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Le cose non potrebbero andare meglio per questi 5 ragazzi. Realizzare un disco degno del precedente "V: The New Mithology Suite" (2000) veniva indicata da gran parte della critica come una 'mission impossible' tanto era il successo e il fasto raggiunto da tale disco. Impossibile quindi… ma non per i Symphony X; ebbene la band del chitarrista Michael Romeo a soli due anni dal blasonatissimo disco di cui sopra ha realizzato questo "The Odyssey" (2002) del quale mi preparo a parlare.
Chiariamo subito che si tratta di un disco splendido, e più duro del loro classico "The Divine Wings Of Tragedy" (1997).
Proprio Romeo dimostra ancora una volta di essere uno dei migliori compositori e chitarristi attualmente presenti sulla scena prog-metal mondiale… insieme a lui, Russel Allen contribuisce al disco con una prova vocale fuori dai canoni della normalità. Allen può essere davvero considerato come il prototipo di cantante metal perfetto.
La produzione del cd è come sempre su altissimi livelli, i suoni dei vari strumenti sono perfettamente riprodotti; e le sfumature post-produzione sono perfettamente integrate nel disco.
Ma procediamo diretti al cuore di questo disco… parlando subito dell'epica title-track "The Odyssey". Incorporando notevoli spunti di musica classica questa suite lunga 24 minuti e basata sull'Odissea di memoria Omerica è sicuramente la vetta più alta raggiunta nella storia della band. Il lavoro alla tastiera di Michael Pinnella si incastra perfettamente con gli intricati e complessi riff\soli suonati dalla chitarra di Romeo. La suite è divisa in VII parti, e va dall'introduzione ("Odyssey theme/Overture") al ritorno a Itaca di Ulisse ("The Fate Of The Suitors/Champion Of Ithaca")… nel mezzo ci saranno la narrazione musicale e cantata di tutti gli avvenimenti più importanti dell'opera di Omero (incontro con Polifemo, arrivo all'isola di Circe, le sirene tentatrici, Scilla e Cariddi etc. ). La suite rispecchiando l'andamento del tema dell'Odissea alterna momenti 'pacati' a momenti 'duri', il tutto sottolineato magistralmente dalla voce di Allen e dalla chitarra di Romeo… ma una nota di merito la do anche a Jason Rullo, davvero un mostro con la batteria… e incredibilmente a suo agio nelle ritmiche dispari; notevoli le progressioni in 3/4, 5/4 e 7/4.
Andando ad analizzare le altre canzoni del disco quali ad esempio "Inferno (Unleash The Fire)" e "Wicked", si nota come la band abbia deciso di dare un'impronta marcatamente heavy al proprio sound, come mai aveva fatto nei lavori precedenti… il tutto coadiuvato dalla dura, e quasi demoniaca voce di Allen. Tornando a parlare della prova di Allen, voglio dire che ho sempre ritenuto Dio come l'unico cantante davvero a suo agio in questo genere di sound; ma stavolta mi ricredo… come ho anche scritto sopra, Mr. Allen riesce (secondo me) addirittura a superarlo in questo lavoro!
Le tonalità della chitarra di Romeo sono dure come mai in passato, e sembra proprio che il disco sia stato concepito per essere più 'guitar-oriented' dei lavori passati… e ciò non può che fare piacere vista la notevole preparazione tecnica di Romeo.
"Incantations Of The Apprentice" ci introduce a tastiere gotiche, quasi horror… qui il lavoro al basso e alla batteria rispettivamente di Michael Lepond e Rullo è qualcosa di incredibile… non sono da meno Romeo e Allen che canta quasi come fosse posseduto da chissà quale entità sovrumana.
Le melodie dolci e accattivanti che la band sa sfoderare quando serve arrivano con la bellissima "Accolade II", brano che è il seguito della meravigliosa "The Accolade" presente su The Divine Wings Of Tragedy. Da ascoltare assolutamente il solo di Romeo dal minuto 5: 11 al minuto 5: 53… un solo denso di emotività e che si conclude con degli incredibili bending vibrati al 24 esimo tasto del Mi cantino. Ancora mi chiedo come sia riuscito a realizzarli.
