Odysseus2.0100_SymphonyX

symphonyx.com
allmusic.com review (3 of 5 *s)

Symphony X, "The Odyssey," fantasy metal rock program music, lyrics and music by Michael Romeo and Russell Allen (Darkpriz Publishing 2002; InsideOut Music 2002).

"The Odyssey" itself is a 24:09 track with 7 movements:
Part I --Odysseus' Theme/Overture
PartII --Journey to Ithaca
Part III --The Eye
Part IV--Circe (Daughter of the Sun)
Part V --Sirens
Part VI --Scylla and Charybdis
Part VII --The Fate of the Suitors/ Champion of Ithaca

Click here for a .pdf of the lyrics from the album.

Album cover for Symphony X's "The Odyssey," depicting winged sirens luring a bound man on a storm-tossed ship

Liner Notes:

"We knew there was going to be an epic on this album. We were kicking around a few ideas when Mike L[epond, the bass player] mentioned the Odyssey, the story of Ulysses. I thought it would be great to approach that from a musical standpoint. The story of Odysseus' journey painted a huge mental picture that, eventually, transformed itself into music. ... This songs has some of my favorite performances by all the guys and is definitely my favorite track. Enjoy!"

Other heavy metal bands that take on classical themes:
Virgin Steele: House of Atreus
ManOWar:Achilles

The album art is done by Thomas Ewerhard and may receive additional treatment in its own slide: 0741NOTOdysseusSirens_
Ewerhard

OGCMA slides are designed by Roger T. Macfarlane for use in Classical Civilization 241 courses at Brigham Young University.
The present resource contains information assembled for The Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1400 – 1990’s, edited by J. Davidson Reid (Oxford 1994), and it is used with express permission from Oxford University Press.
Address concerns or inquiries to macfarlane@byu.edu.