MMXX
Sons of Apollo · 2020
137 min · 24 tracks · progressive metal
Progressive metal flourishes intertwine with intricate melodies and virtuosic performances, creating a soundscape of both heaviness and beauty.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Goodbye Divinity — Opening the album, this track sets a powerful tone with soaring vocals and complex instrumentation that showcase the band's musical range.
-
→
King of Delusion — This nearly nine-minute epic features dynamic shifts and intricate solos, representing the band’s ability to blend melodic elements with heavy riffs effectively.
-
→
New World Today — The album's lengthy closer combines thematic depth with technical dexterity, culminating in a grand expression of the band's musical vision.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong musicianship and varied compositions but lacks a cohesive flow across its extensive tracklist.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features complex arrangements with rapid tempo changes and intricate guitar solos, while the second half shifts to more melodic and atmospheric sections.
- Each of the seven main tracks has a distinct structure, often incorporating extended instrumental passages that showcase individual musicianship.
- The album includes multiple instrumental mixes and a cappella excerpts, which provide alternative interpretations of the original tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic flow with varied intensity
- immersive listening for deep focus
- wave-like pacing with emotional peaks
- intricate musicianship rewarding attention
Maybe skip if you
- prefer short, standalone tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2020, MMXX is the sophomore album by Sons of Apollo, following their debut album Psychotic Symphony from 2017. The band, featuring renowned musicians like Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, solidified their identity within the progressive metal scene with this release, showcasing their technical prowess and collaborative songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dream Theater· Symphony X· Liquid Tension Experiment
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Goodbye Divinity 7:13
- 2 Wither to Black 4:44
- 3 Asphyxiation 5:07
- 4 Desolate July 5:58
- 5 King of Delusion 8:48
- 6 Fall to Ascend 5:06
- 7 Resurrection Day 5:51
- 8 New World Today 15:50
Disc 2
- 1 Goodbye Divinity (instrumental mix) 7:17
- 2 Wither to Black (instrumental mix) 4:46
- 3 Asphyxiation (instrumental mix) 5:06
- 4 Desolate July (instrumental mix) 6:09
- 5 King of Delusion (instrumental mix) 8:47
- 6 Fall to Ascend (instrumental mix) 5:06
- 7 Resurrection Day (instrumental mix) 5:49
- 8 New World Today (instrumental mix) 12:56
- 9 Goodbye Divinity (a cappella excerpts) 2:40
- 10 Wither to Black (a cappella excerpts) 2:55
- 11 Asphyxiation (a cappella excerpts) 2:26
- 12 Desolate July (a cappella excerpts) 2:53
- 13 King of Delusion (a cappella excerpts) 3:29
- 14 Fall to Ascend (a cappella excerpts) 2:02
- 15 Resurrection Day (a cappella excerpts) 2:08
- 16 New World Today (a cappella excerpts) 4:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.