More like any position thats acctual all u need. He also likes to down tune a bit. He's the greatest neoclassical shredder ever. Yngwie got nothing on him. when It comes to shredding there is no one that matches romeo
its insane to think that there are people out there who hear MJR or Yngwie's playing and are like "wow they're good at the guitar" in the same way they said that after seeing stuff like Clapton or the Volkswagen/Slash commercials
This album saved my life as a child. I was very bullied and made fun of in school and I found my calm in this album. I would love to see you react to this whole thing, Candelight Fantasia is a cool track, and I think you would appreciate The Accolade. :)
I had the same situation. Pain of Salvation and Symphony X helped me find the Beauty and importance of individuality and sensitiveness. All good to You. Cheers
Doug theoritically and insightfully breaks this song into pieces that we less classical people can digest. I don't think that Doug is giving enough recognizion for Russell. He can literally sing pretty much anything (compare songs of Trans Siberian Orchestra, Adrenaline Mob, SymphonyX). To me, he's one of the greatests singers of the modern era of metal and deserves the prefix of Sir in a musical perspective.
Yes, exactly. It feels bad to me that he never really said something about Russel. Doug is amazing in analyzing and breaking down the intrumental aspects of the song, but damn I wish he said a few words about Russel.
Well, the whole "Sir" moniker he is given at the front of his name has nothing to do with his singing prowess, to be fair. It really just came out of sort of a joke in that before he was in SyX he was a physical performer at Medieval Times. I don't know for sure if he first started being called "Sir" by the rest of the band, or if it was by early fans of the band when they found out what his previous job was? Personally, I got into SyX when V first came out so I am not sure?
I mean... Who is so cool he can drink Bourbon while getting chords progressions and patterns, getting the different irregular measures and polyrythms, and same time analyse the lyrics and even make influences connections between bands like Kansas and Opeth ?? Serisouly ?? Best channel
Having done that myself with him many a time to the rise of the phone bill, I can attest Mike is a serious man. Guy got me into so much great music, including Frank Zappa....that one took a while. Allan Holdsworth took less time.
"They went to E minor so the guitarist can play a solo" Ahh, except Symphony X tune to D standard instead of E. Also Michael Romeo can play pretty much anything
Them tuning down a whole step have absolutely nothing to do with them playing in true E minor, Doug was absolutely correct, they were in the key of E minor. Not sure why people can’t wrap their heads around this.
@@Jordanguitar The point is that E minor is an "easy" key to play on a guitar tuned in E standard. That's why a lot of rock/metal songs and therefore the solos are in E. I didn't say they weren't playing in E minor.
Things in metal don't really work like that a lot. It's most often more about the music and less about the individual instruments. And therefore metal is great Also, it's much more likely to go to E minor or A minor because of the keyboard player than the guitarrists, it's much more fucked up to change keys on the piano/keyboard
Arguably their most underrated gem, along with Awakenings.. when Symphony X do what they do, without holding back (like 07-15), they do it better than anyone else!
Symphony X is great!! The musicians are awesome! Michael Romeo is not just a great and well accomplished guitarrist but a great composer!! AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT because the band is not on spotlight. They're such an underrated band. They deserve more credit and recognition!
@@credhc8421 I like the new material as well. I liked Iconoclast very much. V is a great work and The odyssey too. I don't know.. maybe in general the last releases are not as good as the old, but it is a matter of taste. In general Symphony X continue to be very good to me.
Doug, try a brazilian band called Angra. They incorporated brazilian folk music with their heavy metal. I think you'll love the songs Carolina IV, Holy Land, Never Understand, Stand Away, Silence and distance. Also their deceased former singer, Andre Matos, was a maestro. I know I have said this before, but I dont know if Doug is reading all the comments, so I keep asking ;)
Yes!! New Jersey's finest Progressive Metal band! Doug, your reaction, breakdown and commentary are really cool. Not too many reactors out there that do this. Really glad you are digging this band as well as Dream Theater. Lots of great music from both of those bands. Another great track to do from Symphony X would be "Through The Looking Glass". Symphony X are: Michael Romeo − guitars, backing vocals Michael Pinnella − keyboards, backing vocals Russell Allen − lead vocals Jason Rullo - drums Michael Lepond − bass, backing vocals
Nothing is more boring than listening to a sound I love with some random on the screen overplaying a head bang and approving facial expressions. I want to understand what other people hear so I can discover new appreciation for it next time I listen. Thanks Doug all the pausing, explaining, and replaying. That's what a reaction should be.
