[UN]CONNECTED

But one listen through this one, and I purchased it immediately.

It seems like any band from Italy gets stuffed into the RPI category. This is not RPI, it's good neo prog, maybe neo symphonic. But either way, it's really good.

The compositions are engaging, with enough mix of complexity and memorable melodies to draw me in. The themes are interesting. The musicianship is really solid, nothing overly virtuosic or self-indulgent but the playing is really solid and shines where it needs to. The production is first rate, the recording is great, the mix is clear with space for all the tracks.

I guess what made me write the review (other than no one else has so far), is that this album has made it into my regular rotation now after just a couple of weeks. We'll see whether it stands the test of time, but I enjoy it enough that it sure seems like one of those albums that I'll pull out again over time.

So, I gave this a 4 star rating, I think actually a 4.2 or something for me, but not rounded up to a 5.

Check it out, it can be picked up on Bandcamp, support the band. I'm going to go back and check out Avenoth again, maybe I missed something...

1. "Connected Ouverture" (6:30) a nice instrumental intro of a true overture nature: introducing us to some of the themes to be heard later in the album. (8.875/10)

2. "Winter in our mind" (5:00) The best song on the album. (9.25/10)

3. "Hikkomori Humanity" (5:57) interesting musical expression/interpretation for such a sad topic. (8.75/10)

4. "I'm Gonna buy something" (6:30) the first half of this song sounds like something out of the 1970s Hard Rock bands (or New Jersey band 3RDegree), while the second half transitions into full PINK FLOYD bombast. A song that splits allegiances. (8.75/10)

5. "Lullaby of the ancient world" (2:36) acoustic guitar-based with multiple voices beautifully interacting with multiple lyrical lines being subtly woven together. A highlight. (4.75/5)

6. "Blind Trust" (6:05) organ-based prog that could have come straight out of the 1970s. (8.75/10)

7. "Liquid Suite" (15:30) too old-school and simple, a real disappointment (and waste of my time). (24/30)

8. "[un]connected" (6:03) opens with plug-in electrified nylon string guitar soloing. He is joined by vocalist Marco Vincini to sing a plaintive power ballad like song. The supporting synth strings is artful but, ultimately, disappointing for the dated sound of its source instrument. (8.75/10)

9. "Returned (The Last Farewell)" (6:29) other than the deep thrumming of Guglielmo Mariotti's Tony Levin-like bass, this song keeps conjuring up reminders of the music and artist behind I AND THOU's wonderful 2014 one-off, Speak--except for the voice--the vocalist is much more aligned with the lead singer of Moogarden. My final top three song. (9/10)

10. "Cryogenic Hope" (5:24) far more angular and stoccato prog than the previous several songs despite Fabrizio's beautiful melodies in the choruses. I like all of the theatric samples and layers incorporated to give this a very UNITOPIA/ANCESTRY PROGRAM social commentary aspect. (8.875/10)

11. "Like a Amphibious" (4:44) A bit of an odd, unresolved open-ended Nice Hackett-like guitar solo to close out. (8.66667/10)

Total Time 70:48

After bursting onto the scene in 2016 with the amazing Avenoth, I can only ask: What happened? This new album is so inconsistent, so scattered and disjointed, so half-hearted and unoriginal that it feels as if the band maybe should have stayed home and not even put the effort forward--at least not until everybody is truly stoked for the new material (which none of this feels: it all feels old and recycled, used and tired). Too bad since this is one album and band that I think everyone was looking forward to hearing.

B-/3.5 stars; for me this is quite a step down from the amazing production of Avenoth, but the songs and story here are still of a caliber superior to most prog bands and albums of the day.