SYMPHONY X
VENUE ELECTRIC BALLROOM, LONDON DATE 06/06/19
Nobody could accuse symphony X of being workaholics. the new Jersey-based neo-classical progressive metallers have spent a quarter-century building a career which from a commercial standpoint can best be described as ‘adequate’. let’s be clear: we’re not talking about the quality of their music here; symphony X are just about untouchable at what they do. however, while releasing a new album every three to five years causes undeniable spikes in their profile, it also sees the band lying dormant for lengthy periods of time. save for a spot at the Bloodstock Festival in 2016, they last trawled around the uk promoting their ninth studio release, underworld. three years later there’s still no sign of a new record – enough to make a diehard fan tear out their hair in frustration. this evening’s turnout at the 1,500-capacity electric Ballroom is extremely respectable but it begs the question: how much bigger could this outstanding band become were they to pull their finger out?
tonight an intro tape of thunder, lighting and sinister rumbling begins rolling 20 minutes before the band hit the stage. presumably it’s intended to build drama, but the growing volume of catcalls suggest it’s having the opposite effect.
When symphony X – all five members of the line-up masters of their craft – finally arrive on stage, wild scenes ensue. in a visual sense, guitar shredder and songwriter michael romeo and frontman russell allen hog the limelight, but the swirling keyboards of michael pinnella are every bit as central to the show’s musical thrust as its two ‘stars’, as is the lock-tight rhythmic precision of bassist michael lepond and drummer Jason rullo.
perhaps mindful of a lack of new material, symphony X at least shuffle the pack a little, varying the setlist from last time out. responding to one of the night’s most accessible songs, sea Of lies – on record a track with more than a hint of Dio (the band) about it – the entire audience bellow back its ‘Woaah woaah woaah’ refrain in unison. their exuberance makes one wonder why a singer as convincing as allen hasn’t been poached by a bigger band. perhaps he’s just very loyal?
if symphony X’s sheer juggernaut of sound might be considered too excessive for some prog readers, their encore of the full 25-minute rendition of the title track of their 2002 album the Odyssey not only reminds us of the quintet’s versatility, but also almost succeeds in reducing one poor disbelieving girl in the audience to a puddle of tears. Frankly, it’s hard not to follow suit.