This album saved my life as a bullied 12 year old, it gave me power when I had none.. Also thanks for the mention of the bass player! One of my favourite things with this band is that they leave room for the bass to shine.
I bought this cd when it came out. Symphony X has been around for over 25 years. You have barely scratched the surface of what they can do. You mentioned the bass player, yes... Thomas Miller was amazing. He left the band before the "V" album was released, and Michael Lupond took the bass spot. Miller was also a poet, and he wrote the lyrics. Michael Romeo is the guitar player, and he also writes most of the music. I am sure the keyboard player, Michael Pinnella, also adds his touch as well. Symphony X is a super-group of top-talent. The singer, Russel Allen, has gone on to contribute his vocals to many projects over the years, including singing and touring with Trans Siberian Orchestra. These guys are all legends. And YOU are just discovering them. Don't stop... keep going. The rabbit-hole is deep!
@@dr.alexandermuller3549 Yes. I used to call him "a poet and a bard". I never got to meet him, but I did get to hang out with all the other members of the band. Russel is a hilarious story-teller.
@@dr.alexandermuller3549 Nope. I wonder if Romeo still keeps in touch with him. I haven't talked to Romeo in a long time either. I am hoping his solo album "War of the Worlds Part 2" comes out soon. Part 1 had some great stuff on it! ( And some weird stuff, too: the Robot song! )
This album kicked me in the guts when I got this CD back in the days, it was so new and powerfull ! The opening with Of Sins and Shadows and Sea of Lies, left me numb...
It’s about The Paradise Regained. Is the continuation of Paradise Lost. The album Paradise Lost is like the beggining of the song Divine Wings. The last song of the Paradise Lost album calls Divine Wings of Tragedy in latin.
Found this video after a sudden urge of wanting to listen to Symphony X. Thank you for the amazing content, and also for making me realize that Symphony X were drawing so much from classical music, and Gustav Holtz in particular! Great stuff.
Okay, so the significance of the I-V-bV progression to heavy metal goes much, much deeper than that. Black Sabbath's "Black Sabbath" (from the album "Black Sabbath" 😂), one of the very first heavy metal songs ever considered part of the genre... guess what three notes it opens with! You could almost say "Mars" itself is the true genesis of heavy metal. I play string bass in a local concert band myself, but I'm also clearly a big metalhead, and I've had the chance to perform "Mars" and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to start headbanging every time 🤘🤘
That song has an inverted tritone G - G (one octave higher) - C#, what it was known in the past as "The Devil In Music". But you're correct that "Mars" influenced a lot of metal.
It's pretty much the mainstream "eerie metal" progression lol, maiden did it, mercyful fate did it, diamond head did it, megadeth did it, slayer probably did it too, every power metal and prog band that has scary parts did it lol
If I remember correctly, according to "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey", Iommi was trying to play (or copy, whatever) this "Mars" passage and came up with the riff in "Black Sabbath". And then there was heavy metal...
I love Symphony x! Their third album including this song was released in Japan 25 years ago and I listened to it every day at that time.Thanks to your analysis , I could enjoy this song again. I really appreciate it. I look forward to watching your next video.
Thanks for reacting to this one Doug. I've always loved Symphony X, and this song in particular. I'm looking forward to seeing you react to more Symphony X!
