Search - Symphony X :: Live on the Edge of Forever

The heart of power progressive........

Carlos I. Alsina | San Juan, Puerto Rico United States | 09/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hace un par de meses atràs, SYMPHONY X estuvo en concierto con STRATOVARIUS y a la verdad que tengo que decir que SYMPHONY X està a la altura de las grandes megabandas. Ellos pueden tocar mùsica de conservatorio lo mismo que les puede arrebatar la vena del power metal en toda su dimensiòn. Catalogar a SYMPHONY como una banda orientada al power metal serìa pecar de inocente. Sòlo basta escuchar este doble CD que incluye uno de los mejores discos de la banda en directo. Me refiero a V: The new mythology suite. Pero los mejores momentos de este "collage" de conciertos efectuados en Europa lo encontramos en el CD 2 con la interpretaciòn de Church of the Machine y Through the looking glass....Le aseguro que concurrirà conmigo que la guitarra de Romeo, los teclados de Pinnella, la bateria de Rullo, el magnìfico fondo que imprime Lepond con su bajo y la tremenda voz de Allen hacen de SYMPHONY X una megabanda sensacional......Los que escuchamos a este grupo en directo quedamos atònitos.....añàdale Oddesey en directo y saque usted sus propias conclusiones.......Two months ago, SYMPHONT X played live with Stratovarius at Polìgono Anoeta in San Sebastian, Spain. The live perfoming of SYMPHONY X proves that we are in the presence of one of one of the best megagroups today. They can play pure classical music or easily change to a powerful power metal. To consider SYMPHONY X as a megagroup oriented to power metal is being inocent. Just listen to this double CD: CD 1 include one of their best studio works, V: the new mythology suite. Nevertheless, the best of this live album is CD 2. Church of the Machine and Through the Looking Glass (from the album Twlight at the Olympus are simply amazing. Romeo at the lead guitar, Pinnella playing the magestic keyboards, Rullo at the drums, the suberb Lepond at bass guitar and the incredible voice of Allen configures this megagroup..If you add the live vertion of Oddesey you can imagine what we are talking about..."

Good live album just shy of perfect.

lteas | 06/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I decided to get this after being impressed with V and Twilight in Olympus. Every one of the guys in Symphony X is very talented and can really play. The first CD is excellent from start to finish; songs like 'Evolution' and 'The Eyes of Medusa' are awesome along with Michael Romeos guitar solo in 'On the breath of Poseidon'. The guy is a really amazing guitarist and although many people think he sounds like yngwie, I think he is a lot more controlled and has a more melodic sense.
I also like the way S X get the crowd involved, unlike most other progressive bands. My theory on live performances is that a band is on stage to put a show on and not just to play their music. S X are really good entertainers as well as musicians and they also play their songs differently live to what's on the studio recordings, which is great because similar bands such as Dream Theater usually just stand there playing their songs live exactly the same way as they do on the record. Even though DT are an amazing band, they can be so boring to watch and listen to live sometimes, unlike S X.
The second CD however is where I found some minor problems. Some of the songs are played far faster than those on the record. Many people complain about progressive bands doing this live and I'm sorry to say in most cases; it is true! Listen to Dream Theater playing 'The Mirror' live for example; it is far faster than that on the record. The other thing that bugs me on CD2 is that the keyboards are too low on the mix. S X has always been a symphonic band and without the keyboards being in the shot they just do not sound the same. Russels vocals do not sound as strong on CD2, this is because I think those particular songs were recorded 6 months after CD1 so his voice is probably a bit worn from constant touring.
However I can't complain too much because `The divine wings of tragedy' at the end of CD2 is amazing, I think the live performance of that song is absolutely stunning. Overall I really enjoyed this album and I love their music. I highly recommend it to any Power or Prog metal fans, Keep up the good work guys!!!!"

Quite a phenomenon

Matt Craig | Bradford, England | 01/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is amazing.



It contains 100% excellence and virtuosity. In my opinion, it would make great fantasy music.



Personally I beleive that the best song on here is 'Of Sins and Shadows'. This one poses great vocals, great guitar and GREAT music.



Just get it!



This is some of the best music I've ever heard, and this is up with Metallica and Iron Maiden in my view.



Some of the songs beat Metallica, too.



You will not reagret the purchase!



Thank you



Matt"