Symphony X and Sonata Arctica

Formation and Early Years

Michael Romeo formed Symphony X in New Jersey in 1994. The original lineup of the group included Thomas Miller (bass guitar), Rod Tyler (vocals), Jason Rullo (drums), and keyboards. They released their self-titled debut later that same year. The next year they put out the follow-up The Damnation Game.

Critical Acclaim and Lineup Changes

1995 also saw Tyler leave the group, his replacement coming in the personage of Thomas Walling. Their next release came out in 1997. It was the critically acclaimed The Divine Wings of Tragedy. In addition to the critical praise, this disc became the group's biggest commercial success to date. Before recording their next album, Rullo left the band. He was replaced by Thomas Walling. With this lineup, the group released Twilight in Olympus, which garnered both greater critical kudos and greater sales.

Touring and Further Developments

In a unique turn of events, however, the band faced a new lineup change. Newcomer Walling and bassman Thomas Miller both decided that they were not up to touring for the album. The recently departed Rullo rethought his exodus and came back into the Symphony X fold. Mike LePond was brought in on bass for the duration of the tour. After the tour was over, the group found a permanent replacement in Mike LePond.

Albums and Themes

This formation of the group released their fifth album in 2000 -- V: The New Mythology Suite. The following year, Symphony X released their first live album, Live on the Edge of Forever, which captured performances from their 2000 European tour. In 2002, the band continued to mine mythology with their sixth studio album, The Odyssey, which was based on Homer's epic of the same name. The band took a bit of a break while its members released solo albums, but came together again in 2007 with the release of Paradise Lost, a concept album based on Milton's tale.

Exploring New Themes

Taking a break from mining the past, the band looked to the future for the theme of their next album. The result was 2011's Iconoclast, which featured a darker tone and a cautionary story about machines taking over the world. After a global tour, the band took an extended break. They began working on new material in 2014. Their ninth studio offering, Underworld, was announced in May of 2015. Though not conceptual, it was loosely inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy, particularly its first section, The Inferno. The album was released at the end of July.

Event Information

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