In the world of post-grunge rock and mellow music and emo, it's always nice to have a breath of fresh air in the business. Enter 1999's "The Divine Wings of Tragedy" by Symphony X. A New Jersey prog band, their first few albums had a minor following in Europe, but with this 1999 release, the band exploded onto the metal/prog/rock scene in Europe, and to a lesser extent in the US. To date, their most referenced album, and personally, their best.

==Concept==

Take a 5 piece band [guitar, vox, keyboard, bass, drums] and make music based on fantasy concepts. Note the lyrics are a main part of the songs, so if you don't want to hear lyrics based on fantasy, this might not be your favorite. Also, even though the lyrics are a main part, they no means overshadow the masterful musical work. In addition, be able to create 4 minute songs and 20 minute songs with the same intensity, and [on this album] not have any slow songs. Note the rest of their albums may have one slower tempo song. Also, seamlessly transition time signatures, tempos, bass lines, drums, sections, together such that the trasition is not jarring. Finally, have massive trade off solos between guitar and keyboard, but also get the drums and bass in on the solo action. Final note, if you are looking for a standard sounding, bass, you are in the wrong place. Using Dellinger basses made by Caparison, Madison 8x10 cabinet, and Tech 21 RBI preamp powered by Madison 600 watt head, there is a huge digital sounding effect on the bass, a very nice touch that fits with the keyboards nicely. Most importantly, shred as much as possible!

==Sound==

Right on par with the best of them, the bass is prominent [less so than the likes of iron maiden] but very noticable when necessary. No one really gets drowned out when things come to a head.

==Song by song==

1. Of Sins and Shadows [4:57]

Starting off with a bang -a huge muted guitar riff and a touch of bass- before running headlong into awating keyboards, drums, and unmuted guitar, this song will get you going. Then a small chorus breaks the action for all of 3 seconds before a prog guitar riff with keyboards over the top starts, transitioning into a double bass power chord chorus with an underlying bass riff. This is follwed by a short harmonic of keyboard and guitar before returning to the prog chorus. All of a sudden, a chior esque segment with guitars in the breaks enters before all hell breaks loose. Trade off solo after trade off solo between guitar and keyboard is pheomonal, each seamlessly belending into the other before refturning right back to the double bass chorus. Chorus repeats with backup vocals, end. A great beginning.

2. Sea of Lies [4:18]--My personal favorite

Starting off with a masterful bass riff that continues as the guitar does the same is a great beginning. A descending guitar riff into prog chorus ensues. Again, a small keyboard/guitar harmoinic before the bassline/guitar riff again. This is followed by a segment of vocals with small guitar work and mostly bass before the guitar re-enters, and the chorus begins agains. A small keyboard area ensues, a mini bass solo, and then a guitar keyboard solo trade off with the bass letting himself be known. Also great drum work here.

3. Out of the Ashes [3:42]

The shotest by nearly 30 seconds, this is packed with intense guitar chords under a great keyboard riff before the keyboard drops, and a thrash-eque guitar chorus, before things slow down for a choir chorus. Same guitar riff, differnet vox, back to main chorus, a masterful trade off between all four instruments with a 3 part guitar/bass/keyboard harmonic before main chorus, and an abrupt ending

4. The Accolad [9:51]

The slowest of the song, you would expect this to be terrible and jarring, yet a slow begining to the song had me thingking that, before massive shreddding and great vocal and timing work make this song kind of a stand out, but still a change of pace and one that is appreciated

5. Pharoh [5:28]

The Egyptian themed song of the bunch, this one is all about fast vocals and fast fingering. by all the musicians. A great song, one that fits into the Stereoytpe of the first 3 songs, nothing massive stnadalone here, but still a great song on an awesome album.

6. The Eyes of Medusa [5:26)

A concert staple filled with phenomal keyboards, a huge transition period, and absolutely great guitars, this is a great song, and one of thier longer headbanging shreds.

7. The Witching hour [4:15]

Starting off with an almost mexican guitar sound, this is much like the structure of the other songs, but again, great riffs and prog influence make this song not just "one of the crowd"

8. The DIvine WIngs of Tragedy [20:42]

No, Im not kidding, the time is right. This sone is 21 minutes of awesome, I can be broken down in to many different parts, but to spare you the time, ill say that the keybards are a huge role here, and the prog is very, very. very well done. Each album has an epic, and this is in the top 2 of their best 15+ minute songs.

9. Candelight Fantasia [6:44]

HAHA, you thought the labum was over after the epic, but its not. This is the last song on the album, and it goes out great. Like alove song, very unusual for the band, it is a great power ballad that starts off slow and finishes on a grand guitar kiff with great romantic keyboards

==Overall==

The Album that brought Symphony X their fame

This is the album to buy if you are lokking for a hit

Many of the songs on the live album are from this CD, including the epic one, and it is a great listen to for highway driving or just sitting around to rock out to

If you read all of this, good for you

-SenorCoche