Symphony X - The Odyssey

*=Staff's pick	Inferno (Unleash The Fire)* Wicked Incantations Of The Apprentice Accolade II* Kings Of Terrors The Turning Awakenings* The Odyssey*

Genre	Progressive Metal	Russell Allen	Vocals
Tracks	8	Michael Romeo	Guitar
Runningtime	67 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	InsideOut Music	Mike LePond	Bass
Release	04 Nov. 2002	Jason Rullo	Drums
Country	USA	Michael Pinnella	Keyboards
Similar artists	Dream Theater, Pain Of Salvation

I don't like labelling this as progressive metal, but I guess I have to since people expect to have everything categorized. It is in fact metal with a significant dose of experimenting, exploring parts, but the progressive elements are standing aside enough on behalf of the metalparts to make this interesting for most of the fans of more straight forward, heavy metal.

This is interesting, and there are a lot to explore in Symphony X's music, with about a million really good riffs and atmospheric turns and strong melodic refrains. The guitarplay is of course brilliantly performed by Mr. Romeo, but I personally don't think that he takes enough advantage of that in the songs, which takes its form in lack of solos and leads in my eyes. But I guess that he does exactly what he feels is right and suitable.

Standout songs for me are Inferno, Accolade II and Awekenings - the more fast driven ones - and of course the 26 minute epos The Odyssey, which after the Star Wars intro brings us in a world of moods, riffs and enchanting melodies.

The production is good, but the sound is - as often when it comes to this kind of music - a bit "thin" and nake, and I think it lacks the heaviness and fatness that could do these songs good.

A lot is won by singer Allens strong vocals - he has a very characteristic and powerful voice, and are the reason to why the number of chalices manage to land on the amount that they do.

I have never been a fan of Symphony X's music before, and this doesn't really make me go over the top either, but this is a good metalalbum - nothing more, nothing less. The convinced fans of the genre will go nuts over this, though.