Temi e liriche oscure ritornano in "The Turning", e ancora una volta sono gli assoli di Romeo a far accaponare la pelle in "The Awekenings"… un brano di 8 minuti che rappresenta una delle vetta più elevate della musica prog-metal in generale e che contiene un unisono tra Romeo e Pinnella che necessita di essere ascoltato per capire che vetta tecnica ed emozionale si può raggiungere con uno strumento. Se credete che quello che Malmsteen e Johansson hanno fatto 15 anni fa sia incredibile, aspettate di sentire questo brano.
In conclusione, come avrete capito ci troviamo di fronte ad un altro stellare lavoro dei Symphony X… che rappresenta sicuramente il miglior modo per ingannare il tempo che manca alla commercializzazione del nuovo lavoro della band del New Jersey, quel "Paradise Lost" che tanto si sta facendo attendere.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
02 Wicked (05:32)
Alone I traveled through the mountains
Led by a star fading west
When I came upon an ancient ruin of a church
And it was there I stopped to rest
Then the black and gloomy night
That chased my footsteps
Crashed down on me like a wave
Whispering through the trees
An eerie breeze
Carried a voice beckoning me to be her slave
In a whisper she said...
Burn forever
Leave never from my arms
Embrace the night
From the black and twisting shadows rose a woman
Beauty alluring to the eye
Oh, her devilish grin, her moonlit skin
And long dark hair flowing down around her thighs
As she approached I felt the evil growing stronger
I waltz with the wicked within
Frozen in my place, she kissed my face
And in a storm of passion bathed me in sin
In the madness, she said...
Burn forever
Leave never from my arms
Embrace the night
Then she weaved a mist
And cast me into the shadows
Come with me, love eternally, forever mine
Set me free, in death we'll dance eternally
Forever and ever...
And so the light, cast down from the heavens
Washed over me like wave
I awoke, it seemed from some crazy dream
Only to find I was standing at her grave
In my nightmare, she said...
Burn forever
Leave never from my arms
Embrace the night
Burn forever
Leave never from my arms
Don't ever leave me, never leave me!
Burn forever
Leave never from my arms
Embrace the night
03 Incantations of the Apprentice (04:22)
Through eerie reach of ancient woods
where lumbering mists arise
I journey for nine moons of the year
to where a land of legend lies
Deep within a stony lamp-lit hall
under falling grains of sand
Magic eyes glance magic pages
turned by magic hands
And as he spoke I watched in awe
A God's aura in his eyes
Master of all
Darkness fall - Spirits arise
Lord of Storms - Blacken the skies
With heavy breath, I break the seal
howls echo through the room
Blood lettings of a black Raven's heart
Conjure up the wraiths of doom
I cannot heed my Master's call
Lakes of Fire - writhe and swell
Foolish eyes - while spying Prophet's pages
unleash Barons of Hell
And as they rose I watched in awe
A God's aura in my eyes
Master of all
Darkness fall - Spirits arise
Lord of Storms - Blacken the skies
04 Accolade II (07:53)
On a cold and misty night,
A ring of torches light the hallowed ground
Where his father's laid to rest
In the reflection of a sword
He sees his destiny and he swears up to the sky,
You will not have died in vain
On the field, with sword and shield
Amidst the din of dying man's wails
War is waged and the battle will rage
Until only the righteous prevail
From the shadows comes a man,
Returning to his land
The winds of change
Taint the sweet smell of home
And all around him, he can see
The pain and misery
This tyrant's reign is through
I will stand and fight, will you?
A heart of gold pumps within his metal skin
A noble line he carries on
On the field, with sword and shield
Amidst the din of dying man's wails
War is waged and the battle will rage
Until only the righteous prevail
I wish to stay, to be here with you
You were my strength, how can I go on?
