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Live Reviews : Symphony X & Black Majesty @ Max Watt’s, Melbourne 11/10/2016

By on October 12, 2016

Twenty-two years ago, guitar virtuoso Michael Romeo went on to found one of the greatest progressive metal acts on all time, Symphony X – a band that transcends the boundaries between traditional heavy metal and progressive elements. Twenty-two years they have been taking to the stage, leaving audiences absolutely mesmerized by the juggernaut that is Symphony X. And now, after twenty-two years, the band have taken the plunge and have embarked on their first ever tour of Australia. The land down under played host to two exclusive shows in both Melbourne and Sydney. I was one out of the many hundreds who gathered en masse to witness the long over-due Symphony X take over of the Australian stage for the first time ever at Melbourne’s Max Watt’s House of Music. Excitement within the venue was at an all-time high as the venue struggled to accommodate the huge number of punters within its walls (a true testament to the anticipation of the night).

symphony x aus tour 2016

Providing support for the night was only one band, but if there was any Australian metal act to be selected to support Symphony X, I couldn’t be happier that it was Melbourne’s own power metal titans, Black Majesty. A flawless sound from start to finish, the homegrown heroes took to the stage and completely owned it, with guitarists Steve Janevski and Hanny Mohammed showcasing their perfect harmony chops and blistering lead work reminiscent of Iron Maiden on steroids. Opening track “Far Beyond” provided an excellent footing for the band to assert themselves with a consistent, fast-paced tempo; keeping the audience wholly enthralled. Tracks “Stargazer” and “Phoenix” provided a perfect showcase to the raw, vocal brilliance of John ‘Gio’ Cavaliere, who was apparently suffering from an illness only a couple of days ago. But with a performance like that, no one could tell. Being veterans of the local scene, Black Majesty were no strangers to providing the daunting task of opening for some of the world’s greatest metal acts, but the boys gave the crowd a sublime performance that will surely be remembered for a long time, with many new fans in tow.

The lights began to dim and the stage lay empty. Symphony X were set to hit the stage. As the band made their way onto the stage, the venue absolutely erupted. The screams of fans who have been waiting many, many years for this moment filled the venue and prepared themselves for what was a night to remember. In what was a treat for us all, the band proceeded to play their latest release Underworld from start-to-finish: retelling the story of a young protagonist struggling to save his significant other from the hell that are the evils and vices of the world. With very few breaks in between tracks, it amazes me the level of dexterity these musicians have. From drummer Jason Rullo’s metronome-like precision, to the flawless intensity of bassist Mike Lepond; further, to the virtuosic level of playing seen in both keyboardist Michael Pinnella and guitarist Michael Romeo. It was a performance of cascading elements where every track built on the last. The New Jersey natives have truly mastered their craft of creative composition and live performance.

After a spectacular performance of “The Death of Balance”, “Serpent’s Kiss” and “Of Sins and Shadows”, Symphony X returned to the stage for not one, but two encores, giving Melbourne all they could handle with “Set the World on Fire”, “Legend”, and a final statement of the night with “Sea of Lies”. Whilst it was an absolute treat to hear Underworld in its entirety, for a band’s first performance here in their 22-year career, I expected a more diverse set list than what was played. Nevertheless, song choice aside, I couldn’t find a single fault in the band’s performance. Vocalist Russell Allen commanded an almighty stage presence, towering over the punters below with a charismatic demeanour like no other; his pitch-perfect display of raw, vocal power that of studio quality. Romeo’s impeccable guitar playing made every guitarist in the venue inadequate and made a statement that he is, without a doubt, one of the world’s greatest guitarists.

Why it took their entire two-decade career to ever set foot on our shores, I have no idea, but the suspense from such a wait erupted into what is a viable contender for gig of the year. Black Majesty made the stage their own with their power metal brilliance and won an extremely positive reception from the prog-metal fanatics below. From the opening track to the last, Symphony X held a firm grip on the crowd and failed to let go until the final note struck. Almost hitting the two-hour mark – and two encores later – it’s safe to say that not only did Symphony X live up to the massive expectations of Melbourne, but they completely overshadowed any hint of doubt in anyone’s mind that they are still titans of their genre. Here’s hoping it doesn’t take another twenty-two years for them to come back to our shores, because I think I speak for all of Melbourne when I say that Symphony X have cemented themselves as one of, if not the most, technically proficient and electrifyingly entertaining progressive acts to ever tour Australia.

Symphony X hit The Metro Theatre in Sydney tonight! Grab your tickets from Soundworks Touring.

http://www.soundworkstouring.com