MICHAEL ROMEO – WAR OF THE WORLDS PART 1
LABEL – MASCOT LABEL GROUP
WEB SITE – MICHAEL ROMEO OFFICIAL SITE
FACEBOOK – MICHAEL ROMEO OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE
BAND MEMBERS:
MICHAEL ROMEO – GUITAR
Rick Castellano – VOCALS
John “JD” DeServio – BASS
John Macaluso – DRUMS
RELEASED – 7/27/18
REVIEWED BY – JOHN ERIGO

OK, right off the bat I am going to admit I am not a huge fan of “prog” metal, and I am also going to admit I am a “casual” fan of the band SYMPHONY X. I have a few of there more recent albums and I have also seen them a few times live. But I was always enamored and drawn to Michael Romeo’s guitar playing abilities. I love a good shredder! I tend to shy away from the “Neo-classical” Ynwgie style players because it’s just too much playing, not enough substance. That is why I would prefer a player like Romeo, his guitar pyrotechnics are quite impressive. I am sure most reading this know that Michael is in fact the guitarist for the already mentioned SYMPHONY X – and now in 2018 he is set to release his first solo album.

Michael had the luxury of recording this album at his home studio(“the Dungeon”)in NJ (quite cool it’s only about 20 minutes from where I currently live!!!). The album, WAR OF THE WORLDS – PART 1 has a real SCi-Fi feel to it. The title, of course, is lifted from the infamous HG WELLS book. The album has a cool kind of theme, recurring orchestrated parts that pop up in parts of songs throughout the album, making this not just a metal album, but it gives the album a feel of being like a movie soundtrack.  If you saw the 2005 version of WOTW movie(with Tom Cruise), you undoubtable remember that eerie siren the alien ships would make – that sound is captured, along with other sci-fi – ish sound effects throughout the album. I personally love it, I think it is a cool effect and really ties the songs together. Romeo does a masterful job of intertwining lavish Orchestrated pieces, with blistering guitar work and rock elements making this album a very unique and interesting listen.

The album opens with INTRODUCTION which has a symphonic intro that blasts off into a cool riff oriented instrumental. The theme is set and the journey is wild! There is a lot of really good double bass drumming parts and up tempo rock songs mixed with the classical side of Michael’s influences. Like I mentioned before this is almost like a movie soundtrack, each tune has so much going on you feel like you’re being told a story, and the sci-fi theme is really put across with sound effects and alien type noises, a very cool concept. FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN is a really solid up tempo tune. Excellent execution musically and vocally! DIJINN and DIFFERENCES are 2 other up tempo skull crushers. Did I mention the solos? LOL! Damn can this man play and just shred – stylish, tasty guitar solos are all over the album. OBLIVION is another killer tune. I also hear hints of DREAM THEATER in a few spots. The song BLACK has kind a reprise of INTRODUCTION and the sci-fi theme is evident with cool sounds mixed with the song writing perfectly. That song is followed by FUCKING ROBOTS which again, ties in the classical themes with the sound effects, then blasts into a rockin’ tune. This is fun stuff but make no mistake about it, there is some serious musicianship and singing going on here. Michael Romeo is in the upper tier of guitar masters of our genre and time, and this album is a showcase of this multi talented musician!!!

This album has a little bit of something for all of us head bangers. I know SYMPHONY X fans have been waiting for this for a very long time, and you will NOT be let down! We can all only hope that this isn’t the last time Michael Romeo decides to do a solo album!!!