On the field, with sword and shield
Amidst the din of dying man's wails
War is waged and the battle will rage
Until only the righteous
Only the righteous
Only the righteous prevail!
05 King of Terrors (06:19)
I awake - without the sun
encased in walls of steel
terror so real - it blinds me
Rancid darkness steals my breath
The Pit - on the edge of death
The wells of Hell know not my name
I slip away...into black I fade away
Terrified - to the left and to the right
Spirits of the Damned, iron shadows cast
Hear my desperate cries
Shrieking demon - far and wide
praying for this breath to be my last
Awake again - paralyzed
I'm shackled to this alter
sacrificed to their God
'Inch by Inch and Line by Line'
The Blade - descending lost in time
The fiends of Doom they call my name
I slip away... into black I fade away
Terrified - to the left and to the right
Spirits of the Damned, iron shadows cast
Hear my desperate cries
Shrieking demon - far and wide
praying for this breath to be my last
"The Inquisitorial vengeance
had been hurried by my two-fold escape,
and there was to be no more dallying
with the King of Terrors..."
[Edgar Allan Poe - The Pit and the Pendulum]
Terrified - to the left and to the right
Spirits of the Damned, iron shadows cast
Hear my desperate cries
Shrieking demon - far and wide
praying for this breath to be my last
06 The Turning (04:44)
Lurking out of sight
Night shall fall and feed my frenzy
Beneath an eerie moon a change comes over me
Eyes glow by candlelight
A face divided in the mirror
My psyche ripped by daggers of my alchemy
Side by side with myself again
As midnight's curse descends on trembling hands
Oh, Save my soul
Losing control when the bells toll
Savage on the prowl
In the lamplight's glow, nocturnal
My breath hangs
Like ghosts in the evening air
This ill effect
A vile creation
Of my design
Abomination
The madness rages on and on and on and on
Side by side with myself again
As midnight's curse descends on trembling hands
Oh, Save my soul
Losing control
When the bells toll
Oh, Feed my soul
I'm in control
When the bells toll
Oh, Save my soul
Losing control
When the bells toll
Oh, Feed my soul
I'm in control
When the bells toll
07 Awakenings (08:21)
Needless to say, another day has passed away
Yet everything, and nothing, has changed
Awake I lie, my thoughts get lost up in the sky
Needless to say, nothing will change
Maybe a mystic with fortunes to tell
Surrender my coin at the old wishing well
Maybe the stars will align in the night
To show me the path that is right
Would've been's and could've been's
They waste my days away
The colors of my life dissolve and fade to gray
So many paths of promise
Indecision poisons my mind
If only I had seen the signs, so blind
Ohh, so blind
Oh oh
Yet I must journey on
On and on
A haunting vision torments me
It smothers and steals my dreams
I see an old man in the mirror
Cold and bitter starring back at me
Here I am
At the crossing of life I stand
On my own
Looking down the road
Hear my cry
Answer me
Still I'm searching
Yet the truth is unknown
Though the night is cold
I walk the road alone
Here I am
At the crossing of life I stand
On my own
Looking down the road
Hear my cry
Answer me
Still I'm searching
Yet the truth is unknown
Though the night is cold
I walk the road alone
Yes I walk
I walk the road alone
08 The Odyssey (24:09)
[Part I Odysseus' Theme / Overture]
[instrumental]
[Part II - Journey to Ithaca]
To the one that I love, my journey has begun
When our eyes meet once more there will me peace
The taste of your lips the warmth of your touch
Again, forever, two souls as one
Seems like forever that my eyes have been denied
Home, I'm dreaming of home
I've been twenty years away from all I ever knew
To return would make my dreams come true
Seasons of sorrow have stolen all my years
I miss the rolling hills of Ithaca
I've been through battles and cried a sea of tears
but the tide is changing, and with it all my fears
Yeaaaah
I will return
Seems like forever that my eyes have been denied
Home, I'm dreaming of home
I've been twenty years away from all I ever knew
To return would make my dreams come true
Behold the sea and winds of Jove
We set sail guided by the stars above
The ports of Troy escape our view
A cold and stormy fate awaits our rendezvous
Onward we ride into the raging fury
Setting our course by the moon and sun
We forge ahead seeking glory
Yet the journey has just begun
Onward we ride
Nine days we brave her might
We are (we are we are we are we are we are ) coming home...