I'd never heard much of symphony X, even though I had that common knowledge that they were pretty good as a metalhead. Thank you for forcing me to listen to this, I literally have a new favorite band now
Never thought to see a reaction to The Divine Wings of Tragedy - one of the most incredible pieces of classical music-infused power/prog metal with Michael Romeo's astonishing creativity and guitar technique (as the guitar wizard who inspired me on two-hand tapping arpeggios - who just like me also struggled on classical guitar for the first few years but found his real self on the electric guitar). The first five albums, including The New Mythology Suite, basically shaped my musical understanding and transformed me into a metalhead! :)) Thanks Doug, you the man!
Absolute fan of your content and your outstanding music appreciation, Doug. Discovered you by a glance of a causality looking recently for some Dream Theater random videos. Your ear training skills at first try are out of the charts! What a world class listener you are 👏🏿👏🏿 I must admit I played the very firsts 4 minutes staring at your physical reactions because it happened the same to me. Heard a lot by Symphony X ages ago when I was a teenager. My elder brother introduced me to progressive rock music at a time when I was trained as a youngster classical pianist. I will never forget when my music history teacher played Bach B minor Mass and that “EXPECTO RESURRECTIONEM MORTUORUM” melodic line rang me an automatic bell of that particular choir track of these guys that I listened for years before. Master connection! Glad that I found you around and I can recommend an impressive musician as you as well as your wonderful online content. Cheers from Spain! 🥃
Nice, I've been waiting for this song since you reacted to The Odyssey. And this is not their only classical music direct reference, more of their songs do this. I'm glad you caught them, as expected from your classical trained ears. 🙂
My first Symphony X album. Great local band. Much love from New Jersey! Their keyboard player was my salesperson when I bought my keyboard back in 2003 at Guitar Center in Edison, NJ. :)
I can see glimpses of Doug's mind being blown as this exquisite masterpiece unfolds. I SEE it because I've experienced it. He wants so badly for the song to make more sense in terms of logical theory, but Symphony X doesn't break the rules until they have mastered them. I am very aware, as I watch him listening to S-X, that one must hear some of these songs MANY times before truly grasping what has been done. The first listen simply is too much...absolutely the most outstanding prog gods on the planet. I used to think no one could touch DT. I was wrong.
Symphony X and Whisky - super stuff. I currently have a dram of Ardbeg 10 as I watch/listen. I came to find Symphony X from more of a power metal background, so I was always more into Out Of The Ashes and Of Sins and Shadows from this album. I very rarely had the patience for this track as it didn't have the double kick drum and catchy chorus that I wanted from them. But listening again now after all these years, and I suppose to an extent appreciating it for what it is rather than what it isn't; I have a lot more time for it. I can definitely see me revisiting the album/track in the near future.
I think it's what album from them you hear first that creates that frame of reference. They have moved towards more driving stuff on Underworld, and Iconoclast. But they were more ethereal and prog on, like, V: The New Mythology Suite and The Odyssey. I dig it all for what it is
Thank you for reviewing this one! I was one of the guys who asked for it. Michael Romeo and Russell Allen (guitar player and singer) are the best there are in my opinion and the piece "Paradise Regained" is THE most profound composition ever made, to me. Great video, Doug!
@@ShreddahExcept he didn't. The harmonies in the choir were done by Miller (their then-bassist) and Romeo. Allen did the majority of them, but you can definitely hear the two other voices in the mix of that choir. And major kudos to both Romeo and Miller. Not anyone can pull off those lines even if they moved them to another key.
True. Basically anything Neal Morse is involved with is more or less classic prog with modern execution, would be nice to hear a reaction to that part of the genre.
