EPICA

GENRE: Prog AOR Melodic Metal.

RELATED BANDS: Asia (1st incarnation), Notturna, Royal Hunt, Alcatrazz, Deep purple, Rainbow, Uriah Heep, Shadow Gallery.

INTRO: Andrea Cortese, during my visit to Bassano Del Grappa showed me this CD. I do not let him do it, attracted by other CDs. In my subsequent visits to Pick Up Records, however, I bought it. As soon as I inserted the CD in the car CD player. Not bad, I thought. What has the Prog, I thought. Then, slowly, I found many similarities with Royal Hunt and Asia. When I found Notturna knew this band. Also because Notturna and Epica sung in Italian. Once at home I tried once more infos about Epica and here I found a review on a site dedicated to the Metal, where I discovered that I had already heard this band in relation to their cover of "Impressioni Di Settembre" (PFM) which was a remarkable hit radio in 1995.

FROM COVER TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The cover is a great cover, because in Fantasy style but not in Roger Dean style. The Rock are in Roger Dean style but the animals and orchid no. Also is a work of computer graphics. The booklet is not bad, essential but with lyrics and infos about these release. So the first impression was good. Also the music made a good impression in my mind. Too bad the band has disbanded shortly after the release of the album.

THE BAND: In general the musicians ar good, technically prepared, although their style is more marked towards aggression than to the technique. The sound production is too clear but good. In this sense this is also a minor lack.

THE SOUND: AOR is AOR, Rock is Rock, Metal is Metal. So the sound is melodic with good keyboards and not heavy guitars. The voice of Alessandro Secchi is aggressive but not memorable. Gianni Ghezzo is a superior drummer, not perfect but with great technique and power. In general is the aggressive part of their style that is in the first plan.

THE SONGS: Song for song, although easy as work, it is unnecessary work because the songs have such characteristics that would be expensive and tedious to dwell at length in this direction. The characteristics of the style of the band are very well summarized in "Confini" (eng: "Boundaries") a technical and aggressive Hard Rock song with Prog superstructure, great two vocal parts. Probably these are the more Prog song of Epica (except "Impressioni Di Settembre). Another good song is "Dov'è Futuro" (eng: "Where Is The Future")In this song a Funky rhythms are mixed with Deep Purple and Uriah Heep, also if it is clear that this is not an homage but a final process of a composition. In general these two songs summarized in good manner the style of Epica. As in all of this type of bands the ballad is a power ballad. "Anime Di Vetro" (eng: "Souls Of Glass) that close this album is this song. But, to the end, is only a normal power ballad. 2Impressioni Di Settembre" (PFM's cover) was, in 1995 a remarkable radio hit. Probably cause of this the return of PFM was reality. This song present a first part in Battiato style (similar to conception to Battiato's version... But this version is anterior to Battiato's version) and 2nd part re-arranged in Epica style but extreme close to PFM's original version.

IN SUMMARY... BUT NOT ONLY: "Confini" is a good album. Extreme close to Notturna, Epica's "Confini" is similar to Royal Hunt, 1st Asia, 90's Deep Purple... Not 100% Metal, "Confini" is more a Proggy Class Metal album. In definitive this is a Prog Metal album, clear buit also in the case of Notturna, Alcatrazz or Royal Hunt this is more an album of Class Metal, Rock or AOR for Progsters. Today I do not know if we can manage to get a copy of "Confini". But if you can find a copy of this album buy it. Not disappoint you.