20.000 LEGHE SOTTO I MARI

One of the best Italian prog bands from the 80s, Nuova Era is a very underrated name on ProgArchives? almost ignored by fans of prog and reviewers.

If you love that vintage sound of keyboards?Mellotrons, ARP, Moog, 70s and 80s synthesizers?plus great drumming, outstanding vocals, technical guitars and bass, and that 70s flavor that I love, then this band is for you.

With clear influences from Museo Rosenbach, Le Orme (Contrappunti era), New Trolls' mid-70s sound, and PFM, Nuova Era was founded in Florence in 1985 by keyboardist and composer Walter Pini. The original lineup included Gianluca Lavacchi on drums, Enrico Giordani on bass, and Alex Camaiti on guitar and vocals. The lyrics were by Ivan Pini.

They recorded four albums: L'ultimo viaggio (1988), Dopo l'infinito (1989), Io e il tempo (1992), and Il passo del soldato (1995) (the latter featuring Claudio Guerrini on vocals instead of Camaiti), achieving good success in the European and Asian markets. Io e il tempo, for example, was even released with a booklet in Korean.

In 2008, Walter Pini, together with Davide Guidoni (drums) and Guglielmo Mariotti (bass), started a project recording unreleased pieces. In 2009, one of these was released on Inferno: The Divine Comedy (CD 1, Canto I), followed by another on Purgatorio (CD 2, Canto XXII) in 2010, and one more on Paradiso (Canto II). These tracks became part of Nuova Era (2010), their self-titled album, which also included a remake of Dopo l'infinito and live recordings with the original lineup.

Since 2013, Walter Pini and original guitarist/vocalist Alex Camaiti, along with new members Rudi Greco (bass) and Maurizio Marra (drums), rehearsed and recorded a concept album with a fantasy-medieval setting. For the first time, the lyrics were in English, but the music remained in true Nuova Era style. The album, Return to the Castle, was released in October 2016 and distributed by BTF. The lyrics and cover were by James Hoog, while the music was composed by Walter Pini.

Their discography includes: L'ultimo viaggio (1988), Dopo l'infinito (1989), Io e il tempo (1992), Il passo del soldato (1995), Nuova Era (2010), Return to the Castle (2016) And maybe their best work: their latest record, released last week, 20.000 Leghe Sotto I Mari (2025). 20.000 Leghe Sotto I Mari (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea), based on Jules Verne's novel, features just two tracks. The title track, a 36-minute epic, is a masterclass in vintage-style prog, packed with dynamic shifts, intricate instrumental sections, and seamless transitions that turn it into a singular, immersive experience. Nautilus, at 16 minutes, is another standout, delivering a perfect balance of melody, complexity, and that unmistakable Nuova Era touch. This album is not just a return to form?it might be their best work yet. With its rich, analog-driven sound and deep connection to the golden era of Italian prog, 20.000 Leghe Sotto I Mari feels like a lost classic from the 70s, but with a modern energy that makes it essential listening. This record it is a strong candidate to be one of the greatest records from this year.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Stoneburner
• Report this review (#3159862)
• Buy NUOVA ERA music online with PA partners
• Show all NUOVA ERA MP3/Stream
• Go to NUOVA ERA page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to 20.000 Leghe Sotto i Mari page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for NUOVA ERA related discussions