Prelude to Millenium
Prelude to Millenium
| 1.Masquerade '98(6:01) 2.A Winter's Dream - Prelude (Part I)(3:03) 3.The Damnation Game(4:32) 4.Dressed to Kill(4:44) 5.Of Sins and Shadows(4:56) 6.Sea of Lies(4:18) 7.Out of the Ashes(3:39) 8.The Divine Wings of Tragedy(20:41) 9.Candlelight Fantasia(6:42) 10.Smoke and Mirrors(6:12) 11.Through the Looking Glass (Part I, II, III)(13:04) |
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| As there have already been reviews written
for all four Symphony X releases, I could just copy Ilya's thoughts on each song to this
review and be done with it, but since I haven't had a chance of reviewing any Symphony X
material, I am going to take my opportunity to give a different outlook on some of the
songs, and an overall feel for this album in general. Most "greatest" hits type albums give a round sampling from an artists past works on one album, or atleast their works on a particular label, but strangely here, we have no tracks from their first release, and instead its mostly choice cuts from Damnation Game and Twilight in Olympus, which cant' be bad in itself, but a few songs from their first album would be more than welcome. But this album doesn't pretend to be a greatest hits album, its simply a "Prelude to the Millennium", so I suppose its best to not make it into something its not. Music-wise, there's very little to complain about, there's "A Winter's Dream - Prelude", which is simply a beautiful and gentle opening to a second part of a song that is not included on this release, but should have. Magically haunting lapping acoustic guitar and soulful, angelic vocals give it an unearthly and almost heavenly quality. Two of their soon-to be classic songs, the 21 minute epic, "The Divine Wings of Tragedy", and the fabulous progressive ballad, "Candlelight Fantasia", where the singer almost sounds like a mixture of Joe Lynn Turner and Ronnie James Dio at times. There are plenty of tracks to appeal to the speed metal fans, "Of Sins and Shadows", "Sea of Lies", and "Out of the Ashes", all bunched up in a little row. "Out of the Ashes" is a speed song that is almost poundingly painful to those ears not use to such music. Really nice drum work and a huge chorus of vocals that gives it an almost medieval quality at times. "Through the Looking Glass" is one of my favorites from the band, with lots of time changes, soaring guitar work, and nice crunchy rhythm guitar. The light airy chorus is my favorite part of the whole song, backed by some nice piano. "Smoke and Mirrors" is pure neo classical, and just screams Yngwie Malmsteen in parts, especially the opening with the arpeggio ridden guitar, which leads into a very aggressive and energy packed speed track, with a sinister bridge and chorus that just slays. "The Damnation Game" showcases more "melodic neo-classical speed metal" mixed with progressive elements, furious speed metal blistering with an all out vocal assault and tons of guitars. Michael Romeo has been hailed as the next Yngwie even (or perhaps even surpassing Yngwie), but even though I don't agree with this, I still think he is an excellent and very capable guitarist and there is no denying his talent and playing skills. Vocalist Russel Allen, on the other hand, is the 'next' Ronnie James Dio. He displays all of the power and range of the master, from screaming out in furious rage to sounding lush and delicate. Of course, I could go on and on about Symphony X's absolutely fantastic lyrics, they are one of the best lyrical writers in metal music, present or past, and I could complain endlessly about some of the songs that were left off of this release ("Church of the Machine", "Eyes of Medusa" anyone?), but overall, there is a pretty decent variety of ballads, speed metal tracks, and huge, bombastic epics. If the album had more unreleased material or 'new' songs on it, I would recommend it more, but with only a "remake" of "Masquerade" and nothing else, I do not find this album to be an essential must-have for fans of the band or those that already own some of their albums. However, it is also difficult to fault an album that has nothing but solid - to superb metal gems on it from start to finish. For those that want the "absolute best of" Symphony X, I advise you to go buy all their albums, but for the very few that haven't experienced this band in all their greatness yet, and just want a random sampling of some of their music, will find this to be right up their alley. And of course, to those SyX fans that simply must.... have it all. Rating: 9.3 |
