The Divine Wings of Tragedy

The Divine Wings of Tragedy is Symphony X's third album, on which they tied neoclassical technique to grand structural beauty and achieved a major leap. Often called the band's first full-fledged progressive metal work, it is the breakthrough that defined their subsequent direction. Partially recorded at Michael Romeo's home studio "The Dungeon," it lifts playing, construction and singing all to a new height. Recorded at Trax East Studios and Romeo's Dungeon, it boldly takes in Queen-indebted layered choirs and classical arrangements. The title epic, over 20 minutes, is an ambitious suite spanning multiple movements. From the drive of the opener "Of Sins and Shadows" to the single-like "Sea of Lies" and the solemn "The Accolade," dramatic songs line up. Russell Allen's expressive voice and the guitar/keyboard interplay by Romeo and Pinnella color the whole record. Fusing technique and lyricism at a high level, it is one of the band's finest classics. It continues to receive extremely high praise from fans and critics as a progressive metal classic.