SYMPHONY X Bassist Discusses Upcoming Album In New Interview

The official SYMPHONY X French web site The Eyes Of Medusa recently conducted an interview with the band's bassist, Michael LePond. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Eyes Of Medusa: We guess that the [new SYMPHONY X] album ["Iconoclast"] is either wrapped up or in its final stages. Can you tell us who handled the sound mixing/engineering?

LePond: "The album is complete and has been delivered to the label. Of course, [SYMPHONY X guitarist] Michael Romeo handled the sound engineering and recorded everybody at the Dungeon. The mixing and mastering were done by Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA). He's probably the best I've ever heard at what he does; he is amazing. We're all very excited."

The Eyes Of Medusa: Have you kept the same cover artist for this new album?

LePond: "Yes, the artwork was done by Warren Flanagan. It's a different design from 'Paradise Lost', but the guy is unbelievable. He's a fan of SYMPHONY X so he enjoys doing it. I've seen the album cover and it's really, really good."

The Eyes Of Medusa: Is this what we can see on the new merch [that is being sold on the band's current European tour]?

LePond: "No, I believe it's part of the artwork; the album cover is much more elaborate. We also took promotional pictures before we left for the tour by a photographer named Danny Sanchez (Note: he also took the pictures of SYMPHONY X singer Russell Allen for Russell's solo album, 'Atomic Soul'). He lives close to where we rehearse. It's a nice group of studio shots. So far everything is looking good."

The Eyes Of Medusa: We now know the overall theme of the album being about the overwhelming presence of machines and technology in our everyday lives. What's your personal opinion about this?

LePond: "What we were trying to talk about with the theme is when technology with machines goes so far and you start not to think about the consequences. There might be a time where technology is pushed so far that the machines take over and cause serious problems. That was basically the idea and I think that's a possibility in the real world: anything you do, you have to have morality in it, you always have to think of the consequences rather than just say to yourself, 'I'm going to do this and get rich and who cares!'"

You can read the entire interview (in both French and English versions) at this location.

Video footage of SYMPHONY X performing two brand new songs, "End Of Innocence" and "Dehumanized", on February 28, 2011 at Élysée Montmartre in Paris, France can be viewed below.