GLADIUM CAELI

Highly technical Italian Prog/Fusion sextet from Bologna, formed in 1985 with Marco Matteuzzi (drums), Alessandro Porreca (bass), Maurino Collina (guitar), Alessandro Bonetti (violin), Fabrizio Puglisi (keyboards) and Alberto Piras (vocals).They performed an original rock-opera for years in several gigs, based on a story about the endless battle between humans and nature.The band gained fastly some growing fame, which led them to sign a contract with the Milanese label Kaliphonia.Finally this work would be released in 1991 under the title ''Gladium Caeli''.

From semi-long to very long tracks, Deus Ex Machina's official entrance in the music world was quite a shock.Not only the music was extremely technical, quirky and frenetic all the way, but the most impressive thing was that singer Alberto Piras abandonded the Italian language for the Latin lyrics and their unique flavor.The album was recorded in studio in just two days and the band itself admits that the album has some evident technical flaws, still the music is highly intricate and offered between deep but complicated arrangements and semi-loose sections.The main influences seem to be acts such as AREA, the more jazzy side of P.F.M. and BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA and WEATHER REPORT, while Piras' voice has a strong theatrical twist ala DEMETRIO STRATOS, despite being over the top at some moments.Musically the album offers very technical Progressive/Fusion with constantly different themes, ranging from improvised parts to technical performances to powerful and rich grooves with strong use of organs/pianos and endless violin workouts.An accurate and solid rhythm section and a sharp guitarist complete this great Italian group.Massive interplays with keyboards and violins in the forefront, furious and frenetic paces, alternation between 70's sounding organs, edgy synths and jazzy piano parts and a singer all over the place are the main components of this work, which often seem to much to handle.

Impressive debut to say the least.Not fully conveincing, as the technique seems often a priority compared to more tight arrangements, but the result is an album full of energy and postive feelings.Recommended and even more for fans of all the aforementioned bands...3.5 stars.