A few more epic suggestions :) The 1st chapter - circus maximus Jäästä syntynyt varjojen virta - moonsorrow Mei - echolyn The visitor - arena The truth will set you free - flower kings Devil's playground - flower kings Stardust we are - flower kings Love is the only answer - flower kings Humanizzimo - Roine Stolt A change of seasons - dream theater A place in the queue - the tangent The crucible - motorpsycho Karn evil 9 - Emerson lake and palmer Atom heart mother - pink floyd Scheherezade - renaissance
Hi, Doug! I've been watching most of your reaction videos and now I'm a fan, it's so much fun! And I'm glad that you've been reacting to Symphony X, my most favorite band ever!! Please do more Symphony X reactions, stay safe and healthy always!! 🤘🖤🤘
"Here we are - Children of Sun and Stars The first to know and to understand Living by the Law of the Ages Prophets and sages - forging Utopia" THE BEST LYRICS EVER IN THE MANKIND
Hm, I prefer Warrel Dane & Chuck Schuldiner, since I find SX’s lyrics to be their only ‘weakness’. Still my 3 favourite bands, and especially SX are magical!
I've seen several of your video's now. I'm enjoying them very much and your reactions make me laugh in particularly when you're suprised by pieces of music. Your comments and knowledge gives an edge to the music I love to listen to. Keep up the good work, thnx.
Loving your exploration of symphonic/prog metal, Doug. Suggestions for future bands to explore: HAKEN and NE OBLIVISCARIS. Both are bands that are pushing the bounds of composition and prog in the wake of Dream Theater revitalizing prog as a metal genre in the 90s.
re: Holst's Planets 69 King Crimson performed Mars live, but when they wanted to record it they were denied permission so they reworked it and called it "The Devil's Triangle". Manfred Mann's Earth Band made Jupiter into a song called "Joybringer". ELPowell did a straight adaptation of Mars in the '80s.
OK Doug, I've thought about it a bit, did a quick search through your videos, and I have decided you need another Ayreon song recommended: Ayreon - Isis and Osiris It's the 11 minute 11 second 2nd track to their INTO THE ELECTRIC CASTLE album, which is still today an incredible prog metal outing from 1998. If you want the full intro, you could also listen to the 3-minute intro track, too, which really sets the story for you actually so maybe you do wanna listen to it! I've only been listening to Ayreon for a few years now, but this album is truly, to me, their "most electric" album, but it also has some of my favorite vocals too. Hope you have a great one!
Woo hoo BG next week I really hope it’s sacred worlds full length but thinking it’ll likely be and then there was silence since most have been asking for it. Just too many great songs by them to choose from! You’re an absolute legend Doug! 🤟🇨🇦🤟
No wonder Ayreon used singers like Russell Allen,Damian Wilson and James LaBrie and in many instances has Allen and Wilson singing together (Intergalactic Space Crusaders, The Eye of Ra. TDTTWBD has LaBrie and Allen in it .
As a (unfortunately, former) bassist, I was initially taken aback by the distraction at that 15:25 delightful bass solo. However, I soon realized how perfectly the bourbon tasting complemented it. Well done. I enjoy your videos.
It does sound like a 90s era synth. However, that most definitely is NOT a "pad sound." Pad sounds have a very slow attack and release. Think of a "pad" as the soft droning choir or string section in the background. Kinda like the constant drone of a Tanpura that accompanies an Indian Sitarist. That is definitely a 90s synth "POLYPHONIC Square wave Lead" patch though. Considering the era, it was most likely a Korg Triton or Trinity. POssibly a Kurzweil K-2500.
Great comment. I like it. Pinella uses Yamaha and Roland. But I don’t know if he uses on this record. The lead sounds is Saw, not square. But, yeah, great comment. Thanks for sharing some technical knowledge. Cheers 🤘🏻
Wait, but when did he say the 90s synth was a pad? I heard him talk about 90s synth during the lead, then pads later. I'm sure he knows what a synth pad is.
Like Centaurus said, I'm too all for a whole "V - The New Mythology Suite" album reaction, since it has plenty of classical references I think you'd enjoy. Great reaction. :)
HUGELY . . . HIGHLY recommend Frost* "Milliontown" (or "Blacklight Machine"). Their debut album is about as "perfect" as you can get. An astoundingly talented band that more should know. And that they pull it off live!
Yah, The Edge of Forever is a really crunchy live album. It sucks that there are few live RU-vid clips of them that do any justice. What's up with that? DT has so many polished sets, and Sx has, like, Bloodstock?
