. At over 67 minutes, it is the longest Symphony X album to date despite having only 8 songs.

Notes

*Inferno (Unleash the Fire)

**Michael Romeo: On this CD, like all those previous, we try to come up with new ideas and different musical approaches. This time, we were after a more raw and “in your face” sound, which is why I like this song as the opening track. The ‘moto perpetuo’ guitar line against the odd-meter groove gives a feeling of urgency, which is also suggestive in the lyrics. Also, this tune touches on most of the elements found throughout the rest of the CD... the ‘up front’ guitars, drums, and vocal – the soaring, melodic chorus – the dueling solo section – and Russell’s wide range of expression in the vocals. All are apparent in this track. One of my favorites.

**Jason Rullo: When I first heard the finished version I couldn’t believe it was the same song as in pre-production. Some songs really come to life and they are not always the songs you expect, as was the case with Inferno. The vocals added some attitude and the guitar riffs really stand out. The material on this album is a little different than anything we’ve done in terms of the groove, I think there’s more of it on this CD than any others of ours to date.

*Wicked

**Russell Allen: I actually did some pre-production work on this and a few other tracks at my friend’s house. The funny part was that I had set up a small studio in his kitchen. The inspiration for the lyrics on this one came from visions I was seeing in my mind of a traveler seeking shelter for the night in an old cemetery. It’s pretty much a story of seduction. The groove on this track is sick and it’s one of my fav mid-tempo riffs that I’ve ever heard from Romeo.

**Michael Romeo: As Russ said, lyrically it is about an unlucky traveler in an unlucky cemetery on an unlucky night. It should be no surprise that the opening riff is in 13. Sometimes a cool riff comes along and you just gotta go with it.

*Incantations of the Apprentice

**Michael Romeo: I was tinkering with this ‘string line / guitar riff’ late one night in the Dungeon, and Russ was here working on these lyrics. In the past he had mentioned that he wanted to have a tune where the verse was more open, with some stops and space for the vocals. This turned out to be that song. Being that the lyrics were based on The Sorcerer's Apprentice by French composer Paul Dukas, my original thought was to incorporate a large section of the actual score into the song, with orchestra and the band. It didn’t seem to fit and slowed the momentum of the song down... so we scratched it. Although there are still hints of the original Dukas melody in the guitar solo section. Cool stuff.

**Russell Allen: I remember watching The Sorcerer's Apprentice from Disney’s Fantasia in the studio. So, I got this story of an apprentice who travels to a mysterious place in order to learn the ways of a powerful necromancer. Romeo had this string line that ended up being the anchoring melody in the track. This song was crafted back in January and it was the first track that me and Mike R. collaborated on for this album. It’s one of my favorites because the verse sections are unlike anything we have done before and I thoroughly enjoyed creating this mystical track.

*Accolade II

**Russell Allen: This is obviously another poem of a knight’s tale. This one I loosely based on a mix of the Braveheart and Robin Hood stories. Keying in on the similarities like their pursuit to honor their father’s name – that’s really the basic theme of this Accolade. I played the part of a knight for so many years. I hold this and the original Accolade very close to me. Again, the music is stellar and I love it when the band does tracks like these because their playing makes my job so easy. It’s not hard to find the right emotional tone for a track when the band paints the scenery behind you.

**Michael Pinnella: We really liked the story of the first Accolade and wanted to make almost a sequel – starting off where the first one ended. Accolade I was loaded with melodic and rhythmic themes that we brought back and redeveloped. Being that the story line was similar, it wasn’t hard to come up with new themes and melodies, as well.

*King of Terrors

**Michael Lepond: My favorite song on the CD. It is the perfect marriage of metal and melody. I can’t wait to play this one live. It’s gonna kill...

**Michael Romeo: Another one of my favorites. I love the narrative section – reminds me of an old horror flick. Vincent Price, perhaps? The middle section riffage is very cool!

*The Turning

**Michael Lepond: Mike (Romeo) and I really just wanted to write a kick ass, in your face, metal tune with this one. This track reminds me a little bit of Sea of Lies from The Divine Wings of Tragedy CD. The sonic riffing combined with Russ’ punishing vocals make for a lethal combination.

**Michael Romeo: Listening to the first guitar solo in this song makes me laugh because I think about the dialog between Steve Evetts and myself during the mixdown... for every song, it went something like this.... Mike R: “Dude, don’t you think the guitar solo is kinda loud?” Steve: “What?!?! Too loud?!?.... You gotta go more!” So the ‘quote of the week’ was: “If it sounds too loud... it’s good” OR “if it sounds too loud... make it even louder!”

