The Divine Wings of Tragedy

The Divine Wings of Tragedy
Studio album by Symphony X
Released 1997[1]
Recorded Trax East Recording Studio in South River, New Jersey; Symphony X Dungeon
Genre Progressive metal, neoclassical metal
Length 65:23[2]
Label Zero
Producer Steve Evetts, Eric Rachel
Symphony X chronology

The Damnation Game
(1995)		 The Divine Wings of Tragedy
(1997)		 Twilight in Olympus
(1998)

The Divine Wings of Tragedy is the third studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released in 1997 through Zero Corporation (Japan) and Inside Out Music (Europe); a remastered edition was reissued on September 13, 2004 through Inside Out.[3]

Musical and lyrical references

The album's title track contains excerpts from Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B Minor (1749) and Gustav Holst's The Planets (1914–16).[1] Its lyrical theme was inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667) and Paradise Regained (1671), and also includes a reference to Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Inferno.

The intro of "The Witching Hour" cites Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, K 279 (1774).

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [1]
Rock Hard 9/10[4]

Robert Taylor at AllMusic gave The Divine Wings of Tragedy four stars out of five, saying that "it was this release that propelled [Symphony X] to the forefront of progressive metal bands." He went onto say "While this recording may not be quite the classic that it is often heralded to be, it is a noteworthy addition to the annals of progressive metal." Praise was given to each musician for their technical craft, but Russell Allen's vocals were criticized as "a bit grating, often sounding too much like Ronnie James Dio."

In 2005, The Divine Wings of Tragedy was ranked No. 433 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[5]

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Of Sins and Shadows"  Thomas MillerMichael Romeo, Michael Pinnella 4:58
2. "Sea of Lies"  Russell AllenRomeo, Pinnella, Miller 4:18
3. "Out of the Ashes"  AllenRomeo, Pinnella, Miller 3:40
4. "The Accolade"  AllenRomeo, Pinnella, Miller 9:51
5. "Pharaoh"  AllenSymphony X 5:28
6. "The Eyes of Medusa"  MillerRomeo, Pinnella, Miller 5:26
7. "The Witching Hour"  Allen, RomeoRomeo, Pinnella 4:15
8. "The Divine Wings of Tragedy"
  • "(Part I) At the Four Corners of the Earth"
  • "(Part II) In the Room of Thrones"
  • "(Part III) A Gathering of Angels"
  • "(Part IV) The Wrath Divine"
  • "(Part V) The Prophet's Cry"
  • "(Part VI) Bringer of the Apocalypse / Eve of Sacrifice / Armies in the Sky"
  • "(Part VII) Paradise Regained"  

.

  • Romeo, Pinnella
  • (instrumental)
  • Romeo
  • Romeo, Miller
  • Romeo
  • (instrumental)
  • Allen, Pinnella
Romeo, Miller, Pinnella 20:42
9. "Candlelight Fantasia"  MillerRomeo, Pinella 6:45
Total length:
 65:23

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Taylor, Robert. "The Divine Wings of Tragedy - Symphony X". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  2. ↑ The Divine Wings of Tragedy (CD edition "IOMCD 009").
  3. ↑ "Divine Wings of Tragedy [Limited Edition, Original Recording Reissued]". Amazon. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  4. ↑ Rensen, Michael. "Review". Rock Hard. Holger Stratmann. Issue 120. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  5. ↑ [...], Rock Hard (Hrsg.). [Red.: Michael Rensen. Mitarb.: Götz Kühnemund] (2005). Best of Rock & Metal die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. Königswinter: Heel. p. 36. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.

External links