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Rating:
One of the best progressive metal albums. After the first listen of "The Divine Wings Of Tragedy" this was my first impression. And I have listened to albums that have made history in this genre, from Shadow Gallery's Room V, to Dream Theater's Images And Words, to Royal Hunt's Paradox. But this album has something special, something sublime. Something that can only be grasped and touched by listening to it. Not literally touched, but the listening makes you brush the infinite, the sweetness, the poetry.
The band is formed by musicians who have few equals on a technical level. Michael Romeo, Russell Allen, Thomas Miller, Michael Pinnella, and Jason Rullo form a perfect quintet, in every way. The instruments merge together creating a vast work. Particularly noteworthy is Russell Allen's powerful voice, which also manages to be extremely sweet at the same time, and Romeo's guitar virtuosity, one of the best guitarists around.
Within the album, there are constant mythical and epic references, but never trite or clichéd. Far from those bands that make this aspect the focal point of their music, to captivate the listener. Here the only protagonist is the music, the melody, the power, the harmony, and what incredible music. The album strikes for the group's ability to span within a stunning sonic space created by the instruments. Especially for the musicians' ability to shift from aggressive and powerful parts to moments of overwhelming melody. Not all bands in the prog-metal field succeed in this, and in my opinion, this is where a band's true skill lies. The album's title perfectly matches the music and the atmosphere created by the group. "The Divine Wings of Tragedy." Listening to it is like embarking on a fantastic journey, from which you don't know if you will ever return.
The album starts captivatingly and directly with "Of Sins And Shadows," characterized by a guitar that is heard from afar and suddenly bursts out with all its power. Russell Allen's powerful voice, together with the other members, creates really beautiful and epic choruses. A thrilling start. "Sea Of Lies" is also a powerful piece, and very engaging. Goosebumps from Allen's voice in the central part, which shows the extreme versatility of his sublime voice. There is also great use of keyboards that interact with Romeo's guitar. "Out Of The Ashes" is a very beautiful track, but more direct and less prog compared to the previous ones. It feels more oriented towards power, which is understood by its directness and speed. The first gem of the album is "The Accolade," which starts with a splendid guitar arpeggio that prepares for the entry of all other instruments, starting from the keyboards and ending with Allen who breaks into the track. A typical prog song with tempo changes and melodies that create a fantastic atmosphere. Unique. "Pharaoh" best synthesizes the band's style, a powerful track with incisive riffs. Inside the song, there are references to ancient Egypt and the pyramids. A dive into the past perfectly created by the group members, a perfectly successful experiment. Very thrashy is "The Eyes Of Medusa," which combines power and anger with melody and elegance. Again, a mythological reference, to the island of Medusa, an island of death. Really an original theme tackled by the group. "The Witching Hour" is a rather fast piece, with Rullo's relentless drumming throughout the song's duration. Now we have finally reached the 20-minute suite that takes the name from the album's title, "The Divine Wings Of Tragedy" indeed. One of the most successful and fascinating suites in the history of prog-metal, with beautiful melodies and many tempo changes that together create a highly articulated piece. The song also has epic tones with Russell Allen showcasing all of his skill and mastery. "Candelight Fantasia" concludes the album and is the real masterpiece of the album. A track of unique sweetness where the band's most melodic side and Allen's voice shine. A better conclusion could not be had for this journey into the Infinite. Watch out, you merely brush it, because the music touches the Infinite, while we, the listeners, can only graze it.
"The Divine Wings of Tragedy" is the masterpiece of a band with a distinctive and unique sound that stands out significantly from other prog-metal bands. Symphony X succeeds like few others in being both aggressive and melodic at the same time. They combine truly powerful parts with sweet parts in their pieces; this is the beauty of this group. With this album, they have done something important, historic, immense, as immense as the Infinite that we can only brush, not touch with our hands.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Sea of Lies (04:18)
Today I've seen the shallow face I wear
Inside this shell,
a living hell endures
I'm held captive by my fear,
decaying hope and wasted years
The knife of time carves another
line around these eyes
Good and evil - lust primeval
Dragging me into a sea of lies
Losing faith in who I am
Never changing just rearranging
my life again
Through eternal abyss I fall,
Silent screams through paper walls
I pray someday the sun will shine
on me again (shine on me again)
Good and evil - lust primeval
Dragging me into a sea of lies
Lies ... lies ...
[Solo]
Lies ... lies ...
03 Out of the Ashes (03:40)
In the house of my master
Beyond the gate there is a bed
of snakes where evil lays
Oh, I hear laughter
I forged the iron bars that
someday will imprison me
Ooh, mother will you help me
Mother will you help me
To find a reason to go on
Out of the ashes of my youth
- I rise a man (And through the eyes)
And through the eyes of truth
- I finally understand
The way
I've been beaten with his words
and whipped withh his lies
He will not break me down no
matter how hard he tries
Pray for my lost soul
Out of control the storm inside
me rages on and on and on
Mother will you help me
Mother will you help me
To find a reason to go on
Out of the ashes of my youth
- I rise a man (And through the eyes)
And through the eyes of truth
- I finally understand
The way
[Solo]
Out of the ashes of my youth
- I rise a man (And through the eyes)
And through the eyes of truth
- I finally understand
The way
05 Pharaoh (05:28)
Ancient lands, lost in time
Storms of sand, walls of lime
Surround this mask of death I wear
Awakened by intruder souls
The jackal screams as my stone gods behold
Desecraters of Ra
Pharaoh's curse upon you
Who dares to invade his sacred ground
Gods of the Nile arise to strike you down
Forgotten days of my rule, cities
blazed with gold and jewel
Diamond symbol of riches
beyond compare
Now I lay cold in this chamber of
stone
Fools forsaken the wrath of my
throne
Desecraters of Ra
Pharaoh's curse upon you
Who dares to invade his sacred ground
Gods of the Nile arise to strike you down
Mystic gods of the stars
- I summon thee from afar
Sun, moon and earth
- align for my rebirth
I feel the blood flow through my veins
The life force shines on me again
Let the ritual begin
- you will pay for your sins
I am god, I am king of the land
The hour of judgement is at hand
Winds of revenges sweep through the sand
The mighty pharaoh lives again
[Solo]
Pharaoh's curse upon you
Who dares to invade his sacred ground
Gods of the Nile arise to strike you down
08 The Divine Wings of Tragedy (20:42)
[Part I: At The Four Corners Of The Earth]
On the edge of paradise
Tears of woe fall, cold as ice
Hear my cry
Renounce, have you, thy name
Eternal is my pain
Eternal is the pain that leads me
to the thrones of temptation
Eternal is the pain that leads me
to the thrones of temptation ...
