Thomas Miller, the original bassist of progressive metal pioneers SYMPHONY X, has launched a new solo project called LAZARUS EFFECT, signing to Sensory Records for a debut release slated for fall 2026.
"I'm very excited to announce, after years of contemplating and eventually writing and recording my first solo project, the signing to Sensory Records," Miller said. He credited label owner Ken Golden as instrumental in the decision, recalling that the two first met back in 1998 while Miller was still a member of SYMPHONY X.
The LAZARUS EFFECT debut reunites Miller with familiar faces from his former band. The album features contributions from SYMPHONY X founder and guitarist Michael Romeo and keyboardist Michael Pinnella, while Eric Rachel — who produced SYMPHONY X's first six albums — handles mixing and mastering. Vocal duties are handled by Hollywood How Portney, a longtime Miller collaborator. For longtime fans of the progressive metal institution, that creative lineup promises a sound rooted in the band's classic era.
Miller co-founded SYMPHONY X in 1994 alongside Romeo, whom he had first met in 1986. He played on the band's foundational early works, helping shape the sound across the self-titled debut, "The Damnation Game" and the landmark "The Divine Wings Of Tragedy," before departing due to personal issues. His low end was a key ingredient in the group's rise to international recognition as one of progressive metal's most respected acts.
Label owner Ken Golden spoke highly of the project and Miller's importance to the SYMPHONY X legacy. "Thomas was a vital part of the band's sound, and I feel that the LAZARUS EFFECT project is going to surprise and excite fans," Golden said.
The signing marks a long-awaited return to recording for a musician who has spent years away from the spotlight, and the involvement of Romeo, Pinnella and Rachel positions LAZARUS EFFECT as a genuine event for progressive metal devotees. Further details, including a title, tracklisting and first single, are expected as the fall 2026 release window approaches.