Following in the footsteps of the last two albums; “Iconoclast” and “Paradise Lost” (which started on “The Odyssey”), focusing on the riff as the driving force for many songs, the Symphony now brings you into the “Underworld”. Through this journey, guitarist/music composer Mike Romeo has found a great balance and merging between the metal aggressive arrangements of the last two albums, with the neoclassical compositions from “The Divine Wings of Tragedy” and “Twilight in Olympus”.

Lead off/lyric video track ‘Nevermore’ is propelled by a powerful riff, drum beat, and bass with Russell Allen’s vocal soaring atop the musicianship for the verses and chorus with Romeo laying down a solo that is wild still retaining the tune’s melody. The title track utilizes a darker keyboard (which at times reminds me of Dimmu Borgir’s “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant”) and splashes of a black metal (yes, I said black metal) riff, but it is incorporated sporadically. Fear not, if that was too dark for ya, ‘Without You’ recalls the keyboard based melodies, pulling back on the guitars, from the 90s albums, bookened by the heavy ‘Kiss Of Fire” would have fit nicely on “Iconoclast” which has a solid grove and punch. Romeo again creates this interesting identifiable riff with accenting leads for ‘Charon’, a characteristic that instantly identifies Symphony X. ‘To Hell And Back’ is another return to classic more basic keyboard/guitar riff and melody. Thus far, a solid balance between metal and melody. ‘Run With The Devil’ incorporates a few wild Dream Theater like runs with guitars and cascading keyboards. Speaking of, Michael Pinnella’s keys and Allen’s vocal take center stage for ‘Swan Song’, with the rhythm section of Lepond/Rullo bass and drums for a raging bottom end to close things with ‘Legend’.

Solid all around, talented musicianship and song structure. Symphony X did it again. Will surely be in my Top 10 Albums of 2015.