Symphony X--The Divine Wings of Tragedy

Symphony X--The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997 Inside Out) Rating--8.6

The band continues in their power/prog vein, complete with intricate, nasty, and splendid guitar shred work that fits in nicely with the overall tight and compact frames of the songs. Plenty of thick, melodic vocal work; this is probably the high point of the group's catalog.
The rapid and solid base of opener "Of Sins and Shadows" breaks ground, and virtually every track thereafter features qualities that stand out. Both "Sea of Lies" and "Out of the Ashes" are similar, and "The Accolade" incorporates some great vocal, chime, and key/piano effects---while still remaining swift and heavy.
A nasty, harmonic-filled chorus stands out in "Pharaoh," while Michael Romeo's grinding chops in "The Eyes of Medusa" are shred-tasty.
The title track is multi-faceted and definitely worthy of praise, as it checks in at over 20 minutes of precision-tuned time.
TRACK LIST: Of Sins and Shadows/Sea of Lies/Out of the Ashes/The Accolade/Pharaoh/The Eyes of Medusa/The Witching Hour/The Divine Wings of Tragedy/Candlelight Fantasia

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