No, "Iconoclast" is not just a straight forward metal album. If you do not find any melody in "Lords Of Chaos", if you hear nothing beautiful in the beautiful "When all is lost" (the heyday of "The Accolade" are not so loins), if you persist in the assertion that titles like "Iconoclast" or "Reign In Madness" have nothing or melodic prog, it may be that you have too listened to Phil Collins recently, or it's time to consult an ENT ... Frankly, it reminds me of some bad reviews that had hosted a "Awake" in his time criticizing him too much coldness, a lack of melody, and posing as a demonstration disk. Funny, today it is a must reference Dream Theater ...
While the rest of the album contains songs well hairy. And it is true that "Iconoclast" is a dense work that can knock. I too am a little sorry that Russell Allen was less subtle or nuanced than in the past. It remains an exceptional singer, and what he did on this record is very strong, but yes, I'd like to hear back to something that is less systematically "in force".
But meanwhile, this cake has all the same great songs, riffs and solos sick ... the production is impeccable (perhaps the best sound that Symphony X has ever had), and I think I am a good slap listening to the majority of the new songs presented here.
So yes, it is less lyrical, more very symphonic, but we are still facing a coherent body of work, rich and powerful. Many have choruses catchy melodies (I want to evidence "Children Of A Faceless God" or "Prometheus"), we find songs like speed Romeo and his band compose for years (there of "Of Sins And Shadows "or" Evolution "in" Light Up The Night ") and the securities terrassent not pretend (the huge" Dehumanized ", which in addition has the luxury of bring some novelty in the registry group). For me, no doubt is allowed, Symphony X has struck again strong! Yes, the days of "The Divine Wings Of Tragedy" and "V" are long gone, it must be a reason.
