Top 5 Symphony X Songs with Michael Romeo - The Prog Report

Guitar legend Michael Romeo joins the podcast to talk about his new solo album 'War of the Worlds, Pt. 2' and to help pick the best Symphony X songs.
The audio version of the podcast contains clips of the songs talked about.
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[@martingimenez339]

Mike is a genius musician. He is the best you can get. I enjoy his music tremendously.

[@juancarlosbernabeaviles]

I agree.

[@Silent.Barfight]

Michael Romeo is the man.

[@GoodSneakers]

My top 5 SX songs: The Accolade Egypt Communion and the Oracle Awakenings Candlelight Fantasia Not counting The Odyssey and DWOT…they are too good.

[@keyboardwarria]

candlelight is top 3 for me, it was the first SX song i listened to

[@freedomNLG]

@@keyboardwarria such a beautiful song, if you haven't already I suggest you listen to whispers and lady of the snow from them as well, has the same type of beauty

[@keyboardwarria]

@@freedomNLG oh trust me i have!

[@freedomNLG]

@@keyboardwarria haha okay glad you do!

[@Mardell.]

My Favorite 1- The Divine Wings of Tragedy 2- Rediscovery part I & II 3- The Odyssey 4- Trought The looking Glass 5- Candlelight Fantasia

[@keyboardwarria]

candlelight is top 3 for me, it was the first SX song i listened to.

[@TheMarty108]

Spot on, dude! This is actually exactly what my list looks like! 😮🤘

[@Yupppi]

The Odyssey is just unbelievable. When it starts it sounds like you started watching an epic Disney animation movie. Then you get the whole story of Odysseus and different emotions come so strongly through in different parts and you can't stay unamazed with what all it has coming, and the build up to homecoming which is so glorious that it makes you shiver. And I just love the theme, the song was what got me to finally read the book, I was already fascinated by greek mythology before that, but it really hit home. I think it's not that common to hear orchestrated parts in metal music that truly sound like they belong there, or were there even before the rock band was. The Odyssey sounds like it was born from the orchestra and the band just carried its magic. It's the only song that long that I can be excited from start to finish and it feels like you're constantly carried on a continuous story. Like the only other +20 minute song that comes to my head is Opeth's Black Rose Immortal, which I love, but that sounds more like at least 3 different themes and songs put together. Which is quite common with very long songs that aren't extremely slow and repeating the same thing over and over again. The Odyssey is the only one I know of that length that feels like one whole piece from start to finish, always moving and it doesn't have a part that I'd like to skip And I always found Through the Looking Glass has similar vibes in miniature form. Sick riffs but also piano and different emotions throughout the song. And the guitar solos were very rock style, very catchy and had nice and strong melodical theme to them. They weren't really in a hurry to anywhere, they just delivered the message at the pace the song and the message required. That's what Romeo's good at with his solo works in some master pieces, not going overboard and serving the song instead. Then there's Underworld, I had just been thinking about Poe and how I don't own or hadn't read Nevermore and I realized I missed Underworld, and it has Nevermore and it's a kickass song. Immediately read the original. And for years I've been looking for republication for translation of Dante's Divine Comedy, and there was To Hell and Back and the general theme of the album. I just love that someone bothers to theme their art, because it's not just individual clips like you might treat modern listening habits from spotify for example, it's a piece of art, it's a story, it has meaning. And then there's Eve of Seduction. I just couldn't get enough of that solo when I first heard it. And still to this day I listen to the solo occasionally just because it tingles some special place in my brain, it's so clever and different from what I've heard, but it also has these very classic rock style things all over it. Without You also has a bit of that vibe, when the solo starts my hair stands up and shivers go down the spine. But I always wondered if Run with the Devil was a nod towards Van Halen. Even the actual musical vibe in it makes me think it could be. Set the World Afire from Paradise Lost was probably the first on that album that caught me, because I loved the Megadeth song by the same name, so it caught my eye, but this was a completely different song, yet it still had some of that feel. Maybe it's the name Set the World Afire that requires a certain musical tonality to it. It's a fun record, just like Underworld. This much more modern thing in heaviness, but still being very much Symphony X. Like moving to more modern age of metal without being similar in content, which is what I enjoy about it. But the mad thing in all albums is, be it the song Odyssey or Through the Looking Glass or To Hell and Back or whatever, in my opinion the Symphony X thing, is that there's all these crazy rhythms and time signatures are unorthodox, or let's say not traditional 4/4, yet the riffs just groove and you wouldn't necessarily think about the time signature. There's been cases where I've started learning the riff and only then realized it's not your 4/4 (or that Romeo does some wild quirk every other cycle and has extra or less beats). That's always been the magic that captivated me, something different but groovy, something that catches you off guard without being wrong or annoying. And like Through the Looking Glass has so many key changes you can't count them, and they flow so well that you only think about how so many riffs are in different keys the second time when you start learning it. I like how Romeo goes towards newer production towards the end and also puts the new production to the top basically. Of course natural for artists, but fans might not always get that their first loves are in the past, the artist is growing and evolving and there needs to be new ideas, new things to be said. And appreciating your latest record the most means you did something right and moved forward instead of making a mistake and wanting to go back to safe and already known past good times.

