Symphony X are one of the greatest bands in American progressive metal. Formed in New Jersey in 1994 by guitar virtuoso Michael Romeo, they fused the technicality of prog with the power of metal and the drama of neoclassical music, all crowned by Russell Allen’s mighty voice. Across a run of epic concept albums, they built a catalogue of shredding, symphonic grandeur. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “The Divine Wings of Tragedy”, “The Odyssey”, “Of Sins and Shadows” and “Set the World on Fire (The Lie of Lies)” — their twenty-minute biblical epic, their twenty-four-minute Homer-inspired magnum opus, the head-banging classic that opens their masterpiece, and a towering modern anthem. The full ranking is below.

Shred, symphonies and progressive metal grandeur

Symphony X are among the finest bands progressive metal has ever produced. Formed in New Jersey in 1994 by guitar virtuoso Michael Romeo, they married the technicality of prog and the power of metal to a deep love of neoclassical and film music — think Yngwie Malmsteen and Beethoven filtered through Dream Theater. At the centre stands Russell Allen, whose commanding, Dio-like voice anchors Romeo’s lightning-fast riffs and Michael Pinnella’s swirling keyboards. From the twenty-minute title epic of 1997’s The Divine Wings of Tragedy to the Homer-inspired sprawl of 2002’s The Odyssey, these fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing songwriting, that jaw-dropping musicianship, the epics and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “The Divine Wings of Tragedy” (1997), the twenty-minute biblical epic that remains their crowning achievement. With it: “The Odyssey” (2002), their twenty-four-minute Homer-inspired magnum opus; “Of Sins and Shadows” (1997), the head-banging, riff-driven classic opener; “Set the World on Fire (The Lie of Lies)” (2007), a towering, anthemic modern classic; “Sea of Lies” (1997), their live anthem, all neoclassical fire; and “When All Is Lost” (2011), a piano-and-voice ballad that builds to a shattering climax.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Communion and the Oracle” (2000) is the soaring climax of their concept masterpiece; “The Accolade” (1997) is a majestic, multi-part early epic; “Inferno (Unleash the Fire)” (2002) is a ferocious, high-octane opener; “Seven” (2007) is a blistering neoclassical showcase for Michael Romeo; and “The Edge of Forever” (1995) is the sprawling early epic that first hinted at greatness.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Accolade II” (2002) is the acclaimed sequel to “The Accolade”; “Church of the Machine” (1998) is a dark, dramatic epic; “Evolution (The Grand Design)” (2000) is a punchy, hook-filled concept-album highlight; and “Nevermore” (2015) is a powerful opener from their most recent album.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with The Divine Wings of Tragedy, their breakthrough and many fans’ favourite, and The Odyssey, its equally epic successor, then the concept album V: The New Mythology Suite and the heavier Paradise Lost. Their self-titled 1994 debut, recorded before Russell Allen joined the band, is for the dedicated.

The players

Symphony X revolve around founder, guitarist and composer Michael Romeo, a jaw-dropping technician steeped in neoclassical shred, and singer Russell Allen, whose powerhouse voice arrived on 1995’s The Damnation Game and never left. Keyboardist Michael Pinnella trades lightning-fast solos with Romeo, while bassist Michael Lepond and drummer Jason Rullo form a formidable rhythm section. Allen has also lent his voice to Arjen Lucassen’s rock-opera project Ayreon, one of many outlets for a much-in-demand singer.

Why they still matter

Symphony X proved that progressive metal could be as grand and virtuosic as any music on earth. Standing alongside Dream Theater, Fates Warning and Queensrÿche in the American prog-metal pantheon, they raised the bar for technical songwriting and set a template that countless bands still follow. Decades on, “The Divine Wings of Tragedy” and “The Odyssey” remain landmarks of the genre.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Symphony X albums, dig into the underrated Symphony X albums, or place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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