Underworld

There are few metal bands that have offered a road map to how it's done over an entire career, but Symphony X have. Though they began by (heavily) following in the footsteps of Yngwie Malmsteen and Dream Theater, by 2000's V: The New Mythology Suite, they came into their own, creating a solid meld of prog, power, and neoclassical metal that continually pushed their envelope of embracing and employing expert songwriting, arranging, and production techniques. They also learned how to write and record concept albums without the excess in such endeavors dragging them down. Strictly speaking, Underworld isn't one of those, but it does loosely follow the path and inspiration of Dante's Inferno. As a whole, it is every bit as "epic" as that word suggests. The arrangements are wonderful, Michael Romeo's production and Jens Bogren's mix are stellar, but it's the songwriting and playing that offer the greatest pleasures. A gorgeous post-classical overture (with a full vocal chorus) gives way to