NOSFERATU IL VAMPIRO

Ranestrane is one of the most ambitious bands in the Rock Progressivo Italiano scene. Two releases so far equals two double CD albums. Both of them are concept albums. That is being ambitious.

This is their debut 2 CD album. This is a concept album about Nosferatu the vampire. So I expected a Goblin like horror album. That is what Nosferatu il vampiro is not. Only some spoken narrations including some animated opinions from a young girl who is the current attention of Nosferatu's sharp teeth is anywhere near being in the horror category. I do not understand Italian though so the lyrics may be pretty filled with horror. The music is not.

The music here is pretty much middle of the road prog rock with good references to symphonic prog, neo prog and AOR. There are even a lot of references to post rock and Sigur Ros here. With the exception of the Italian vocals, this album is not particular Rock Progressivo Italiano.

The vocals are great and so is the rest of the instrumentatition. The usual piano, bass, drums, guitars and keyboards. Nothing special there. The sound is the modern contemporary prog rock sound. There is no moog or vintage keys here.

This is by all means a good prog rock album. There are even some great melody lines here. This is an album better than the average, but not with much. This is very long album too and it is really hard to get immersed into this album which is really not that captivating. But I am glad I own it and it is a nice album. But nothing more than that, I am afraid. If this album was a young virgin, I think Nosferatu may have bypassed her in hunt for something with more blood. I think that is a good conclusion.

3 stars