Symphony X — Paradise Lost

intothewellsabyss
Jun 26, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

16 years ago today, Symphony X “Set the World On Fire”!

On this day (June 26) in 2007, Symphony X released their seventh full-length studio album, “Paradise Lost” via Inside Out Music. It is a concept album loosely inspired by John Milton's 1667 epic poem “Paradise Lost”.

The album was the band's first to chart on the U.S. Billboard 200, reaching No. 123 and remaining on that chart for a week, as well as reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers and the top 100 in five other countries.

Background:

The album's release had been delayed numerous times since the announcement on November 16, 2005 that the band was going to "start pulling it all together". In a fan club chat on March 18, 2006, guitarist and main songwriter Michael J. Romeo said that the album will be "a bit darker—the direction is still the same—for the most part", and went on to say that "the classical stuff was getting to a point where we need to evolve the music a bit. There is still a lot of classic influence in there—not as obvious as '[Out of the] Ashes', say". He went on to suggest that there may be a song or songs on the album themed around the works of H. P. Lovecraft, and that there would be "A big tune on here ... “Paradise Lost” is the theme as of now", lending rumor to the title of the album.

In August 2006, some preliminary cover art was leaked on the internet, confirming suspicions that the title of the album would be the same as the song "Paradise Lost". This leaked album art, which was initially categorized by the band as only "preliminary" artwork, was later revealed to be the official artwork, with the full panorama (including the back cover) being made available on the official Symphony X website on May 12, 2007.

At one point it was announced that the album would be released in late 2006, but the date was pushed back several times before its final release date of June 26, 2007. On May 12, 2007, "Serpent's Kiss" was made available on the band's Myspace profile. MP3 samples of other tracks from the album were also made available on German record label SPV's website.

In addition to the standard jewel case edition, the album was released in two other formats: a special edition with Digipak packaging, which includes a DVD containing 5.1 audio and music videos for "Serpent's Kiss" and "Set the World on Fire"; secondly, a limited edition including a DVD of footage shot by the band throughout its history (a first for the band), available exclusively in f.y.e. stores. When pre-ordered at Newbury Comics, the first 500 copies received a signed CD booklet.

Critical Reception:

In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek stated;

“About the only real challenge of “Paradise Lost”, with its emphasis on Satan, is its follow-up based on Milton's sequel, “Paradise Regained”, making the redemption cycle complete (that would take a real philosophical shift and therefore be truly visionary as far as 21st century Metal goes, but Symphony X is already working on it). Even so, “Paradise Lost” is a new high-water mark for this quintet.”

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Paradise Lost” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/paradise-lost/1474749603

Click this link to listen to “Paradise Lost” via Spotify: Paradise Lost https://open.spotify.com/album/6K8z6kKyWtEbOVdQqQ6Drb

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Set the World On Fire”: https://youtu.be/cG8orlq6_yE

Click this link to watch the official Music video for “Serpents Kiss”: https://youtu.be/V8gA1ooxw0I

Click this link to follow Symphony X on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/symphonyx

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Symphony X — Paradise Lost

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