| Iconoclast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 17, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | September 2010 – January 2011 | |||
| Studio | The Dungeon | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
| Producer | Michael Romeo | |||
| Symphony X chronology | ||||
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Iconoclast is the eighth studio album by the progressive metal band Symphony X, released in June 2011. [2]
When interviewed, vocalist Russell Allen said that the lyrical concept of the album is based on "The idea of machines taking over everything, and all this technology we put our society into pretty much being our demise." Allen said on Heavy Metal Thunder that "it isn't a story, but rather a theme, like Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd." [3]
Illustrator and film concept artist Warren Flanagan ( Watchmen , The Incredible Hulk , 2012 ), who designed the cover of Paradise Lost , returned as art director for Iconoclast. Sharing his creative process on the album's artwork: "The idea was to create imagery that was a little darker in tone to previous Symphony X albums and to represent the overall theme of Iconoclast into the artwork. The whole concept came from Michael Romeo, who had a strong idea of what the cover should represent based on the music. I just ran with it. When the album's title was decided on, I focused the image based on the meaning of it. I also wanted to use the band's signature 'masks' but present them in a way that connected to the new album." [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [1] |
| Jukebox:Metal |  [5] |
| Metal Assault |  [6] |
| Metal Storm | [7] |
| Metal Temple | [8] |
| Metalholic |   [9] |
| Prog Sphere | [10] |
| Thrash Hits | [11] |
Iconoclast debuted at number 76 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States, selling more than 7,300 copies in its first week. The record also debuted at number 7 on the Top Hard Rock Chart, number 19 on the Top Rock Chart and number 13 on the Top Independent Chart. [12] [13] The album showcases the highest chart position and the most first-week sales in the band's history.
Iconoclast was released in two editions: a single disc version, and a double-CD special edition hardcover digipak. Guitarist Michael Romeo has stated that the special edition contains the track order that the band originally intended to release, but their label (Nuclear Blast) wanted a single-disc version as well. According to Romeo, the track "Reign in Madness" is the proper closing to the album.[ citation needed ]
All lyrics are written by Russell Allen and Michael Romeo, except where noted; all music is composed by Romeo.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Iconoclast" | 10:53 |
| 2. | "The End of Innocence" | 5:29 |
| 3. | "Dehumanized" | 6:49 |
| 4. | "Bastards of the Machine" | 4:58 |
| 5. | "Heretic" | 6:26 |
| 6. | "Children of a Faceless God" | 6:22 |
| 7. | "Electric Messiah" (lyrics: Allen) | 6:15 |
| 8. | "Prometheus (I Am Alive)" | 6:48 |
| 9. | "When All Is Lost" | 9:10 |
| Total length: | 63:10 | |
All lyrics are written by Russell Allen and Michael Romeo; all music is composed by Romeo.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Iconoclast" | 10:51 |
| 2. | "The End of Innocence" | 5:27 |
| 3. | "Dehumanized" | 6:47 |
| 4. | "Bastards of the Machine" | 4:56 |
| 5. | "Heretic" | 6:24 |
| 6. | "Children of a Faceless God" | 6:20 |
| 7. | "When All Is Lost" | 9:10 |
| Total length: | 49:55 | |
All music is composed by Romeo.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Electric Messiah" | Allen | 6:13 |
| 2. | "Prometheus (I Am Alive)" | Allen, Romeo | 6:46 |
| 3. | "Light Up the Night" | Allen | 5:03 |
| 4. | "The Lords of Chaos" | Allen | 6:09 |
| 5. | "Reign in Madness" | Allen, Romeo | 8:37 |
| Total length: | 32:48 | ||
Technical personnel
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Michael LePond.
Symphony X is the first studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, originally released in 1994 through Zero Corporation in Japan, and reissued in 1996 through Inside Out Music in Europe; a remastered edition was reissued on January 13, 2004 through Inside Out Music. The album's release came about as a result of band guitarist Michael Romeo's 1994 solo album, The Dark Chapter, achieving success in Japan. It is the only Symphony X album to feature singer Rod Tyler, who would be replaced by Russell Allen on all subsequent works.
The Divine Wings of Tragedy is the third studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released in November 1996 through Zero Corporation (Japan) and March 1997 through Inside Out Music (Europe). A remastered edition was reissued on September 13, 2004, through Inside Out, and again in September 17, 2012, as part of a double-LP vinyl release.
Twilight in Olympus is the fourth studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released in 1998 through Zero Corporation (Japan) and Inside Out Music (Europe); a remastered special edition was reissued on January 13, 2004 through Inside Out. The album features drums played by Thomas Walling, who filled in for regular drummer Jason Rullo after he temporarily left the band for personal reasons. It is also the last Symphony X album with longtime bassist Thomas Miller, who left the band during the album's tour.
V: The New Mythology Suite is the fifth studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released on October 10, 2000 through Inside Out Music. It is a concept album dealing with the story of Atlantis, ancient Egyptian mythology, and astrology. The album is the band's first to feature its current and longest lineup, following the arrival of bassist Michael LePond and the return of drummer Jason Rullo.
The Odyssey is the sixth studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released on November 5, 2002 through Inside Out Music. The album is the band's first to be recorded entirely at guitarist Michael Romeo's home studio, The Dungeon. "Accolade II" is a sequel to "The Accolade" from The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1996). The title track is the album's grand finale: a 24-minute musical interpretation of Homer's Odyssey, an epic poem about the journey of ancient Greek hero Odysseus.
Michael James Romeo is an American guitarist and a founding member of the progressive metal group Symphony X. He is one of two members to appear on every Symphony X release.
Russell Allen is an American singer best known as the vocalist of the progressive metal band Symphony X. He has also worked with the supergroups Star One, Allen-Lande, Level 10, and as one of fourteen vocalists in the progressive symphonic metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Since 2011, he has also served as the frontman of the heavy metal band Adrenaline Mob.
Michael Anthony LePond III is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist of the progressive metal band Symphony X. He is also the bass guitarist of the New York-based metal, band Dead on Arrival. The group issued an album, Alive and Kickin, on the independent Polo label in 1996. He can be heard on all Symphony X releases since the 2000 album V: The New Mythology Suite. He was formerly a member of the New Jersey band Rattlebone, which opened for many national acts and released a six-song album in 1997.
Paradise Lost is the seventh studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released on June 26, 2007 through 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.
Backstreet Symphony is the debut studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded in 1989 at Great Linford Manor Studios in Milton Keynes, it was produced by former Duran Duran and The Power Station guitarist Andy Taylor, then mixed by Mike Fraser at AIR Studios in London. The album was initially released on 5 March 1990 by EMI Records in the UK and Capitol Records in the US, and was later re-released the following year in the US by Geffen Records.
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Underworld is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Symphony X. It was released on July 24, 2015 through Nuclear Blast, and released in Japan on August 24. The album's first single, "Nevermore", premiered on May 22, 2015, followed by "Without You" on June 19. They were both officially released on July 22, 2015. The band's guitarist, founder and main songwriter, Michael Romeo, said he was against releasing separated tracks of the album, since it was written to be "a whole".
War of the Worlds, Pt. 1 is the second solo album by Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo, released on 27 July 2018. It is his first solo album in over two decades and his first release since 2015's Underworld with Symphony X.
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