The Odyssey is the sixth studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released on November 5, 2002 through Inside Out Music.[1] The album is the band's first to be recorded entirely at guitarist Michael Romeo's home studio, The Dungeon.[2] "Accolade II" is a sequel to "The Accolade" from The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1996). The title track is the album's grand finale: a 24-minute musical interpretation of Homer's Odyssey, an epic poem about the journey of ancient Greek hero Odysseus.

The Odyssey
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 5, 2002 (2002-11-05)
StudioThe Dungeon
Genre
Length66:52
LabelInside Out
ProducerMichael Romeo
Symphony X chronology
Live on the Edge of Forever
(2001)
The Odyssey
(2002)
Paradise Lost
(2007)

Critical reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
The Metal Crypt     [3]
Metal Storm9/10[4]

Alex Henderson at AllMusic gave The Odyssey three stars out of five, calling it an "old-school" album and "dated" for its time, while clarifying that "dated isn't necessarily a bad thing—if you hold a particular era in high regard, dated can actually be a plus." He also likened the mythical and fantasy elements to classic heavy metal acts such as Queensrÿche, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ronnie James Dio, Iron Maiden and Metallica.[1]

Loudwire named the album in fifth in the list "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time"[5] and Metal Hammer ranked it at #19 in a similar list.[6]

Track listing

edit
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Inferno (Unleash the Fire)"Russell Allen, Michael RomeoRomeo5:32
2."Wicked"AllenRomeo5:32
3."Incantations of the Apprentice"AllenRomeo4:22
4."Accolade II"AllenRomeo, Michael Pinnella, Michael LePond7:53
5."King of Terrors"Allen, Romeo, Jason RulloRomeo, Pinnella6:19
6."The Turning"Allen, RomeoRomeo, LePond4:44
7."Awakenings"Allen, RomeoRomeo, Pinnella, LePond8:21
8."The Odyssey"
  • "Part I - Odysseus' Theme / Overture"
  • "Part II - Journey to Ithaca"
  • "Part III - The Eye"
  • "Part IV - Circe (Daughter of the Sun)"
  • "Part V - Sirens"
  • "Part VI - Scylla and Charybdis
    • a) Gulf of Doom
    • b) Drifting Home"
  • "Part VII - The Fate of the Suitors / Champion of Ithaca"
.
  • (instrumental)
  • Allen, Romeo
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • (instrumental)
  • LePond, Romeo
  • .
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • Romeo
  • 24:09
    Total length:66:52
    Japanese/limited edition bonus tracks[7]
    No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
    9."Masquerade '98"Romeo, Pinnella, Thomas Miller, Rullo, Rod TylerRomeo, Pinnella, Miller, Rullo, Tyler6:00
    10."Frontiers"AllenRomeo, LePond, Pinnella, Rullo4:50

    Personnel

    edit

    Technical personnel

    References

    edit
    1. ^ a b c Henderson, Alex. "The Odyssey - Symphony X | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
    2. ^ The Odyssey (CD edition liner notes).
    3. ^ Iwarrior (December 20, 2002). "Review of Symphony X - The Odyssey". The Metal Crypt. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
    4. ^ Taster, Dream (September 22, 2003). "Symphony X - The Odyssey review". Metal Storm. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
    5. ^ DiVita, Joe (July 5, 2017). "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
    6. ^ Chantler, Chris (14 November 2019). "The 25 greatest power metal albums". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
    7. ^ "The Odyssey". Symphony X. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
    edit