Symphony X - Symphony X - guest review
Symphony X - Symphony X - guest review
Tracklist
01. Into The Dementia02. The Raging Season
03. Premonition
04. Masquerade
05. Absinthe And Rue
06. Shades Of Grey
07. Taunting The Notorious
08. Rapture Or Pain
09. Thorns Of Sorrow
10. A Lesson Before Dying
11. Enhanced Element (features Screensaver and Band Interview Part I) [special edition bonus]
Guest review by
IanYeara April 01, 2013
There are some decent songs on this, "Masquerade", "Absinthe and Rue" and "Taunting the Notorious" are all decent songs, though Tyler ruins them. When I say decent, I mean "even remotely listenable"; there really is no reason to listen to them unless you really want to for some reason. The re-recorded version of "Masquerade" (Masquerade 98) is actually pretty good, mostly because Allen is singing it, but whatever. Even in places where Tyler doesn't completely wreck it (which are rare), the production ruins it instead. Honestly, it sounds more like a demo somebody recorded in their basement than an actual album. While the playing sounds tight for the most part, it seems unimaginative to me, even compared to their next album. I prefer not to give albums the "it's their debut album excuse" so I won't start now. "Masquerade" is definitely the most memorable track on this, though only because it has the catchiest chorus and some of the more memorable riffs of the whole album; even the other songs that I mentioned as "highlights" aren't very memorable.
To some I may seem a little unfair to this album and for those of you who do find it listenable then by all means go ahead and listen to it, but personally I just can't get past the vocalist or the production. The songwriting, production and the songs themselves are all incredibly inferior to that of Damnation Game, they do nothing to set themselves apart which only hurts this album - already containing a multitude of additional problems. While they may be similar in feel and in instrumentation to the the next album, the singing is much improved (on Damnation Game) and the songs just feel so much better written. I really had a hard time listening to Symphony X and I can't bring myself to recommend this to anyone.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 3 |
| Songwriting: | 2 |
| Originality: | 2 |
| Production: | 2 |
Written by IanYeara | April 01, 2013
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Rating:
5.0
5.0
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Rating:
5.0 |
The first album of that amazing band is for sure the worst album I have ever heard in that kind of music. Even if the bases are almost here, musically, the vocals are awful and all the choruses sound like Queen gone bad. You easily understand why they have fired that singer! We all have to start somewhere but here Symphony X was on the wrong track. Read more ›› |
Comments
Comments:
11
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Posts: 936
Ugh. I agree on the fact that this is not a good album - expecially if compared with their amazing discography - but 2 is far too low. It's lower than Lulu!
---- We could be so much more than we are. Stop.
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Absolutely not too harsh at all, this is an awful album. I completely agree with the review, except for the "there are some decent songs on this". No. There is not. Maybe a good riff here and there, but no more. But I do no hate the album. After all, it has given me and my friends a lot of laughter during the years.
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2 is way to harsh for this album, 2 means "pure shit" and this album is not that at all  , weak production and vocals or not
---- I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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Totally agree about singer
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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