*Awakenings

**Michael Pinnella: In the never-ending journey to try and create great songs, we, once again, came up with a story line to help build a mental picture of what the music should sound like. Certain moods and emotions call for specific musical colors, keys, and themes. In this song we have someone who is uncertain about what the future holds, almost desperate to know. The driving rhythm of the verse portrays someone searching for answers, the big sounding chorus is someone crying out – the middle interlude is the struggle everyone faces.

*The Odyssey

**Russell Allen: “Unbelieveable”... that’s the first thing that came to mind when I heard the opening orchestration Romeo had composed and performed for this monster. The vocal takes in the beginning with the acoustics were the first time in the sessions that I felt that familiar magic. Steve (Evetts) was there in the control room, along with Jay and Mike (Romeo) and I guess the vibe was just there. That was the first thing I sang in that track and it just set the tone for the whole epic. Romeo and myself spent many sleepless nights molding the vocal parts for this epic song.

**Michael Romeo: We knew there was going to be an epic on this album, but it took us a while to come up with the subject material. We were kicking around a few different ideas when Mike L. mentioned the Odyssey, the story of Ulysses. I thought it would be great to approach that from a musical standpoint. The story of Odysseus’ journey painted a huge mental picture that, eventually, transformed itself into the music. I sketched out the orchestral sections early on and the rest of the music just fell into place from there. In Part One we are introduced to Odysseus – with the opening horn theme, which develops into a more ominous section – hinting to the treacherous things to come and then the ending with the flowing final string melody – as he hopes to reunite with Penelope, his wife. As the song progresses, we follow Odysseus and his encounters with the Cyclops, Circe, and the Sirens. This song has some of my favorite performances by all the guys and is definitely my favorite track.

Personnel

*Russell Allen - vocals

*Michael Romeo - guitars, orchestral keyboards, and programming

*Michael Pinnella - piano, keyboards

*Michael Lepond - bass

*Jason Rullo - drums

Production

*Produced, Recorded & Engineered By Michael Romeo

*Mixed by Michael Romeo and Steve Evetts

*Mastered by Peter Van T'riet

Category:Symphony X albums

Category:2002 albums

Category:InsideOut Music albums

es:The Odyssey

fr:The Odyssey

it:The Odyssey

nl:The Odyssey (album)

ja:ジ・オデッセイ (シンフォニーX)

no:The Odyssey (album)

pl:The Odyssey

pt:The Odyssey

sr:The Odyssey (албум)

fi:The Odyssey

sv:The Odyssey (musikalbum)

Artist/Band Information

Symphony X are an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.

Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community.

Biography

The Dark Chapter, Symphony X and The Damnation Game (1994−1995)

In early 1994 Michael Romeo (ex-Phantom's Opera, ex-Gemini) recorded a studio album 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 (1996−1998)

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 (1999−2002)

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 (2003−2006)

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 many—including Allen himself—to be a hard rock album. Also in 2005, he recorded an album called The Battle with former Masterplan vocalist Jørn 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 (2007-2010)

Sx-russell-3-small.JPGthumbrightLead 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.

Iconoclast (2011-present)

On March 1, 2010, an update on the Symphony X Official Website announced that the band had recorded most of the new album and that Michael and Russell were working on lyrics; Michael was getting ready to start doing tracking for the album. The album's name and lyrical concept were revelaed on January 29, 2011 in an interview between DJ JC Green of Metal Messiah Radio's "Heavy Metal Thunder" show and Russell Allen: the follow-up to Paradise Lost will be titled Iconoclast and will have its lyrics centered around "machines taking over everything and all this technology we put our society into pretty much being our demise." When asked about a release date Allen said, "We are in post-production, so the album is pretty much almost done. At this point, mixes are being wrapped up and finalized and it's off to mastering and should be ready for release in a few months, definitely first quarter of 2011. We've got the artworks all done, we're taking pictures next week... all that good stuff. So everything's on track for release pretty soon. Allen also commented that "Sonically, it's in the realm of in a way, in terms of the sound of things; the guitar sound is a little different. Basically, the album is pretty intense, probably the most intense record we've ever done... "This album will contain a good body of work that harkens back to a lot of early metal, some early metal, and a lot of Symphony X standards that you guys know already, and a little bit of a newer sound too, here and there, just a newer direction."

On February 25, 2011, Symphony X played the first show of their 2011 tour in Stuttgart, Germany, where they performed two songs from Iconoclast: "End of Innocence" and "Dehumanized." The following day, in Antwerp, Belgium, they performed yet another new song, "Heretic."

Sound

Symphony X is often compared to other progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater, Fates Warning and Shadow Gallery. 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 (1995–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 (1994−2000)

* Thomas Walling − drums (1998−2000)

Discography

Music videos

* The Serpent's Kiss - 2007

* Set The World On Fire - 2008

References