V – The New Mythology Suite
V: The New Mythology Suite is the fifth studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released on October 10, 2000, through Inside Out Music.[2] It is a concept album dealing with the story of Atlantis, ancient Egyptian mythology, and astrology.[3] The album is the band's first to feature its current and longest lineup, following the arrival of bassist Michael LePond and the return of drummer Jason Rullo.
| V: The New Mythology Suite | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 10, 2000 | |||
| Studio | Trax East Recording Studio in South River, New Jersey; Mix-O-Lydian Recording Studio in Lafayette Township, New Jersey; The Dungeon | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 62:41[1] | |||
| Label | Inside Out | |||
| Producer | Michael Romeo, Eric Rachel | |||
| Symphony X chronology | ||||
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Overview
As well as being a heavier continuation of the band's established progressive metal style, V also includes a multitude of excerpts from classical composers, including Giuseppe Verdi's Messa da Requiem; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem Mass in D minor; Johann Sebastian Bach's Concerto for Harpsichord in D minor, BWV 1052 and Cantata No. 188; and Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, BB 123.
Symphony X's 1998 album Twilight in Olympus was released without a title track; instead, the unfinished compositions from those sessions were later re-worked and distributed in fragments throughout V,[4] particularly on the final track, "Rediscovery (Part II) - The New Mythology". Guitarist Michael Romeo has since confirmed this: "About half of ['Rediscovery (Part II)'] is the song 'Twilight in Olympus', maybe a little more".[5]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Robert Taylor at AllMusic awarded V: The New Mythology Suite three stars out of five, saying "As a whole, V: The New Mythology Suite works and proves that Symphony X has chosen to expand, rather than repeat, history in a genre that appeared to have peaked both creatively and technically." Particular attention was drawn to Romeo's guitar playing style, with Taylor likening it to that of Yngwie Malmsteen, but remarking that it "has proved to be both a blessing and a curse for this gifted guitarist. His chops are certainly comparable, but his sound and style are often identical to his idol." He also criticized some of the music and themes as being "all too familiar", as well as singer Russell Allen's "macho vocal style."[2]
Thom Jurek, also at AllMusic, called it "a solid meld of prog, power, and neoclassical metal that continually pushed their envelope of embracing and employing expert songwriting, arranging, and production techniques."[6]
In 2016, Classic Rock named V in its list "10 Essential Progressive Metal Albums."[7] Metal Hammer also named it on its list of "The 10 Essential Symphonic Metal Albums."[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Prelude" | 1:07 | ||
| 2. | "Evolution (The Grand Design)" | Michael Romeo, Russell Allen, Jason Rullo | Romeo, Michael Pinnella | 5:20 |
| 3. | "Fallen" | Romeo, Allen, Rullo | Romeo, Pinnella, Michael LePond, Rullo | 5:51 |
| 4. | "Transcendence (Segue)" | (instrumental) | Romeo | 0:38 |
| 5. | "Communion and the Oracle" | Romeo, Rullo | Romeo, Pinnella | 7:45 |
| 6. | "The Bird-Serpent War/Cataclysm" | Romeo, Pinnella | Romeo, Pinnella | 4:02 |
| 7. | "On the Breath of Poseidon (Segue)" | (instrumental) | Romeo | 3:01 |
| 8. | "Egypt" | Romeo, Allen, Rullo | Romeo, Pinnella, LePond | 7:04 |
| 9. | "The Death of Balance/Lacrymosa" | (instrumental) | Romeo, Rullo | 3:42 |
| 10. | "Absence of Light" | Romeo, Allen | Romeo, Pinnella | 4:58 |
| 11. | "A Fool's Paradise" | Allen, Pinnella | Romeo, Pinnella | 5:48 |
| 12. | "Rediscovery (Segue)" | (instrumental) | Romeo, Pinnella | 1:24 |
| 13. | "Rediscovery (Part II) - The New Mythology" | Romeo, Pinnella, Allen | Romeo, Pinnella, Rullo | 12:01 |
| Total length: | 62:41 | |||
Personnel
- Russell Allen – lead vocals
- Michael Romeo – guitar, background vocals
- Michael Pinnella – keyboard, background vocals
- Jason Rullo – drums, percussion
- Michael LePond – bass
Technical personnel
- Michael Romeo – orchestral arrangement, engineering, production
- Michael Pinnella – orchestral arrangement
- Eric Rachel – engineering, production
- Alan Douches – mastering
References
- V: The New Mythology Suite (CD edition "IOMCD 066").
- Taylor, Robert. "V: The New Mythology Suite - Symphony X | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- "The story behind "V: The New Mythology Suite"". Symphony X. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- "FAQ". Symphony X. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- Suripatty, Emo. "Miscellaneous... 'Interview with Symphony X'". Silent Edge. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- Jurek, Thom. "Underworld - Symphony X | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- Wilson, Rich (October 23, 2016). "10 Essential Progressive Metal Albums". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- Ling, Dave (November 2, 2016). "The 10 Essential Symphonic Metal Albums". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
External links
- V: The New Mythology Suite at symphonyx.com
- In Review: Symphony X "V" at Guitar Nine Records