SPARTACUS

Like TRIUMVIRAT's previous album ("Illusions on a Double Dimple"), "Spartacus" is based around a theme, this time the gladiator Spartacus in ancient Rome, and the slave uprising that he led. The sales of the "Sparacus" LP were even better than "Illusions", particularly in the USA.

TRIUMVIRAT have been compared by many with EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, or called an ELP-imitator. Certainly some of their music appears influenced by ELP but, in my opinion, has more of a pop feel to it, or maybe it's just more melodic. This is certainly true of "Spartacus": I find myself whistling along to some of it rather than wanting to play air-guitar, if you know what I mean!

The music is perhaps a bit twee on a couple of the tracks, but nevertheless it's a great album; not up to the standard of "Illusions" in my opinion, but still a worthwhile addition to the collection of a progressive/symphonic rock fan. There are plenty of great synthesiser and keyboard moments throughout the album, and some very good guitar and drum playing too.

The 2002 CD re-release is a digital re-master of the original LP, and the sound quality is good. A couple of extra tracks have been included, one is a live version of the first track on the album (which, incidentally, shows how well the band played live) and the second is a previously unreleased track which I also like.