[Part III - The Eye]
Awakened at dawn
Land dead ahead with the winds of the morning we change course
No remorse, a place forbidden to all
Search all the grounds
Find food and water
Yet journey not into the Cave of Woe
Long ago
A legend spoke of a beast
A thousand riches
Hidden deep within the stone
A thousand nightmares
Mortal's blood forever flows
Mountainous black
Engulfed in a shadow
A bone chilling growl and an Eye of Hate
A ghastly fate, held prisoner by the Eye
Yet he must sleep
As the daylight fades
We focus our senses and sharpen the blade
We take aim
In silence we strike
A thousand riches
Hidden deep within the stone
A thousand nightmares
Blood runs forever
From the Eye...
[Part IV - Circe (Daughter of the Sun)]
We sit adrift on the open sea
The gift of wind, by Zeus, concealed
So carelessly
We break the waves on a course untrue
Across the endless plain of blue
A new coast in view
We carouse with the maiden beneath her eyes the madness lies... in mystery
I (I) drink deep from the chalice of gold and jade
My senses fade... I'm mesmerized ohhh
Stay, like those before I condemn you all, from walk to crawl... metamorphasized
No, my will it defies her
speak the verse - lift the curse... she's mesmerized
Am I asleep?
Tell me
Daughter of the Sun
There's vengeance in the air and all things all things must be undone
[Part V - Sirens]
Dire warnings
Told by the sorceress in white
'false bringers of love' - Sirens
Echoing songs from above
Wings flowing
Floating on Sea of Lies, I defy
Their vision
Elysium swallows my cries
Embracing
Maidens of lust stimulate and manipulate
My senses
I welcome a watery grave
Tied steadfast
To the mast tragedy awaits me
I'm falling
Victim betrayed by the sea
[Part VI - Scylla and Charybdis]
[a) Gulf of Doom]
[b) Drifting Home]
[instrumental]
[Part VII - The Fate of the Suitors / Champion of Ithaca]
So this is home...
In the guise of a beggar
Minerva guides my way
I find my kingdom in jeopardy
Vengeance it swells within me
As I spy
So many who eye my Queen
I'll make them pay for this blasphemy... All will see
Triumphant Champion of Ithaca
I will right all the wrongs
Let the Gods sing my song
Triumphant Champion of Ithaca
Let a new life begin my journey has come to and end
A contest of valor
"to pierce the twelve rings in a single arrow's flight"
Yet, not a one can string the bow
My veil of silence lifted
All is revealed
Revenge burns in my heart
Thrashing and slashing down all my foes... to claim the throne
Triumphant Champion of Ithaca
I will right all the wrongs
Let the Gods sing my song
Triumphant Champion of Ithaca
Let a new life begin this is the end of my Odyssey
Seems like forever that my eyes have been denied
Home, I'm finally home
I've been twenty years away from all I ever knew
I have returned to make my dream come true
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di cliffburton86
La voce è di una versatilità assurda, riuscendo a racchiudere toni tanto aggressivi e melodici quanto agghiaccianti e aspri!
Questo è un gruppo con i contro-cazzi!! La traccia 'The Odyssey' è un vero e proprio gioiello.
Di Dreamtheater
La suite 'The Odyssey' è una brutta battuta d'arresto sotto tutti i punti di vista, con un inizio veramente brutto e un finale da rivedere.
Si rimane solo MOLTO delusi e addormentati. Peccato. Un'occasione buttata.
