Band:	Symphony X
Album:	Iconoclast
Style:	Symphonic power metal, Progressive metal
Release date:	June 17, 2011
Guest review by:	AndMetalForAll

Disc I [jewel-case edition]
01. Iconoclast
02. The End Of Innocence
03. Dehumanized
04. Bastards Of The Machine
05. Heretic
06. Children Of A Faceless God
07. Electric Messiah
08. Prometheus (I Am Alive)
09. When All Is Lost

Disc I [special edition Digipak]
01. Iconoclast
02. The End Of Innocence
03. Dehumanized
04. Bastards Of The Machine
05. Heretic
06. Children Of A Faceless God
07. When All Is Lost

Disc II
01. Electric Messiah
02. Prometheus (I Am Alive)
03. Light Up The Night
04. The Lords Of Chaos
05. Reign In Madness

Symphony X returns after four years of absence. Iconoclast before the release was regarded as one of the most expected albums of the year. The confirmation of the new direction of the band, in my opinion, was one of my true concerns.

The album is divided in two CDs, the first one a more powerful, progressive, and strong style. For me the band is way better and feels more comfortable in this style. Every performance is really great, combining amazing vocal abilities, strong riffs and fast drum parts. The first CD starts with one of the best songs of the album, the homonymous "Iconoclast" with a great Russell Allen showing that he is one of the best metal singers nowadays. The opening song sets the tone for what comes next, probably the most enraged set of straight songs Symphony X had the talent to compose.

Both singles that were released before the album came out are real great contenders for any upcoming tour: both songs are very progressive and heavy, the second track the most powerful with a very inspired Michael Romeo, the third track more melodic with more sinister composed lyrics, adds great excitement to live shows. Another feature that really comes up in the first CD of Iconoclast is the amazingly well written songs and fast paced tracks accompanied by fast and "skull-crushing" solos. Although I think this first CD combines the progressive metal rather than the symphonic-power metal, it closes with "When All Is Lost" that relaxes and brings to the table a little bit of what the fans should expect of the second CD.

The second CD is, in my opinion, a more symphonic-power metal style combining amazingly and better than ever without being too "flashy", the melodic choruses with solid instrumental parts by Romeo and Rullo. The main events in this CD are definitely "Electric Messiah" and "Prometheus (I Am Alive)" both songs really well written with solid drumming style and great riffs. In spite of being more melodic, the tracks are really heavy and sometimes melancholic in terms of concept, like the "Reign In Madness" or "The Lord Of Chaos". The second half of the album is more like the last album Paradise Lost; although having great instrumental parts, most of the songs were based more in the talent of Russell Allen.

All in all, Iconoclast is a very good album that sets the bar higher. Symphony X saw that they are better heavy and progressive rather than more symphonic or power metal oriented. The band performance is a 9/10. I really enjoyed Allen's performance solidifying his position as one of the true greats of metal. Symphony X changed their direction, like I said in the beginning of this paragraph. In my opinion it's maybe the best work since V: The New Mythology Suite