BACK TO THE GOBLIN 2005

Van Der Graaf Generator and Candlemass have proven that the reunion album can be done successfully. This past year Italian prog rockers Goblin tried their hand. Frontman Claudio Simonetti was not on board, but Maurizio Guarini, who was on the Profondo Rosso O.S.T. and Roller albums, sat in on this one. My problen with this release is the synthesizers. Ever since Bernard Herrmann's score for Brain De Palma's "Sisters" I've been in love with how a good old fashioned Moog can lay down a sense of dread and doom. Don't get me wrong, this IS a prog album, It's just not on the same plane as the Goblin opuses created in the '70s. But you'll be able to knock me over with a feather if the much awaited Genesis reunion can produce another Foxtrot. Musicians, like any other artist, are only going to create a watershed piece when the inspiration hits.

As far as "Back to the Goblin" is concerned; I believe the muse played a role in maybe half of the movements on this album, and the rest isn't too bad either.

"Victor" has no place on here; it sounds like one of those cheese intros on a power metal album.

"Dlen Dlon" is a nice track. Quite prog, but at times the guitar soars like Massimo Morante had a Rhapsody hangover from the first track.

"Bass Theme in E-" is, like you would expect, heavy on bass. Has some moody drums and keys with a little distorted voice of doom(if that helps) now and then. This one has a John Carpenter feel.

"Hitches" flirts with the eerie child chant(you know what I'm talking about). It get very bombastic with the synths and guitars.

"Japanese Air" is an ambient track in the Tangerine Dream vein, heavy on synth.

"Sequential Ideas" starts off with an awful drum machine-club beat, but gets better with some guitar licks and pipe organ synth. Not too bad, but sounds like filler.

"Lost In The Universe" rocks! Here Morante pulls off some nice Fripp-Hackett complexities plus some nice soloing.

"Magic Thriller" sounds the most like something from "Profondo Rosso". Very good rhythm.

Overall, if you're a fan of the early Goblin, check this out. The last two tracks are worth the price alone. It's far better than what Goblin wannabes Zombi have been releasing.