Band:	Symphony X
Album:	V: The New Mythology Suite
Style:	Symphonic power metal, Progressive metal
Release date:	2000
A review by:	Dream Taster

01. Prelude
02. Evolution (The Grand Design)
03. Fallen
04. Transcendence
05. Communion And The Oracle
06. The Bird-Serpent War/Cataclysm
07. On The Breath Of Poseidon
08. Egypt
09. Death Of Balance/Lacrymosa
10. Absence Of Light
11. A Fool's Paradise
12. Rediscovery
13. Rediscovery Pt. II - The New Mythology
14. Masquerade '98 [bonus]

To these we've never heard Symphony X before, listen to this album and you will be a fan... V: The New Mythology Suite is the best of what creativity could bring to standard metal. Loud guitars, clean keyboards, perfect bass lines, permanent technique drums and excellent vocals, what do you want more? Michael Romeo and Michael Pinnella are used to play together and their music sounds as one. V is a wonderful melting pot of angry riffs and angelic melodies where vocals appear as heavenly prophecies. The theme of the album is a little obscure but it seems to be one of those themes about life, destruction and religion, you know, something very spiritual. Nevertheless, you don't have to understand the lyrics to appreciate Symphony X music because it's so good!

Beginning with the usual "Prelude" to whose spiritual albums I love, you hear a great break between the following track: "Evolution" starts with loud riffs performed in its own particular style by Michael Romeo and this song could resume the whole album: power, lyrism, perfect melody, and emotion... Whatever, all the following tracks will amaze you more and more and that makes the large difference between a standard album and this one. Each song has its own existence among the whole life of the CD! So, let's go on... "Fallen" is definitively my favorite song of V with its quiet beginning and its exciting solos, and the chorus is really something you can't forget. Then, comes "Communion And The Oracle" ["Transcendance" is a short intermission], and here all musicians must enjoy this song, which is - sincerely - one of the sweetest things ever. The chorus is clean and its makes an excellent continuation to the album. So, begins "The Bird-Serpent War/Cataclysm" and as the title contains the word 'war', this song is a little closer to "Evolution", even if it's less violent. The following track called "On the Breath of Poseidon" could have been a music for the theatre - until the guitarist plays - and it makes me think of some orchestral introductions you may hear in epic movies such as 'Lord Of The Rings'. About introduction, this one is excellent for the great "Egypt", which is a great time of the album. No more words about this one, you must listen to it!

Here it comes the second part of the 'New Mythology Suite': "Death Of Balance" a pure technique exercise in which you can clearly listen Dream Theater influences (close to the riffs of the song "The Mirror") and then a vocal performance called "Lacrymosa". As usual on this album, very peaceful songs are followed by splendid heavy progressive tracks, and "Absence Of Light" is one of those. Maybe, the more powerful track on the album, whatever, one of my favorite for sure! "A Fool's Paradise": what can I say on it? Saying that it's almost perfect would be like bringing coal to Newcastle. Finally the duality of jewels called "Rediscovery Part I and Part II" will let you ravenous to find those feelings, listening to other artists... I can say that the ending of V is like the end of your favorite movie: listening to it, you will be delighted and dreaming...

Hey, I hope you would have understood that I love this album!