[@Metalton95]

1. The Odyssey 2. Through the Looking Glass 3. Awakenings 4. Rediscovery Part II 5. Inferno EDIT: Ok, Dan and I would make great friends, LOL - almost identical picks and reasoning (long proggy songs where every band member shines). I too hope for more 95-02 piano/prog metal mega tracks - been begging for a decade :)

[@FrancescoDiMauro]

Please Michael, make Symphony X prog again! 🤟😘

[@erikrevier4053]

Great interview, love seeing more of Michael Fuckin Romeo. Here's my top 5... this was very difficult. 5. Egypt 4. Smoke and Mirrors 3. Domination 2. Iconoclast 1. The Odyssey Honorable mentions: Every other symphony X song, really happy i don't need to just listen to 5 songs only. Can't wait for the tour and the new Solo record.

[@evilvolts]

Iconoclast The Odyssey Domination Paradise Lost A Serpent's Kiss (I loved Paradise Lost album ]:)

[@scrambis]

hundred percent dude, i could listen to him talk about Symphony X for however long he'd want to lol

[@GuitarWithDofka]

Every opening track from every album plows you over.

[@metalheadbill]

Just saw Symphony X in Baltimore the other day and happened to meet Michael outside the venue, he was very cool and down to earth. Accolade II is the perfect Symphony X song in my opinion.

[@neto867]

Good to see Romeo giving us his top 5 Here's my top 5 5. Rediscovery Pt. II 4. Awakenings 3. Legend 2. Communion and The Oracle 1. The Accolade

[@Hy-jg8ow]

I love Symphony X, thanks for this interview!

[@raiders753334]

Mike is the most effortless player I've ever seen.

[@Metalton95]

Definitely, you can hardly see him lift his fingers when he goes across strins - especially for his legato-tapping runs. Looks like his guitar is oiled with butter, and his fingers just fly across :D

[@SyX512]

I Love Romeo, my favorite musician since I discovered then in 2003 Amazing stuff guys! also good to see a fellow Brazilian on the conversation!

[@PsyphaX09]

Same year I discovered SX. Romeo is my GOAT guitarist.

[@Eincrou]

Outstanding interview. It was a lot of fun to hear Romeo go over SX history, even if his memory was a bit fuzzy. 😂 Thanks so much.

[@Bellathor]

I love all of Symphony X, they're prolly my favorite band ever, but yeah I'd prolly go with a lot of the same stuff as Dan, those older maybe less heavy at times songs are magical (some of it maybe cause I've been listening to it since I was like 8), Awakenings, Accolade, Edge of Forever, Odyssey, Rediscovery, Paradise Lost(the song) - which also has one of the most beautiful choruses ever, Russ is a legend, but man is Iconoclast a freaking fantastic record on the heavier side and I felt like Underworld was a great hybrid between the old and newer stuff... Romeo's solo stuff is fantastic too.