Doug you are the person that I want to hang out, drink beers or bourbon and talk about music haha. You really are an inspiration! Keep up your amazing work! Michael Romeo is my favourite guitar player and SX my favourite band. Thanks for reacting to this masterpiece
About the song, I don't drink but I still sit back and enjoy it! Also, always saw it as lucifer's fall from paradise, mostly from his point of view, ending with him being banished to earth, and realizing the conflict and "sin" that takes place there is his paradise. Next symphony x song: when all is lost ?
Absolutely and definitely!!!! 💪🥳👍 Sweeping, epic, beautiful, and exciting! One of THE very best written, performed, and recorded prog rock with orchestra pieces ever! 👌
This person's upload sounds pretty good, is well indexed, and someone posted the lyrics in the comments. Song of Scheherazade - Renaissance ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6dH5y0BUXZ4.html
Doug please check out Wintersun! Couple of songs to check out would be Sons of Winter and Stars, or perhaps Time. Great symphonic and classical elements incorporated into melodic power metal with clean and harsh vocals, plus choral parts!
Hey Doug, accidentally stumbled upon this video, and boy am I glad I did! I've been listening to Symphony X for the last 20 odd years, and been into music for at least as long as a hobbyist, and your insight into the classical aspects of this song was such a pleasure to listen to, really enlightening stuff! Your thoughts and analysis gave me a newfound appreciation for Symphony X and their compositions, and I'm super grateful for that! Hope you're well, and I look forward to hearing more of your videos now that I've discovered your channel, peace
I really, really loved your reaction at the beginning of the song! And at the end of song too, ha ha ha "What? What?" I discovered your chanel recently, great technical analysis!
Symphony X is the last stage of metal music (you starts with classic rock, jumps to heavy metal then thrash m. and finally you mix the techinic with a great composers). Romeo is a genius
Hi Doug. Thanks for your videos, good stuff. I think you might enjoy listening to a band named "Virgin Steele". They're based in Long Island, NY, if I'm not mistaken. They have been somewhat quiet for a few years now but have some killer albums (in my humble opinion, of course). I'd recommend you something like "Veni, Vidi, Vici" (heads up, some double drum pedal action but lovely song overall), "Sword of the Gods", "Agony and Shame", "Resurrection Day", "The Burning of Rome" and many more. Another excellent, and often underrated, American band, from Tampa FL, "Savatage". Led by the Oliva brothers, brilliant musicians. Absolutely epic albums and songs, plenty to choose from but some good tunes are: "Hounds", "Gutter Ballet", "When the Crowds are Gone", "Hall of the Mountain King", "Morphine Child" and more.
You will grow to love Symphony X. They are one of a kind. For a change, I would suggest you listen to one of their shorter ones, like Egypt or Smoke and Mirrors
Doug thank you for breaking down some of my favorite musical pieces from Symphony X. You absolutely need to do symphony X ‘s revelation. It’s essentially a sequel to the divine wings of tragedy. Also check out their album the new mythology suite’s The death of balance/lacymosa. Thanks again Doug!!
I've had the pleasure of seeing them perform this live. The Odyssey also. I love this band so much. If you want even more classical references then the album V: The New Mythology Suite is a fantastic album, especially the track "A Fool's Paradise."
Tremendous! I love Symphony X. Check out some tunes from their album “V - The New Mythology Suite”. Edit: Yes they sample a lot of classical tunes. Especially on the album I referred too.
"Sample" is not the best word, they don't just take it out of a recording and put it in, they actually play them out and compose them into their own composition. Its not a "sample" like DJs or rappers do.
@@Hy-jg8ow I'm always annoyed when someone gives me a box of "Whitman's Sampler" chocolates because all of the chocolates inside are obviously taken from someone else's box of chocolates! 😠😤😁
This has been one of my favourite pieces around 15 years or so now and this makes me appreciate it in a whole new light. There's such huge value in your analysis (and I love that you have a crack at the lyrics as well) ....also consider this another vote for A Change of Seasons by Dream Theater.
