Fans of progressive metal giants Symphony X have been waiting about a decade for new music — and according to Symphony X bassist Mike LePond, the wait is almost over. In a recent interview with Rev. Tom Brice of Sportzwire Radio, LePond revealed that the band is closing in on completing the long-awaited follow-up to 2015's Underworld.
"We are getting closer," said LePond. "And, yeah, the fans, they're clamoring for a new album. I can't blame 'em. It's been 10 years. If Judas Priest didn't come out with an album for 10 years, I'd be pretty mad too. We have been writing it. We have most of the parts kind of together.
"Now it's just a matter of recording it, really. So, it's definitely coming. And if things stay on track the way they are, we're thinking next year [it will be out], so we're excited. I mean, the stuff sounds really, really cool. And believe me, I want you guys to hear it as soon as possible."
When asked about the direction of the new material, LePond explained that the record will serve as a kind of summary of Symphony X's musical journey: “The Underworld record encompassed a bunch of Symphony X styles.
"I think the new record, judging from what I've been hearing, it's gonna even more kind of be like a summary of Symphony X's career, as far as our musical directions. 'Cause we went on a few directions. There was a point in our career where we got noticeably heavier and a little more straighter."
LePond also addressed why it has taken nearly a decade to deliver a new album, citing both creative perfectionism and real-world setbacks: "With Symphony X, there's tremendous pressure on us to consistently do great records. Our fans, they're really diehard fans and they expect only excellence. If we're working on something and maybe it's good, but we're not sure, we won't use it.
"We're only gonna put songs on the record that we feel are excellent and worthy of the fans. So absolutely that plays a role. But the other things too — you had COVID, and in and out of touring. Once you start touring, then you forget about the writing and then you come back to it and then you forget where you left off and you start again."
Despite the delays, the band appears to be in the final stages of preparation, with plans to enter the recording process soon.
Symphony X is finally closing out their Underworld chapter and moving on to a new record with one final North American tour. The tour features Sonata Arctica, and is set for pretty much all of this September. Get your tickets here.
9/4 Stroudsburg, PA Sherman Theater
9/8 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
9/10 Mesa, AZ The Nile
9/11 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick
9/12 Pomona, CA The Glass House
9/13 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
9/14 San Francisco, CA August Hall
9/16 Portland, OR Dante's
9/17 Seattle, WA Neptune
9/18 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
9/20 Calgary, AB The Palace Theatre
9/21 Edmonton, AB Starlite Room
9/23 Winnipeg, MB Park Theatre
9/24 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
9/25 Milwaukee, WI The Rave II
9/26 Joliet, IL The Forge
9/27 Cleveland, OH Globe Iron
9/29 Red Bank, NJ The Vogel
