The Damnation Game (album)

The Damnation Game
Studio album by Symphony X
Released	1995 (1995)
Studio	Trax East Recording Studio in South River, New Jersey; Studio 84 in Howell Township, New Jersey
Genre	Progressive metal speed metal[1] neoclassical metal
Length	46:18
Label	Zero Corporation
Producer	Michael Romeo, Steve Evetts, Eric Rachel
Symphony X chronology
Symphony X (1994) The Damnation Game (1995) The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997)

The Damnation Game is the second studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, released in 1995 through Zero Corporation (Japan) and Inside Out Music (Europe); a remastered edition was reissued on September 13, 2004, through Inside Out. The album is the band's first to feature current singer Russell Allen, who replaced Rod Tyler after the release of their 1994 self-titled debut album.[2]

Musical references

The middle section of "Dressed to Kill", after the guitar solo, cites Johann Sebastian Bach's "Prelude in C minor (BWV 847)" from The Well-Tempered Clavier (Book 1, 1722).

The intro of "The Damnation Game" cites Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's Solfeggietto in C minor (H 220, Wq. 117: 2) (1766).

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Rock Hard	9/10[1]

Robert Taylor at AllMusic gave The Damnation Game two stars out of five, calling it an improvement over the band's debut album while criticizing the many influences taken from guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen's work: "Guitarist Michael Romeo's licks and solos are lifted right off of Malmsteen's Rising Force and Marching Out". Allen's vocals were also likened to that of Mark Boals and Jeff Scott Soto, also from Malmsteen's earlier bands.[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Symphony X

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Damnation Game"	4:32
2.	"Dressed to Kill"	4:44
3.	"The Edge of Forever"	8:58
4.	"Savage Curtain"	3:30
5.	"Whispers"	4:48
6.	"The Haunting"	5:21
7.	"Secrets"	5:42
8.	"A Winter's Dream - Prelude (Part I)"	3:03
9.	"A Winter's Dream - The Ascension (Part II)"	5:40
Total length:		46:18

Personnel

• Russell Allen – lead vocals, background vocals
• Michael Romeo – guitar, background vocals
• Michael Pinnella – keyboard, background vocals
• Jason Rullo – drums, background vocals
• Thomas Miller – bass, background vocals

Technical personnel

• Michael Romeo – production
• Suha Gur – mastering
• Steve Evetts – production
• Eric Rachel – production

References

1. Rensen, Michael. "Rock Hard - SYMPHONY X - The Damnation Game". Rock Hard. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
2. "FAQ". symphonyx.com. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
3. Taylor, Robert. "The Damnation Game - Symphony X". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-05-27.

External links

• The Damnation Game at symphonyx.com
• Symphony X "The Damnation Game" at Guitar Nine Records