BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO

Many years ago bought two albums by the Italian band BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO (Ticket to Hell), the self titled release and [i]Il Tempo Dalla Semina[/i] with several other albums, but the reviews that described them as some sort of JETHRO TULL and BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, just the kind of Italian music I heard too much.

But a few months ago listened them and what a surprise, their music is obscure, aggressive, and full of dramatism, just what I'm looking for in a band. Yes they use flute, but this instrument is not an exclusive patrimony of JETHRO TULL, I don't believe BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO has any connection with Jethro Tull or Prog Folk.

[i]Biglietto Per L'Inferno[/i] is a conceptual album with issues related to suicide and starts with the excellent "Ansia" (Anxiety). From the start, the music is frenetic and powerful, no time for pastoral passages (Unusual for most Italian Progressive bands), the vocals by Claudio Canali are in Italian (Thanks to God for this) leaving in the listener a sensation of pain and nostalgia. The structure is extremely elaborate and versatile. Even when the beautiful melodic moments remind us of classical "Rock Progressivo Italiano", the sudden bursts of power and strength take us into heavy territory. Excellent opener for an excellent album

Like the previous track "Confessione" (Confession) starts frenetic and vibrant (well after a short "a cappella" intro), the massive use of distorted guitar with a powerful rhythm section typical of Heavy Prog, only interrupted by the vocal sections and an amazing instrumental break in which the interplay between keyboard, choirs and piano is breathtaking. The grand finale is simply outstanding with all the instruments and a fast flute attacking our senses.

"Una Strana Regina" (A Strange Queen) starts melodic and softer than anything before, but always maintaining the strength with a constant Moog, but out of nowhere a violent flute solo (no, I don't see relation with JETHRO TULL even when people tend to identify the flute with Ian Anderson ) that leads to a heavy passage. From that point they jump from melodic to heavy constantly. Excellent track.

"Il Nevare" (No exact translation to English, but the snowing could be close enough) is a dramatic song in the vein of the best Power Ballads, with sudden explosions of power and strength, but always keeping that claustrophobic and painful mood that is the trademark of the release. When a band transmits a strong musical feeling to the listener, I believe their mission is accomplished, and desperation is a hard feeling which is expressed perfectly with the desperate screams by Claudio Canali morphing into dark and somber low ranged moaning (Reminds me of David Byron), the heavy guitar of Marco Mainetti and the terrifying double keyboard hammering by the two Giuseppe ( Banfi and Cossa).

L'Amico Suicida (The Suicidal Friend) should close the album the album (Because the instrumental version of Confessione is only a reprise that even when bright and striking adds nothing new), this 13 minutes epic that describes perfectly the depression and anguish of suicide with radical changes and magnificent piano performance that represents the change of moods as in a manic depressive behavior, simply outstanding.

Unusually it's an easy task to rate this album, not a perfect masterpiece (even when close to this status ), but for sure an outstanding album that deserves no less than four solid stars