Twilight in Olympus

by Robert Taylor

By the time Symphony X recorded Twilight in Olympus, the progressive metal landscape had not only been changed, but defined by Dream Theater. Every genre has a Beatles, and as silly a comparison as it is, Dream Theater has had an equal, albeit smaller-scale impact on almost every progressive metal band that existed before or since their arrival. In this case, the influence on Symphony X is exactly what the band needed after reaching their neo-classical pinnacle on The Divine Wings of Tragedy. The band is as tight as ever and their sound is still predominantly neo-classical, but there is more diversity and originality here than ever before. Michael Romeo finally carved out his own style with an unmistakable thick, heavy sound and his strong sense of rhythm is what sets him apart from his contemporaries and contributes to the many memorable riffs herein. Of the selections, "Through the Looking Glass" is the session's epic piece and compares favorably to "The Divine Wings of Tragedy," while "Sonata" and "Lady of the Snow" showcase the band's more reflective side. While not as historically important as The Divine Wings of Tragedy, Twilight in Olympus is musically equivalent.