Michael began playing guitar at age 14 and takes his influences from a wide of range sources including Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman, Al DiMeola, J.S. Bach, John Williams and Frank Zappa, although he draws most heavily from a neo-classical style reminiscent of Yngwie Malmsteen. Despite this, Michael manages to maintain an identifiable signature that sets him apart from other players in this genre by fusing exotic scales and arpeggios (such as the half-diminished, whole tone and Egyptian scale), non-standard rhythms, time signatures and a raw neo-classical edge. An element of jazz is also present in his music.
Although Michael has received coverage in many guitar magazines around the world, he is best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Symphony X which he founded in 1994 after a request by a Japanese record label who were impressed by Michael's demo tape, The Dark Chapter.
An incredibly technical player, Michael is most famous for lightning-fast sweep picking and tapping though he also has great alternate picking technique, despite the fact that his style relies more on a softer legato attack and his trademark sweep-tapping licks. Michael is regarded as not only an exceptional soloist but also for his complex rhythm guitar parts that make heavy use of artificial harmonics for impact. These playing effects are greatly demonstrated on his demonstartional guitar video, called, The Guitar Chapter. Michael is often compared with the lead guitarist of Dream Theater, John Petrucci.
Michael usually uses a custom ESP guitar and Line6 amplification for live performances and Mesa Boogie amplification for studio recording, although he recently played Caparison guitars on the recent Gigantour tour.
Michael also loves Star Wars as shown by his performance of the Star Wars Suite on the Symphony X Rarities and Demos fanclub CD. He has also stated that his favorite Star Wars character is Darth Vader.
Black
Michael Romeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The generating of a warped perfection
The paradigm is shining - no exception
Truth is a lie, a spit in the eye
The scope of what is real now fast eroding
Cause and effect, a fairytale imploding
A clap of thunder
And the storm's approaching
Pulling the strings, smashing our wings
Striking us down
Now there's no turning back
This venomous sting, end of all things
Burns in the night
And shifts the palest grey to endless black
Paranoia's like a burning fuse
Yet it's the only tool we want to use
A revocation of the right to choose
The game of a snake with so much at stake
Clutch your weapons out of desperation
Lead the numbered to extermination
You're one step closer to annihilation
Addicted to the pain
Cast the first stone and smite the weak
It's all too easy now to make them break
Raging bullets tear through flesh
A bloody battlefield And one by one they learn
The price now paid for every past mistake
Pulling the strings, smashing our wings
Striking us down
Now there's no turning back
This venomous sting, end of all things
Burns in the night
And shifts the palest grey to endless black
There is no escape from inside this hell
If you want to live to see another day
Then heed my words
Palest grey to endless black
The lyrics to Michael Romeo's song "Black" depict the dawning of a new era where everything is shifting to darkness and chaos. The "warped perfection" being generated highlights the beginning of a dark period where what is true and what is false are beginning to blur. The concept of cause and effect is being eliminated, and there is no turning back as the storm of destruction looms on the horizon. The song describes a world where paranoia is the only tool left to use, and the right to choose is being taken away. The lyrics suggest that there is an addiction to pain and destruction, leading to the extermination of those who are weak.
The lyrics also allude to the consequences of mistakes made in the past, as the price for those actions is paid with blood on the battlefield. The song paints a bleak picture of the future, where there is no escape from the impending darkness.
Overall, the song suggests that we are spiraling toward an end where everything will be consumed by darkness, and there is nothing we can do to change it. The lyrics provide a warning that we need to take responsibility for our actions and make the right choices, or there will be a heavy price to pay.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the dawning of a new inception
The start of a new era, with new ideas and ways of thinking
The generating of a warped perfection
The creation of a twisted version of perfection
The paradigm is shining - no exception
The current way of thinking is prominent and unchallenged
Truth is a lie, a spit in the eye
Truth is no longer universally accepted or respected
The scope of what is real now fast eroding
What is considered real is quickly disappearing
Cause and effect, a fairytale imploding
The idea that actions have consequences is no longer believed
A clap of thunder
And the storm's approaching
A symbol of impending chaos or destruction
Come in from the rain
A plea for safety and shelter from the storm
Pulling the strings, smashing our wings
Striking us down
Now there's no turning back
This venomous sting, end of all things
Burns in the night
And shifts the palest grey to endless black
An illustration of the destructive power of unseen forces that control and destroy everything
Paranoia's like a burning fuse
Paranoia starts small and grows into something uncontrollable
Yet it's the only tool we want to use
Despite the dangers, we rely on paranoia as a means of protection
A revocation of the right to choose
Individuality and freedom of choice are stripped away
The game of a snake with so much at stake
A metaphor for the high stakes of life
Clutch your weapons out of desperation
A feeling of helplessness leads us to seek protection through any means necessary
Lead the numbered to extermination
An ominous call to destroy those who are considered weak or vulnerable
You're one step closer to annihilation
An impending sense of doom
Addicted to the pain
There is a mentality of embracing pain as a part of life
Cast the first stone and smite the weak
A willingness to harm or destroy those who are vulnerable or different
It's all too easy now to make them break
It is simple to break someone emotionally or physically
Raging bullets tear through flesh
A graphic description of violence and death
A bloody battlefield
And one by one they learn
The price now paid for every past mistake
The consequences of previous actions become painfully clear
There is no escape from inside this hell
A sense of entrapment and helplessness
If you want to live to see another day
Then heed my words
A warning to take action before it is too late
Palest grey to endless black
A metaphor for the transformation from hope to despair
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael Romeo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mascotlabelgroup
Limited Edition Colored Vinyl available here: http://smarturl.it/MRomeo-MLG
@kamikazekrush3758
Yes t shirts!!!
@Sign-oi4oc
OK....this DEFINITELY NEEDS to be in a movie.
@OlaEnglund
... this is AWESOME!
@ANIMATEOZ
indeed brother.
@tgstk2
we will see your , playthrough video shortly right? ;)
@roycebishop4959
agreed.. simply awesome!
@philippemello8016
BURP!
@brothersinmetal1922
Ola has spoken! And he is right.
@BigBrain_Genius
Michael Romeo is one of the best guitarists in history of metal at least between the top 20