by Robert Taylor This is the eponymous debut recording from New Jersey's Symphony X. The obvious debt to Yngwie Malmsteen dominates the session in arrangement, singing, and playing. Founder/leader/guitarist Michael Romeo would eventually go on to develop his own style as well as an identity for the band, but there's not a hint of that here. While this release went largely unnoticed in the U.S., it was popular in Japan, which wasn't too much of a surprise given their large Malmsteen fan base. Humble beginnings for what was to become a very original and influential band.