Symphony X is a progressive metal band from New Jersey founded in April 1994. Truly influenced by Queen, Kansas, Rush and by the classical music, the line-up in the first release is composed by :
Rod Tyler (vocals), Michael Romeo (guitars), Michael Pinnella (keyboards), Thomas Miller (bass) and Jason Rullo (drums). Their first album called "Symphony X", is a true demonstration of the technicity and the power of the Symphony X' music : bethovenian guitars, cathedral choirs, and of course a lot of guitar/keyboards/bass solos. Not totally satisfied of the singer, Russel Allen who was working in "Medieval Times"(the famous medieval restaurant), joined them to form the current line-up. The second album "The Damnation Game" came out in August 1995. The band has now more experience, the songs are more structured and the voice of Russel makes the difference : Symphony X stands out with its own style. November 1996, they launched a nuclear bomb : "The Divine Wings of Tragedy", their third release, the best album. Here we can see the maturity of the Symphony X' music, the medieval influences of Russel are now very present in the music as much as in the lyrics which are true medieval tales ! The lenght of the album (65 min for only 9 songs), shows that Symphony X can be progressive too and that it can rivalize on the progressive metal scene. March 1998, comes out the fourth release "Twilight In Olympus"; in the same spirit of the previous album, Symphony X is at the top of its sound and its music.
With, their last concept album "V" (five) released in September 2000, Symphony X will wipe out all the progressive bands.

Here are 2 samples from V called "Fallen" and "A Fool's Paradise" in vqf format.
(download the vqf plug in)

Symphony X

1.Into The Dementia
2.The Raging Seasons
3.Premonition
4.Masquerade
5.Absinthe And Rue
6.Shades Of Grey
7.Taunting The Notorious
8.Rapture or Pain
9.Thorns Of Sorrow
10.A Lesson Before Dying

The Damnation Game

1.The Damnation Game
2.Dressed To Kill
3.The Edge Of Forever
4.Savage Curtain
5.Whispers
6.The Haunting
7.Secrets
8.A Winter's Dream - Prelude (part I)
9.A Winter's Dream - The Ascension (part II)

The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

1.Of Sins And Shadows
2.Sea Of Lies
3.Out Of The Ashes
4.The Accolade
5.Pharaoh
6.The Eyes Of Medusa
7.The Witching Hours
8.The Divine Wings Of Tragedy
9.Candlelight Fantasia

Twilight In Olympus

1.Smoke And Mirrors
2. Church Of The Machine
3.Sonata
4.The Dragon's Den
5.Through The Looking Glass
6.The Relic
7.Orion - The Hunter
8.Lady Of The Snow

Prelude To Millenium (Best Of Symphony X)

1.Masquerade '98
2.A Winter's Dream - Prelude (Part I)
3.The Damnation Game
4.Dressed To Kill
5.Of Sins And Shadows
6.Sea Of Lies
7.Out Of The Ashes
8.The Divine Wings of Tragedy
9.Candlelight Fantasia
10.Smoke And Mirrors
11.Through The Looking Glass (Part I,II,III)