With Paradise Lost, the long running power/progressive metal band has it running on all cylinders. The songwriting is first-rate, with powerful melodies and memorable hooks blending effortlessly with complex and progressive musicianship. It's been five years since their last studio album, and the songs have a little darker edge to them this time around.
Russell Allen is a great vocalist whose talents are really showcased on Paradise Lost. His edgier growl is used a lot of the album, but his powerful melodic voice is utilized as well. Symphony X uses a nice mixture of styles on this album that contrast the aggressive and the melodic. With recent excellent new albums from Dream Theater and now Symphony X, it's a great time for progressive metal fans.
