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Wow, this is like a better version of Dream Theater with no keyboard wankery!
25 February if I'm not mistaken.MJR is one of the most underrated guitarists out there.
Any idea why every site seems to have a different release date for the album?
And better guitar solos.
MJR is one of the most underrated guitarists out there.
Any idea why every site seems to have a different release date for the album?
I never understood the comparisons to Petrucci. Romeo is a very different player, and far more musical to my ears. I got off the DT bandwagon years ago as it all started to sound the same and too much chromaticism in his solos, or at least the way he incorporates it in his solos. He is an amazing player and songwriter with few equals, but Romeo is much more appealing to me as a guitar player into this type of music. More grandiose in composition.
Heavy metal shredder heavily influenced by Yngwie starts a 5 piece progressive metal band that does tons of odd-time and odd-feel instrumental sections, heavy groove-laden headbanging riffs, and keyboard-vs-guitar solo battles, got traction in the 1990's, and whose original lead singer was replaced by a much better singer. Releases solo albums, a signature guitar, a phenomenal RKI instruction video, and develops a strong cult following for both their band and themself.
Now, if you can tell whether I'm talking about JP or MJR, or if you can tell me that I just described also some third person who's not one of those two, then I'll consider that the comparisons are maybe unwarranted. Otherwise, I think it's obvious that there happen to be a lot of similarities between their careers.
I think I mentioned this in the SX appreciation thread already, but, to me, DT songs are a lot easier to play piece-by-piece, but difficult to follow along with. SX songs are easier to follow along with, but are more difficult to play piece-by-piece. DT lays the cheese on heavier, and SX is clearly more classically influenced, both in themes and composition (even instrumentation). They are 100% different bands, but they definitely fill the same niche.
Let’s not forget Michael writes some of the best riffs in metal. The verse riff in Inferno and Underworld are peak metal guitar. Groovy and technical but just enough to not overshadow Russel’s vocals instead complimenting them.
Michael Romeo is a far more complete musician than Petrucci, I dare to contend. When I listen to a Michael Romeo solo I am usually like "wtf did he do right there?", but with Petrucci I usually figure out what he is doing. I like him and DT, but Michael Romeo and his work in Symphony X is on a whole another level.
He is underrated and rather obscure outside of the guitar community for a single reason: he probably likes it like that.