Biography
Michael Romeo established Symphony X in New Jersey during 1994. The founding roster featured Thomas Miller on bass guitar, Rod Tyler handling vocals, Jason Rullo at the drums, and Michael Pinnella on keyboards. Their self-titled debut arrived before the year ended. The Damnation Game followed in 1995. That same year Rod Tyler departed, and Russell Allen took over vocal duties. The Divine Wings of Tragedy surfaced in 1997, drawing strong critical approval while marking the band’s largest commercial achievement at the time. Jason Rullo exited before the subsequent sessions, with Thomas Walling assuming the drum chair. This configuration produced Twilight in Olympus, which earned heightened critical and commercial response. Shortly afterward both Thomas Walling and Thomas Miller stepped away, citing an unwillingness to tour. Jason Rullo rejoined, and Andy DeLuca filled the bass role for live performances. Mike LePond later became the permanent bassist. The lineup issued its fifth studio album, V: The New Mythology Suite, in 2000. The following year the group delivered its first live recording, Live on the Edge of Forever, drawn from the 2000 European tour dates. Their sixth studio effort, The Odyssey, appeared in 2002 and centered on Homer’s epic poem of the same title. After members pursued solo projects, the band reconvened in 2007 for Paradise Lost, a concept album based on Milton’s tale. Iconoclast followed in 2011, presenting a darker tone and a cautionary narrative about machines overtaking the world. A worldwide tour preceded an extended hiatus. Work on fresh material began in 2014. Underworld, the ninth studio album, was announced in May 2015. Although not conceptual, the record drew loose inspiration from Dante’s Divine Comedy, especially its opening section, The Inferno. The album reached stores at the end of July.
Albums