[@derrickdorry]

Michael Romeo is a boss.

[@aditivienna2194]

Michael romeo is THE boss

[@pyramidhead3109]

16:45 top 5 begins

[@TheCyberMantis]

Romeo is the king. He's been #1 for a long time now. It takes a long time to write a Symphony X album, because he puts so much into every song. His bag-of-tricks is huge. His technical ability has no limits. I don't even want to try to name 5 songs, because there are just too many to pick from. I already pre-ordered "WotW pt.2" as soon as it was announced. Romeo is one of those very rare artists where I will just buy everything he does, without even hearing it first. Because I know it is going to kick ass.

[@AJDOLDCHANNELARCHIVE]

Monster player, masterful composer. Symphony X is one of the few bands I'm always listening to out and about and have done for nearly 20 years now.

[@jaysmith5035]

What an interview, thank's for this one. Memory road, or not hahaha. Fun times.

[@paulburrows7908]

Love Romeo's shredding, own all their albums, and the new Solo album just blows away the first one, wow! Going to see Symphony X in a couple days, my third one. So stoked!

[@kevinac4397]

Someone gave me Mike’s email back when ToO dropped, he was super cool and responded to me. DWoT was mind blowing, very special to me, ordered it from Japan in 1997 (along with his vhs, solo album and the other Symphony X albums).

[@nicholassupernant6807]

1. Divine wings if tragedy 2. Communion and the oracle 3. Edge of forever 4. Paradise lost 5. Inferno(unleash the fire) SO HARD

[@Geneius2509]

I've got 1 as the same too, I don't think any song, prog song or not can top that for me, it's soooo good

[@Bondrkmz]

The odyssey is easily my favorite. I also like The Accolade II, brilliant stuff.

[@robertshaw5326]

just seensx and met the band they signrd my guitar dream come true for me!!

[@Zillgian83]

If I had to name 5 favs, I'd go for: - The Oddyssey - Paradise Lost - Divine Wings of Tragedy - The Fallen - Sacrifice Truth be told it's immensely hard to single out just a few of them. There are so many fantastic pieces. I'm both happy that I've discovered their music and sad that they're not as nearly as popular as they should be.

[@chadcegelski2302]

Every time I leave a bar I play the Odyssey a few times…

[@VatroCramer]

I can not express how much I love this band! They are absolutely awesome!

[@scottdunn2178]

Would love to see a collaboration with Ron Jarzombek. Mike and Ron would be a force to be reckoned with...

[@daniellevy22]

Agreed!

[@GoodSneakers]

The Divine Wings of Tragedy is the greatest album of all time.

[@endlessorbaggins8223]

Can't wait to see them on tour in May in Montreal. I can see that it must be hard for a band to get back on track and start to do shows again after two or more years. So even if all is not on point I will be happy nonetheless to be there with such amazing dudes playing music. I remember seeing them at Foufoune Electrique in Montreal for the Odyssey tour. They played Odyssey song that night. Everyone had a great time and were signing along on all the songs.

[@paulburrows7908]

This Friday in Vancouver for me.

[@osomusic]

Romeo is amazing! The more music we get from him the better. About Iconoclast - I'm sorry but the top-dog there is Dehumanize! And what an amazing guitar solo there. Neverending, emotional, works great with the rhythm part. Was surprised to not see more picks from V, like Evolution (the most badass riff ever) and Fallen. some great shit.

[@ArtGuitarLTX]

What a GREAT interview with Mr Romeo. Really enjoyed this! 👍👍 “It’s very long but very approachable…that’s what she said” 😂 I got it 👍😂

[@ubersoldat91]

Michael is so cool, one of my favorite guitarists for sure, great video!

[@mastermotos3978]

Love this guy

[@cavetroll666]

just saw symphony x for my 4th time in toronto.

