Interview By Alison Booth

Fans of New Jersey progressive metallers SYMPHONY X had a four year long wait between the release of their last album “Iconoclast” and their ninth studio offering. But it was well worth it, when “Underworld” was unleashed in July 2015 to satisfied fans around the world.

The band headed out on their US “Underworld” tour last September and October, before having a break and just recently hitting the UK shores for the first dates on the “Underworld European Tour”. Senior Manager Alison Booth caught up with SYMPHONY X front man Russell Allen before the band’s stellar third performance on this run, at the Corporation, Sheffield on 15th February.

You can watch and listen to the full interview on the video below and a few excerpts can be read here:

Discussing the reaction of fans to “Underworld”, Russell expressed:

“People always compare records, but if you look at the numbers, this is the best selling album that we’ve ever had. We hope that says something because people don’t buy records any more. We’re pretty excited about it,we’re not like a radio band or anything like that, but we got some support this time, especially here in the UK which was great. But that’s not the norm worldwide.

We disappeared for so long and everyone’s so ADD with their cellphones and everything in their face – if you’re not in someone’s face every day they forget about you.”

Russell Allen, Sheffield 2016

On his career and projects, including any forthcoming ones, Russell revealed:

“If anything, maybe Adrenaline Mob if we decide we’re gonna do that again, right now I’m just enjoying my time with Symphony X. All that stuff is a lot of fun for me, I love doing project work, I love being in Trans-Siberian Orchestra ‘cos it’s just different. As I got older I found not that I was getting bored, but there was just too much time in between the releases, a) for me artistically and physically – to be able to do what I do, I gotta keep doing it, ‘a body in motion stays in motion and a body not in motion dies.’ It was a way for me to get out and stay busy, stay working, to provide for my family and also to provide for myself artistically, so I’ve been very hungry.

It’s a shame, I wish Symphony X was more of a touring band but we’ve just never been that. Our fans know that we come around when we come around and that’s the way it is, so you know, you gotta adapt.”

Regarding the change of venue in Paris as the band were scheduled to play Le Bataclan:

“Obviously our hearts go out to the families of all those victims in that attack. It doesn’t really change anything other than the venue at this point. The promoters felt we had to make a change and we agreed, instead of cancelling. It’s not fair to all the other fans out there who don’t want to let this type of thing infringe on their freedom. We being an American band, we kinda have to go. We were the first band that played in Tunisia after the revolution, we’re kinda used to this environment. I’m pretty sure people will be grateful, as we are grateful to be able to to continue making music. Our focus is just to go there, put on a great show and not forget, but get on with life and carry on and make sure these bastards don’t take everything away from us.”

Russell spoke of the plans for SYMPHONY X after the European tour:

“South America has been on the menu for quite a while. We still haven’t seemed to be able to finalise these dates but I just got an email yesterday about it and we’re looking at a string of shows down there. And then after that , I don’t really see too much before the festivals. Unless there’s a run maybe in Australia or Japan or something, I don’t know.”

For the full list of the Underworld European Tour dates, check this location.