Symphony X (band)

Symphony X
Symphony X performing live at Hellfest, 2013
Background information
Origin	Middletown, New Jersey, United States
Genres	Progressive metal power metal neoclassical metal symphonic metal
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Nuclear Blast, Inside Out Music, Zero Corporation
Website	www.symphonyx.com
Members	Michael Romeo Michael Pinnella Jason Rullo Russell Allen Michael Lepond
Past members	Thomas Miller Rod Tyler Thomas Walling

Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Michael Lepond.

Their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community. They also have achieved more commercial success with the 2007 album Paradise Lost and the 2011 album Iconoclast, which reached number 76 on the Billboard 200. Romeo explained the band's name in a 2008 interview; "So, you know, the music we were coming up with had the keyboard thing and the guitar, and some classical elements, so the word ‘Symphony’ came up and, so the dramatic thing, you know? So then, somebody said ‘Symphony X’ and we were like, ‘yeah, that’s cool’ it is that kinda thing, and the ‘X’ is the unknown and all the other stuff we do."

In early 1994 Michael Romeo (formerly of the bands Phantom's Opera and Gemini) recorded a studio album titled The Dark Chapter, which featured himself and keyboard player Michael Pinnella. The tape attracted a fair share of attention, particularly in Japan. Romeo then recruited bassist Thomas Miller, drummer Jason Rullo, and vocalist Rod Tyler. Their self-titled debut album was recorded in the same year, and released to a positive reception in Japan by the now-defunct record company Zero Corporation. The band's second studio album, The Damnation Game, followed six months later. Singer Rod Tyler had left the band by then and was replaced by current singer Russell Allen.