[@linkanddrink7880]

My top 5: 1. Accolade 2. Communion and the Oracle 3. Through the looking glass 4. Accolade II 5. Sea of Lies.

[@no_notes1229]

My top 5: 1. Oddyssey 2. Walls of Babylon 3. Divine Wings of Tragedy 4. A Winter's Dream 5. Awakenings

[@evracer]

The outro of Set the World on Fire is the most metal fucking riff ever.

[@atthecore4560]

Covid was a great experience in time for art. So much great, new art came into existence and is now flourishing. It was an inspiring time for a lot of new comers.

[@ShredSymphony]

This interview kicked ass!!

[@progreport]

Wow thanks!

[@geo-fry6372]

Here’s (probably) my list: 6: Dawn of a Million Souls (what do you mean this isn’t a Symphony X song?/s) 5: When All is Lost 4: The Odyssey 3: The Damnation Game 2: Revelation 1: A Fool’s Paradise

[@Metalton95]

@MOBsta Imaging Now I want another Ayreon album with heavy focus on keyboards & synths like Theory, ft. Michael Pinella!!! God, in general I just want more stuff like Theory of Everything, and more music with Pinella - haven't heard much from him since The Odyssey / Paradise Lost :-/

[@keyboardwarria]

1. candlelight fantasia 2. edge of forever 3. dressed to kill 4. eyes of medusa (i love sea of lies just as much as the other guy but eyes is just so much heavier) 5. shades of grey This list was so hard to put together cuz even though it looks like my favorite albums are Damnation game and DWOT, they're not. V is actually my favorite album cuz i love every song from start to finish. Candlelight Fantasia was the first song I ever listened to

[@PelouseMan666]

Of sins and shadows was the first song I heard of them and I fell in love immediately. Love many of their songs but sins stays my fave to this day

[@hightechhooligan]

would be awesome if MJR re-listened to 'V 'after not hearing it for a while and that inspired him for the new album: 'X'

[@scotttak]

X: The Newer Mythology Suite

[@fercontreras8]

Epic interview. I am surprised no one has mentioned the classic “Evolution”. That intro 🤟

[@evilvolts]

I still buy CD's when I got introduced to the Japanese band Lovebites I immediately ordered all their albums and EP's

[@ProgSnob14]

I buy albums and concert blurays. I still try to primarily buy physical media unless it's just not available.

[@cofiddle]

16:46 top 5

[@AdrianJeffreys-fj2fv]

He is a modern day Bach and Mozart along with Luca Turilli Alex Staropoli Stephen Forte. And the late great Phil Garadana

[@amirprog]

Awesome. You should have gotten Pinella on the show as well though. Next time.

[@Vbnklll]

Romeo is a gem

[@symphx3540]

lllllllllllllllllllllllove symphony x could you guess?

[@CacoSenise]

My top 5 (in chronological order): 1. Dressed to Kill 2. Of Sins and Shadows 3. Evolution 4. Fallen 5. Inferno It was too hard. Maybe it changes next week...

[@JetTeamProduction]

Awesome video, great to hear Michael !

[@quake1792]

I started with the Odyssey. That whole album is flawless. I love them all though. To pick just 5 off the top of my head: The Odyssey, Serpent Kiss, The turning, Sea of Lies, Egypt. That list might change tomorrow lol

[@silverqumera]

There goes your setlist for the 25th year tour celebration!

[@jones7651]

Gênio.

[@edlobato1251]

A new instructional video would be nice!

[@jonathanb1068]

Here’s my top 5: 1. Edge of Forever 2. Through the Looking Glass 3. The Odyssey 4. Iconoclast 5. Eyes of Medusa

[@toekneecornhighsir7299]

Liked this video for the mention of Awakenings. It wouldn't quite crack my top 5, but it's awesome. 5. The Turning 4. Paradise Lost 3. The Divine Wings of Tragedy 2. Egypt 1. The Odyssey

[@viperboy749]

PLEASE RELEASE A 4K BLURAY CONCERT - Been wanting some great video content for years

[@atthecore4560]

Charon and Nevermore are my favorite songs on Underworld. Satisfying tracks.

