Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Formed in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, vocalist Russell Allen, and bassist Michael LePond. The group is known for combining progressive metal with elements of classical music, symphonic arrangements, and power metal.
The band achieved commercial success with albums such as "Paradise Lost" (2007) and "Iconoclast" (2011).
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Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Formed in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, vocalist Russell Allen, and bassist Michael LePond. The group is known for combining progressive metal with elements of classical music, symphonic arrangements, and power metal.
The band achieved commercial success with albums such as "Paradise Lost" (2007) and "Iconoclast" (2011). "Iconoclast" reached number 76 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the highest chart position of the band's career at that time.
Several Symphony X albums were recorded in "The Dungeon", Michael Romeo's home studio. "The Divine Wings of Tragedy" and "V: The New Mythology Suite" were partially recorded there, while "The Odyssey", "Paradise Lost", "Iconoclast", and "Underworld" were recorded entirely in the studio and produced by Romeo.
In 1992, Michael Romeo recorded a demo album titled "The Dark Chapter", which attracted the attention of the Japanese record label Zero Corporation. A revised version was released in April 1994 and featured Romeo alongside keyboardist Michael Pinnella. When the label inquired about a full band project, Romeo recruited bassist Thomas Miller, drummer Jason Rullo, and vocalist Rod Tyler. The group recorded the demo "Danse Macabre" before releasing its self-titled debut album, "Symphony X", in December 1994 through Zero Corporation.
Following the release of the debut album, Rod Tyler departed due to creative differences and was replaced by Russell Allen, who had previously been introduced to the band by Tyler. The band's second album, "The Damnation Game", was released in August 1995. Both albums were initially issued in Asia through Zero Corporation and later released in Europe by Inside Out Music.
The band's third album, "The Divine Wings of Tragedy", was released in 1996 in Japan and in 1997 in Europe. The album increased the band's international profile and helped establish its reputation within the progressive metal scene. After its release, Jason Rullo left the group for personal reasons and was replaced by Thomas Walling. The lineup recorded "Twilight in Olympus", which was released in 1998.
Symphony X performed live for the first time in 1998, beginning with a concert in Osaka, Japan, followed by a world tour. During this period, Thomas Miller and Thomas Walling left the band. Jason Rullo subsequently returned, and Michael LePond eventually became the band's permanent bassist after a period in which Andy DeLuca served as a touring musician.
Also in 1998, the compilation album "Prelude to the Millennium" was released. It included a re-recorded version of "Masquerade" from the debut album featuring Russell Allen on vocals.
The band's fifth studio album, "V: The New Mythology Suite", was released in 2000. It was Symphony X's first concept album and explored themes related to the myth of Atlantis. The album was also the band's first worldwide release through Inside Out Music. Following its release, the band toured Europe and South America. Their first live album, "Live on the Edge of Forever", was recorded during a performance in Paris and released in 2001.
In 2002, Symphony X released "The Odyssey". The album featured a 24-minute composition inspired by Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" and was the first Symphony X album recorded entirely in Romeo's home studio. The release further expanded the band's international audience. The group supported the album with touring, including dates in North America alongside Blind Guardian.
In 2005, Symphony X participated in the Gigantour festival, which also featured Megadeth, Dream Theater, Nevermore, and Anthrax. Performances of "Inferno" and "Of Sins and Shadows" from the tour were later included on Gigantour concert releases.
The album "Paradise Lost", inspired by John Milton's poem of the same name, was released worldwide in June 2007. The recording process was delayed by water damage to Romeo's studio and extensive touring commitments. Musically, the album incorporated darker themes and heavier guitar work. It debuted at number 123 on the Billboard 200 and reached number one on the Top Heatseekers chart. Following its release, the band undertook a 14-month world tour and released music videos for the songs "Serpent's Kiss" and "Set the World on Fire".
Work on the band's next album began in 2010. The resulting album, "Iconoclast", was released in 2011 through Nuclear Blast. Its lyrical themes focused on technology and the relationship between humanity and machines. The album debuted at number 76 on the Billboard 200 and achieved the strongest first-week sales and highest chart position of the band's career up to that point.
In February 2013, drummer Jason Rullo was hospitalized due to heart failure. After a week in hospital, he returned home for rehabilitation. During his recovery, John Macaluso performed with the band on its South American and European tours.
Recording sessions for the band's ninth studio album began in 2014. The album, "Underworld", was released in July 2015 through Nuclear Blast. The singles "Nevermore" and "Without You" were released ahead of the album, and the band embarked on a world tour in support of the record.
During 2017, Symphony X entered a temporary hiatus and did not perform live. The hiatus was partly related to Russell Allen's commitments with Adrenaline Mob. In July 2017, Allen was injured in a serious road accident involving that band, which also resulted in the deaths of Adrenaline Mob bassist David Zablidowsky and the group's tour manager. In 2018, Michael Romeo stated that Symphony X intended to resume work on a new album while allowing Allen time to recover and fulfil other touring commitments.
The band returned to live performances in 2019 with a European tour. Plans for a 25th anniversary North American tour in 2020 were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Writing for a tenth studio album continued during this period. Anniversary tours eventually took place in South America in 2021 and North America in 2022.
Throughout 2022, Michael Romeo confirmed that work on the band's next album was ongoing, although progress had been slower than usual due to the hiatus and pandemic-related disruptions. In 2024, he reported that songwriting had been completed and that the band had moved on to arranging material.
In April 2025, Symphony X announced a final North American tour in support of "Underworld". Later that year, Michael LePond stated that work on the band's tenth studio album was continuing and expressed hope that it would be released in 2026.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_X
Studio albums
Symphony X (1994)
The Damnation Game (1995)
The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1996)
Twilight in Olympus (1998)
V: The New Mythology Suite (2000)
The Odyssey (2002)
Paradise Lost (2007)
Iconoclast (2011)
Underworld (2015)
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…shrink me down again