Michael Romeo - Guitars
Russell Allen - Vocals
Thomas Miller - Bass
Jason Rullo - Drums
Michael Pinnella



The first line-up of Symphony X was founded in New Jersey, USA. Michael Romeos' solo debut "The Dark Chapter" can be seen as an introduction to the band. One big difference from those old days and today was that Russell Allen hadn't stepped into the band yet. Instead, the first album features Rod Tyler on vocals. It says in the booklet that it was written, rehearsed and recorded in 3 months(!). In the beginning of -95 Rod had to leave the band and Russell became the new singer and frontman. Russell was originally introduced to the band thru Rod. Some irony there......

Symphony X has, with their dominion sound combining Malmsteen, Dream Theater and Pantera, put the band on the big map of progressive music. There is talent in each and every member and they obviously have something in their music that attracts fans all over the world.

The release of "The Damnation Game" was what introduced me and many others to the band. Everybody knew that there were another album before that, but also wanted better production on the coming albums. When "The Divine Wings of Tragedy" came the world was amazed and Symphony X immediatley got another kind of status, well known by their progressive fans. After this album, Jason Rullo left the band. It was the lack of concentration on the band that forced him to do this. He simlpy didn't give all that he had for the others. New drummer was Thomas Walling and instead of going on tour with him the recordings for "Twilight In Olimpus" started. When it was released, Jason Rullo came back after some jamming with the band, and Symphony X went on tour.

The next release would come to be the collection "Prelude To The Millenium", which can introduce a non X'er to the band in a good way. There were also a re-recorded track from the first album, "Masquerade", but of course this time with Russell doing the vocals. New studio plans are ahead........

Magnus Florin, February -99