SYMPHONIC HOLOCAUST

Highlights of the all-instrumental CD, whose title may be slightly misleading (the emphasis is on "symphonic" much more than "holocaust"), include the driving, hypnotic "Sequenza Ritmica Eterna" (from The Beyond), in which the Mellotron- driven "eternal rhythmic sequence" of the title occasionally subsides just enough to allow some subtle guitar to emerge, only to come back for a crashing reprise and a surprisingly mellow ending; the fragile "Quiet Drops", gradually gaining intensity as Peter NORDIS' drumming builds; and the brief "Opening Theme" from Cannibal Holocaust, a sweet Mellotron duet which provides a welcome counterpoint to the generally very dark atmosphere of the CD and is worth the price of admission alone. The CD ends with the 18-minute title track, the only MORTE MACABRE-penned composition: while possibly overstaying its welcome for the casual, impatient listener, it is likely to exhibit almost hypnotic potential for others. Even upon repeated listening, I found my mind drifting -- not dozing out of boredom, but drawn to some underworldly region by the music.

This isn't everyday music, and isn't likely to sell in large numbers outside the Prog community. It is uncompromising, thoroughly full-on, and needs to be listened to at volume -- preferably at night. The CD title and its subject matter -- pieces from horror and soft-porn movies -- may deter some listeners, but that's their loss: the MORTE MACABRE members must be congratulated for exhuming (if you'll pardon the pun) some of the more obscure music of the 1970's, and for giving it a 90's face. Perhaps that's their greatest triumph, in fact: with the possible exception of "The Photosession", none of the songs presented here sound in any way dated. With the last studio albums from ANEKDOTEN (Gravity, 2004) and LANDBERK (Indian Summer, 1996) somewhat less exciting than some of their earlier work, I'm even looking forward to any follow-up MORTE MACABRE CD's more than to new releases from the original bands. "Symphonic Holocaust" is easily one of the best CD releases of 1998.

I consider this project very ambitious, well achieved, well played, very profound and dark by prognosis due the similitudes contained in both bands perspectives. Nonetheless, it's quite disappointing that LANDBERK couldn't hold on to the projects of their own right after "Indian Summer" and complicated the release of a MORTE MACABRE's second album. ANEKDOTEN kept on producing and composing such marvelous recordings after "Nucleus" and "Symphonic Holocaust", touring and performing until present days when they gave us "Gravity" (not my favorite ANEKDOTEN album, "From within" had much of a heart).

"Symphonic Holocaust" is a challenging album for all those prog rockers out there, its extremely edgy, moody, punchy and has got mostly all to be considered as a masterpiece. Nowadays its quite impossible to get because it's been out of stock over the record stores, but if you are really committed to listen to it, there are way too many prog sites you can log on to to get this album, like it did. I assure you won't regret fetching it yet listening to it.