Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite (2000)^{Release ID: 2568}

The 5th Symphony X album and the second part of their quintessential quadrology certainly marks a well-done entryway into their later progressive metal. The neoclassical madness last used prominently in Twilight in Olympus is fading out a bit, while the progressiveness starts to really build up, finalized in The Odyssey. V: The New Mythology Suite stands greatly on that fine line!

V is a concept album that covers different mystical locations such as Atlantis, Egypt, and space. The music and lyrics are quite beautiful, making this solid album almost as much of a masterpiece as the two albums surrounding it for the most part.

The "Prelude" gets you hooked for what this album has to offer. Then it segues to the first full song and highlight "Evolution (The Grand Design)". There's some more beauty within the melodies in "Fallen", fresh from the Egyptian side of the story. Then we have a moment to relax in the next interlude... "Transcendence" is the second interlude that's strictly just orchestral keys, similar to the interludes in Dark Moor's The Gates of Oblivion.

Seguing from there is the amazing 8-minute "Communion and the Oracle". Then we have the short yet strong "The Bird-Serpent War/Cataclysm" that can be considered the "In the Dragon's Den" of this album. Unfortunately, in the interlude "On the Breath of Poseidon", their attempt at alternating between metal and orchestra kinda falls apart. While it's my least favorite part of the album, the perfect 5-star rating isn't affected. In "Egypt", some parts sound a little too familar. Still great though. "The Death of Balance/Lacrymosa" is a strange yet awesome insturmental, enough to make a highlight.

"Absence of Light" is another bearable track. "A Fool's Paradise" brings back the awesomeness of the album's first half. The "Rediscovery" segue is a nice build-up to the grand epic... "Rediscovery (Part II) - The New Mythology" is an awesome 12-minute grand finale. It's epics like this that put them in the progressive metal club of Opeth and Dream Theater, and it reminds me that the glory is left unbroken.

I think this album would've been 100% perfect, rather than say 96%, if they've improved a couple songs and segues, and indexed both "Rediscovery" parts as one track. Nonetheless, V: The New Mythology Suite is another masterpiece that is practically a long progressive symphony!

Favorites: "Evolution (The Grand Design)", "Communion and the Oracle", "The Bird-Serpent War/Cataclysm", "The Death of Balance/Lacrymosa", "A Fool's Paradise", "Rediscovery (Part II) - The New Mythology"

With their fifth studio release, Symphony X finally cave in to the common trend amongst progressive rock and metal bands... the concept album.

Having already established a style that incorporated elements of progressive and power metal with a neoclassical flare, the band have now implemented more symphonic arrangements, which gives the music a much bigger and more grandiose sound.

It would be tough to follow up the incredible 'Twilight in Olympus', an album I consider one of my all-time favourites, and for a band to thrive and avoid stagnating, it's good to try different approaches to their songwriting. In this regard, the orchestrations really add a new depth to Symphony X's music. It does add a certain level of pomposity too, but then, this is already a genre rife with musical indulgence, and seeing as this is a rock opera about the rise and fall of the city of Atlantis, it really gives a majestic atmosphere to the story being told.

(Or something like that).

As always with this band, the musicianship is astounding and really puts these guys above everyone else. Special praise as always goes to Michael Romeo's blistering guitar work, and vocalist Russell Allen starts to step away from the high-pitched wailing of previous releases and adds a new level of aggression to his already incredibly versatile voice. Songs like 'Evolution', 'Fallen', 'Egypt', 'Rediscovery (Part 2)' and one of the bands best compositions, 'Communion and the Oracle', are all fine examples of the talent of everyone involved.

Regarded as one of Symphony X's best albums, 'V: The New Mythology Suite' is another top-notch concept album for progressive metal enthusiasts to sink their teeth into, and non-metal prog fans might just find a few things in here to pique their interest too.