The Odyssey is a song by progressive metal band Symphony X released on their 2002 album The Odyssey. It is 24 minutes. The song contains seven parts :
The first orchestral segment of the song. The first four minutes of the section were created by Michael Romeo and includes numerous brass, string, woodwind, and percussion instruments.
The acoustic section of the song. The first portion of this section is acoustic and features smooth vocals by Russell Allen. The rhythm section enters for the second verse, and soon the keyboard enters and the song transitions abruptly into a heavier phase. The next part of the section is instrumental and features many solos from Romeo and Michael Pinnella. Allen comes back to sing and the song segues into the next section.
The heaviest section of the song. Allen turns to his trademark gruff vocal style for the entire segment, and Romeo's guitar riff at this part is a favorite amongst fans. This leads into an instrumental section where Michael Lepond (bass) and Jason Rullo (drums) synchronize their instruments under a polyrhythmic guitar line. The instrumentation becomes lighter and more melodic towards the end, providing a good transition into the next section.
This section is among the most varied in the song, starting with a light piano verse. The guitar comes in, followed by the bass and drums. Allen, however, continues to sing over the keyboards in a soft voice. After two verses, Romeo solos for roughly a minute and jumps into the next part.
The shortest part of the song. It starts with a Romeo riff in Em that continues through most of the section.
The second orchestral instrumental in the song. In contrast to the Overture, it stays in a minor key throughout the section, ending with a piano version of the main theme.
The last section of the song is considered the climax due to Allen's high-pitched singing during the chorus. The song ends with a reprise of the main verse from "Journey to Ithaca."
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