Michael Romeo brings the dramatic tension on his newest solo release. “War of the Worlds, Pt. 2” is an ambitious, noisy, bold, cinematic record, based on H.G. Wells’ classic Martian invasion novel.

Romeo is best-known as the virtuoso lead guitarist for Prog-Metal gods, Symphony X. This album is fascinating when held up to his previous solo album, “War of the Worlds, Pt. 1,” as well as the classic Symphony X catalogue. It bears a number of similarities to its “WotW” predecessor, but is far less experimental, eschewing the Electronic, Dubstep, and genre-straying, and this time sticking closer to Prog and Power and Classical Metal. As a result, “WotW, Pt. 2” sounds a whole lot more like a new Symphony X release, right down to the riffs, the solos, the song frameworks, and Russell Allen (Symphony X)-similar vocal styles used. It’s also interesting compared to the solo work of his Symphony X colleague, Mike LePond, who has gone in a Thrashier, punchier direction with his Silent Assassins side projects.
At the “War of the Worlds, pt. 2” album’s best moments, the awe and grandeur of the music sweep the audience away, pulling listeners into its epic, Martian-ravaged world. At the far-less-frequent worst moments, the drama comes across as cheesy and contrived, sounding more like the backing track for a TV magician. In both cases, Romeo leans heavily on the tritone - - but more for cinematic eeriness than Metal dissidence and dissonance.
Michael Romeo is one of the most underappreciated guitarists/songwriters of any genre, so his playing is always a joy to behold. His first solo record, “The Dark Chapter,” which preceded Symphony X, is an instrumental marvel. There are flashes of that brilliance throughout his career, and also on the vocal and instrumental “War of the Worlds” tracks.
Many longtime fans are going to come away eager for actual new Symphony X, after listening to this. It’s not quite as interesting or varied as the first “WotW” solo release, but it’s brimming over with classic Romeo moments.
The whole thing is truly something special. Acquiring this is a no-brainer for fans of Prog Metal, Power Metal, or Virtuoso Metal.

NOTE: There’s no apparent connection between this album and “Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds.”