Some guitarists play fast. Some compose grand symphonies. Michael Romeo? He does both—and then some. As the mastermind behind Symphony X, he’s been bending the rules of progressive metal for decades, blending neoclassical insanity with heavy riffs and orchestral drama. So, naturally, we had to pick his brain.
New projects, creative madness, and the eternal struggle of making complex music in a world that demands three-minute bangers—we covered it all. How does one balance technical brilliance with raw emotion? And more importantly, does he ever run out of notes?
In your War of the Worlds, Pt. 2 album, you included some key instruments from Turkish music, like the oud and saz. Before your concert in Turkey, could you share a bit about your experience with these instruments? What kind of inspiration did they bring you while playing? I’m really curious about how these experiences have influenced your music and perspective.
Michael Romeo: I often enjoy listening to different types and styles of music. There are so many unique instruments from around the world that provoke a certain mood or have a certain color. I might hear these instruments being played in thier native setting, or being used in a film or TV score, or in a classical piece that features a particular instrument from a specific region. Whatever it is, if it’s something I like the sound of, I usually end up buying one and trying to learn it… or at least, the best as I can haha. I have lots of different instuments here in my studio, and to me, they are just different colors that provide a broader pallette of musical sounds and texture when I’m writing. I’ve always tried to tell a story with music, and being able to add some different instruments is always cool.
It seems like you have a genuine interest in traditional Turkish instruments and melodies. How do these melodies make you feel? If we imagined a cinematic scene with Turkish tunes playing, how would you visualize it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Michael Romeo: Yeah, that’s the word..”visualize”. When I’m writing music, (well, most of the time) I will try to visualize something. Whatever I’m thinking about… a scene, a story, etc. and then try to come up with a musical idea that feels right. If I was asked to write something like you mentioned, I’d get some percussion happening along with the saz or oud… but also a more personal instrument, like a guitar. I think that would work. Again, if I hear a certain instrument I like, I’ll try to grab one and do my best with it. And yeah, I’ve always liked the sound of the saz.
What are your thoughs on AI?
Real music and creativity is a human thing. You can never replace that.
Michael Romeo
