The weapons this band has... and it is a band, Michael Romeo nevertheless the star of the show with his tapping technique across six strings in chord form, both diminished and major, the man adding a Pantera-esque rhythmic aggression that will no doubt help draw in the younger set. But as I say, the music explodes band-like, Romeo measuring his attacks, John West the consummate vocalist, a perfect match for Romeo both visually and melodically (the hair! the belly!). And I've not heard better production, better tones on a science rock album (there's another key: this is pure, calculus-calculated prog that headbangs like power metal). Definitely a band with an inconsistent recording history (main slag: derivation of Yngwie), Symphony X have created a triumphant punch-out of songs, shorter anthemic tracks well down that Dime bag, precision, machine-bolted metal beasts that build toward the epic 24 minute title track, the seven parts of The Odyssey moving well, never becoming dull, the orchestration a mind-blower worth the stormy seas alone.