[@YsAbTones]

thanks for this !

[@tuomaspuumalainen3018]

What I'd give for a new version of the The Odyssey with modern orchestral plugins and overall production. The piece is incredible, but it does sound its age.

[@OpethianDream2112]

Yes I will by your Bluray!!!! please make one!

[@colindeyman966]

Top 5 Symphony x songs: 5. Dressed to Kill 4. Accolade II 3. Divine Wings of Tragedy 2. Candlelight Fantasia 1. Awakenings Honorable Mention: Church of the Machine Bottom 5 Symphony X songs: NONE! But if I had to choose... 5. Absence of Light 4. Taunting the Notorious 3. Sacrifice 2. Bastards of the Machine 1. Run with the Devil

Yo no podría decir cuales serían mis 5 canciones favoritas, pienso que si las digo le estaría quirando el crédito a otras que me gustan demasiado. Por Symphony X conocí el amor a primera impresión; si recuerdo que la primera canción que escuché de SX fue "Of sin and shadows" y era exactamente lo que estaba buscando en ese preciso momento. Había visto un ranking de las mejores bandas de metal de todos los tiempos, y SX estaba en el puesto 27 o 28, no recuerdo bien y pensé que algún dia la iba a escuchar, y cuando la escuché por primera vez, supe que la vida de ahora en adelante tenía sentido. Los budistas y filósofos han estado buscando el sentido de la vida y ahora yo les digo, el sentido de la vida es escucha a SX. saludos

[@cjc2611]

I'm glad Mike thinks Iconoclast is his favorite record. I remember moving to a brand new state and going to the FYE at the mall the same day that album dropped. The clerks were literally price tagging the albums when I went in there. That album got me through some lonely times while I acclimated to my new situation.

[@hoeyao]

You guys HAVE played Awakenings live. Luckily for us fans, there's some live video on youtube where we can saciate our intentions of watching that song live

[@tuhwhat1663]

my man thank you for picking through the looking glass

[@atthecore4560]

The Odyssey is Symphony X's Heavy Metal album, that is, until, you finally hit the titular track of, not just the album, but in the career of the band. It's a movie as a song

[@jaspergillgannon4991]

New drinking game: Take a shot every time Mike says "thing"

[@ronforeman2556]

"Paradise Lost" Paradise Lost" (2007) "The Walls of Babylon" Paradise Lost (2007) "Children of a Faceless God" Iconoclast (2011) "Dehumanized" Iconoclast (2011) "To Hell and Back" Underworld (2015) "Run With the Devil" Underworld (2015) I couldn't pick just five songs, nor could I ever begin to rank them, but these six songs from the last three Symphony X albums are all among my favorites. And, ironically, the band only performed one -- ""Run With the Devil" -- at the show I saw last week in Mesa, Arizona. Sigh! But the show still was mind-blowing!

[@SebastianGordonMusic]

i cant pick any as the best song ... Symphony X its a tremendous music, its unbelievable, Rusell its the best singer in rock/metal music, Romeo its indescribable, Pinella its indescribable too, Lepond and Rullo are fucking machines... the composing skill of Romeo are far from mortals, i definetly not understand why they aren't more famous and apreciated.

[@MrJaska77]

Such a cool episode, thanks guys! Interesting how I'd have picked #1 same as Mike, Of Sins and Shadows is the first song I ever heard from Sy X, it will forever rule this galaxy. But overall, I'm mostly in the Dan camp. Absolutely adore Edge of Forever, and Through the Looking Glass. Gonna have to follow Dan around more. :D

[@shadowfiremusic]

My top 5: Smoke and Mirrors Inferno Evolution (The Grand Design) Out of the Ashes Wicked

[@slyarte]

My favourite 5 tracks of Symphony X: 1) The Accolade 2) The Divine Wings of Tragedy 3) Rediscovery, part II 4) Communion and the Oracle 5) Through the Looking Glass

[@dagoelius]

Iconoclast for me is probably the least re-listened album out of their entire catalogue. Dragon's Den still my favourite. Not as flashy as other solos from Mike but just fits the song so perfectly. Another great solo (non symphony X though) is his guest solo on E=mc2 from Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon 01011001.

