SYMPHONY X Frontman Discusses New Album, Project With MIKE PORTNOY In Video Interview

March 28, 2011

Barry Anderson of Metal Storm conducted an interview with vocalist Russell Allen of North America's progressive metal masterminds SYMPHONY X on March 24, 2011 in Sheffield, England. You can now watch the chat in two parts below.

When asked about his new project with former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP),Russell said, "I can't really give too much away at the moment. But yeah, it's a pretty serious thing. But it's not a progressive thing; it's a straight-up rock band with just rock songs — kind of like an edgy, modern kind of sound. It's not progressive or trying to be too metal or anything — it's just good, old crunchy rock stuff. I think it will be really well received by people who like to hear that kind of stuff. This is a new thing for Portnoy and myself, too. I've always done kind of done stuff with AYREON, but that's more of a vintage-y vibe, but nothing like this, which is kind of modern-sounding, almost like ROB ZOMBIE meets BLACK LABEL SOCIETY meets DISTURBED, with [Ronnie James] Dio singing. It's all this kind of craziness. So it's definitely different and it's cool. At this point, we're just getting the work done and getting the songs done. [Portnoy's] wrapped with the drums, I think Paul is doing the bass. We're probably gonna keep most of my pre-production vocals that I recorded at my studio with Michael Orlando, because the takes were just fun; they're great. And Portnoy is so talented and amazing; he just came in and played right to what I sang to. And that's just unheard of. Mostly the drummer has to go first and he lays down whatever and you've gotta go back and you've gotta redo stuff. But with him, he can actually just play... I mean, I know there's other drummers that can do that, too, but I was just in awe watching him do on the drums what I do on the microphone — just get up there and do it, and be like a machine. It's just unbelievable."

SYMPHONY X will release its ninth studio album, "Iconoclast", in Europe on June 17 and in North America on June 21 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Illustrator and film concept artist Warren Flanagan ("Watchmen", "The Incredible Hulk", "2012") is the talent behind the album artwork. He states, "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 [SYMPHONY X guitarist] Mike [Romeo], who had a strong idea of what the cover should represent based off 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."

SYMPHONY X founder and lead guitarist Michael Romeo has the following to say about Flanagan's art: "We worked with Warren on the last CD, 'Paradise Lost', and have a good relationship with him. When I talk to Warren about artwork ideas, a lot of times we end up making comparisons to films and movies. With the new CD, 'Iconoclast', the music and lyrics have a darker mechanical/technological theme, and I remember us talking about scenes from films like 'The Matrix' and 'Terminator'. From there, we sent him some songtitles and lyrics (songs like 'Dehumanized', 'Bastards Of The Machine', 'Electric Messiah') and just let Warren run with the ball. He has a great imagination and style, and he totally gets what we are trying to convey with the music."

The track listing for the jewel-cased version of "Iconoclast" is:

01. Iconoclast
02. The End Of Innocence
03. Dehumanized
04. Bastards Of The Machine
05. Heretic
06. Children Of A Faceless God
07. Electric Messiah
08. Prometheus (I Am Alive)
09. When All Is Lost

The track listing for the 2-CD special edition digipak version of "Iconoclast" is:

CD 1:

01. Iconoclast
02. The End Of Innocence
03. Dehumanized
04. Bastards Of The Machine
05. Heretic
06. Children Of A Faceless God
07. When All Is Lost

CD 2:

01. Electric Messiah
02. Prometheus (I Am Alive)
03. Light Up The Night
04. The Lords Of Chaos
05. Reign In Madness

Part 1:

Part 2:

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