After their great debut the band had to show if they could top it, and I believe they did. With the extremely talented Russell Allen on board the band had landed a very important piece in the puzzle, now and in the future to come. The Damnation Game is a lengthwise shorter record than their self-titled debut, but nevertheless it sounds as if these songs are more balanced and trimmed so that all the brilliant stuff is served on a silver platter.
The fast opening track
The Damnation Game shows this fact very nicely. Russell's vigorous vocals fit this kind of music immensely well, his execution of these intense parts simply rules.
Great credit also goes to Jason Rullo's detailed drums here, and for the rest of the songs to follow.
Dressed To Kill starts off very progressively with some highly technical guitar moves and there are many things to discover here that doesn't necessarily present themselves before a closer listening.
The sound quality is clearly an improvement when comparing it with their debut; the drums are tight, vocals very clear and guitars solid. The keys could have been more in front and with a deeper profile but overall the production is very good indeed.
The way the keyboard almost all the time is luring in the background is a very important aspect on this album, I have rarely heard a record where the keyboard is supporting the songs flow with an underlying mood or melody as much as this one, its gives the songs an extra layer of excitement.
The Edge Of Forever is not only this albums best song, its also one of my all time favourite
Symphony X tunes.
The piano pretty much takes over a lot of the melody creating aspect and the way it works with the guitar lines is pure genius, just listen to the opening three minutes, it is mesmerising and absolutely brilliant.
Thomas Miller's bass delivers a very solid base for all songs and the technical passages in this song just add to the main picture of an utmost phenomenal track. A true epic and what an unbelievable vocal performance.
Savage Curtain is a short three and a half minute mid-tempo song, filled with great progressive twist and turns but also relying a bit on a chorus that could have been more interesting and melodic.
With
Whispers we are treated to a calm and sensitive side of the band's abilities. Michael Romero's thrilling and very "difficult to execute" mid-section solo is a clear highlight. I also like the sad but nevertheless moving lyric and Russell's performance of it.
I think that
The Haunting is one of the most complex cuts on this album. The tempo shifts often and the song is treated with some fantastic passages. The intense beginning featuring a catchy keyboard solo is a great part and I have always loved the ending drumming part with some seriously varied stuff from Jason.
Secrets has it's strongest parts in the thrilling duelling keyboard/guitar solo passage and the fantastic drumming, the verse line and overall flow of the main rhythm could have been more interesting and capturing though.
The album closes off with the two
A Winter's Dream parts. The acoustic/key/piano mood and atmosphere created in
A Winter's Dream - Prelude is very relaxing and you are lured into a very pleasant and atmospheric world.
The final part features some stunning guitar leads, a very memorable refrain and the always fitting and brilliant keyboard/piano passages from mastermind Michael Pinnella.
There is really no reason for me to go further into each musician's abilities, I have mentioned a few of many fantastic passages and overall I'm extremely impressed by just how good these guys are, it's pure whizzes we are dealing with here.
Lyrically we are presented with themes ranging from mystic romanticism to eerie occultism, nicely worked into the musical moods and very well written.
One of many great things about
Symphony X is their ability to mix the best aspects of progressiveness with a huge symphonic profile and intense Power Metal of the highest standard.
The Damnation Game is extremely rich in both emotional depth and musical broadness.
Written by
Tommy Sunday, January 4, 2004
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 8.5/10Members: 9.25/10 - Average of 2 ratings.
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