[@jms980]

My Top 5 1. Serpents Kiss 2. The Accolade 3. Paradise Lost 4.Pharoah 5. When All is Lost

[@Hellborg81]

MR "favourite songs (no orders)": Of Sins and Shadows, TDWOT, Inferno (and kinda the Odyssey album) , Set the world on fire, and Without you. My personnal favourite 5 (no order) would be: A winter's dream (1&2) ; The Accolade; Through the looking glass, Orion the Hunter, Rediscovery (1&2).

[@82mangini]

My top 5 1 The Divine wings of tragédy 2 The odyssey 3 awekenigs 4 The accolade 5 accolade 2

[@juancarlosbernabeaviles]

The Accolade II is an amazing song, probably the best song of all times.

[@robertshaw5326]

how does one get a prog report t shirt?

[@chickentwisties2298]

He's lost weight!

[@mattmckeon1688]

My Top 5 is predictable and has a clear common theme. 5. When All is Lost 4. The Accolade 3. Divine Wings of Tragedy 2. Through the Looking Glass 1. The Odyssey

[@mattmckeon1688]

I do also love the shorter, heavy songs like Evolution, Inferno, Smoke and Mirrors, Of Sins and Shadows and Set the World on Fire. The opening track of every album is a tone setter and lets you know what's coming later.

[@atthecore4560]

V - The New Mythology Suite is easily my favorite album by Symph-X. It's challenging and rewarding. Paradise and Divine fight for the second place depending on my mood. Naming my top 3 songs by them is really hard to define for me. I want to jump to another band that does music like Symph-X, because it would be easier. Adagio, Cloudscape and Angra come to mind lol.

[@dontbothertoreply9755]

15:19 fair question but we can support it, I have always wanted to see it, also you can put it on stream, it would be great, I used to watch concerts with my friends all the time back when youtube was not a monopoly, this guy Dan was spot on, cool questions Romeo tends to avoid technicality or compositional questions he pushed him on the right way, cool guy, Roie more on to the new music, from all the interviews this is my fav one, you forced him to go deeper into his own material.

[@progreport]

Thanks!

[@atthecore4560]

I'm disappointed by the lack of love for The Walls Of Babylon. That's Symphony X does God Of War!

[@Bryan-T]

Dan has good taste. Edge of Forever is my personal favorite.

[@TheCyberMantis]

Check out: LOVEBITES "Under The Red Sky". Miyako is following in the footsteps of Romeo. Midori too. Japan is the future of metal. They have been heavily influenced by this genre for years. And surprisingly, it's the women who are leading the way!

[@BascoSisters]

I agree with Mike. Iconoclast is the best Symphony X record. But man it's hard to choose only one!

[@alessandromariani99]

The Accolade The Divine Wings of Tragedy Communion and the Oracle Revelation The Odyssey

[@baptistefall7131]

_Accolade 1 _Communion and the oracle _Walls of Babylon _The Awekening _The divine wings of tragedy.

[@vladimirzaputovic]

intro song please ?

[@user-bl3si3kq6x]

MJR: it's extra slow right now because of covid... Releases WotW 1 and 2 in 2 years.

[@Acousticeg]

Who was the vocalist from the part one of WOTW?

[@artimmenersilvers7841]

It was Rick Castellano

[@amiralinourbakhsh7206]

Anyone knows what he is referring to "Riter's SPringer"?

[@garricfloodgate1024]

He is referencing The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky.

[@jms980]

Dino is definitely a gifted singer, BUT he is not right for War of the Worlds II. Michael said he wanted to change it up, but it didn't change too much.The two changes in the vocals are the vocal range displayed is less than on part I the other change being, Dino sounds on the slow parts like David Coverdale, which isn't bad, but not fitting for this.