[Part II: In The Room Of Thrones]
(Instrumental)
[Part III: A Gathering Of Angels]
There was a time ...
When nine choirs sang the
endless melody of light
Music of the spheres
Threre was a place ...
Where mortals embraced thunder
and majesty
Their fate lay in our hands
Feel my wings slowly fading -
forever lost in time - I cry
[Part IV: The Wrath Divine]
The burning conflict I'm feeling
It summons me to descend into
the other side
And just beyond the stars blazing
A beam light from a red, velvet
moon illuminates me
I will devise, from perfect skies
A dark and vengeful day
Faith and mercy gone astray
With strength of infinite measure
The mighty sword divides order
from chaos in the kingdom below
And from the mansions of glory,
This empty soul cries out one
final plea ...
The end has begun
Our worlds collide, now in
disguise,
You'll feel the Wrath Divine
Tears of woe fall from the sky ...
[Part V: The Prophet's Cry]
The prophet cries
Vast battalions rage on in the sky
Rising rom the north
the bringer of war
Eve of destruction
Summon all who have 'power
over fire'
Impending doom from shore to
shore
Standing on the edge of paradise
I sacrifice my truth and loyalty
Seven deadly sins consume you
all, a dance with death
I taste the victory
(Eternal is the pain that leads me to temptation)
Rising from the north
- the warrior prince
Judgement without compassion
eyes of fear
Like the river styx,
the gates of hell -
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here"
The prophets cry
As armies fall from the edge of
the sky
The Prince of truth, now the
bringer of war
The day of wrath
Banish all kings from the face of the land
Dominion for strength is my name
[Part VI: Bringer Of The Apocalypse]
(Instrumental)
Eve of Sacrifice /
Armies in the Sky /
Dies Irae
[Part VII: Paradise Regained]
Looking out on a blue sky
I can see a new world arising
Like a prisoner unbound
I feel the power and the majesty
again
Looking up to the heavens
I can see what I left behind
Beneath the stars, moon and
warm sun
And all I know,
is my paradise has begun ...
09 Candlelight Fantasia (06:45)
Just one more night,
one more score.
Another question in my mind.
can't take no more.
Kissing the tear from my face,
as they fall to the ground in the silence...
In twilight, and faded times.
Spirits cold, with no love.
Bells ring the lonely chime...
Candle fire...
These lit dreams can't burn alone...
Winds of change,
bring songs upon my memory.
An empty heart and soul intoxicates me.
This darkened page orchestrates my final destiny.
Not knowing what,
what tomorrow will bring
From within the mirror's eyes,
I'm forced to run away and hide.
I feel those mystic eyes subside,
and leave me blind.
Through passages in time,
A prisoner locked behind the door.
Lonely roses slowly wither and die.
I can't escape this captive misery.
Heart stone cold, under supremacy.
Thrown into a raging sea of tyranny.
Life's vile walls have tangled me in webs.
Eternally within my futures threads.
Play the violent strings of my symphony.
Transcend,
the absence of this fantasy.
Just another vision,
washed away with the tide.
No place for forgotten ones.
I cannot deny,
what lies beyond.
Beyond this fantasy
From within the mirror's eyes,
I'm forced to run away and hide.
I feel those mystic eyes subside,
and leave me blind.
Through passages in time,
A prisoner locked behind the door.
Lonely roses slowly wither and die.
From within the mirror's eyes,
I'm forced to run away and hide.
I feel those mystic eyes subside,
and leave me blind.
Through passages in time,
A prisoner locked behind the door.
Lonely roses slowly wither and die.
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Other reviews
By wwwhatemoornet
Buy this CD and you’ll realize that Dream Theater are not the best.
Do you headbang listening to Dream Theater? I don’t. With these guys, you will.
By DaveJonGilmour
Symphony X have transcended the canons of prog-metal, with magnificent baroque and neoclassical arrangements.
The title suite, despite its 20:41 minutes, never bores, on the contrary, magniloquent and unpredictable, it almost seems the manifesto of this art.
By Dreamtheater
"Of Sins and Shadows is my favorite song on the whole cd, excellent opening!"
"The Divine Wings of Tragedy suite... many good things but they are not enough to make it a good song."
By Chewbacca
"Definitely among the best power-prog albums of all time."
"The five Americans succeed in the goal of letting 20 minutes of song pass by while keeping the listener’s attention alive with quick theme changes and suggestive 'imperial' marches."
By splinter
Symphony X makes technique an instrument of power!
"The Divine Wings Of Tragedy" is quite possibly the album where all these characteristics emerge in the right measure.
