Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=125995 Printed Date: November 24 2024 at 22:54 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Matemorfosi (1972)Posted By: Pelata
Subject: Matemorfosi (1972)
Date Posted: April 08 2021 at 17:21
A band based in Rome, though their singer Jimmy Spitaleri was from Sicily, Metamorfosi have released with Inferno another of those album that any Italian prog fan should have. The group was formed in 1969 when Spitaleri joined the musicians of I Frammenti, a group specialized in the "beat mass" typical of those years.
Their first album, ...e fu il sesto giorno, contains seven songs, the main elements of the band's music are already there, with the almost operatic voice of Jimmy Spitaleri in great evidence and the nice classical influenced playing of keyboards player Enrico Olivieri on a strong rhythm section, but the album is still fragmented and not particularly imaginative, and some 60's influences can still be heard. The group had a five-piece line-up at that point but kept playing as a quartet with no guitar for the second LP.
Second album, Inferno, is their masterpiece, with two long suites (there are 16 titles on the cover but these are only the small pieces forming the Inferno suite) and the majestic voice of Spitaleri perfectly mixed with Olivieri's keyboards to form a highly original and exciting result. Tracks like Caronte are among the best of the Italian prog!
A third album, that was to be called Paradiso as a prosecution to the previous one, was written but never recorded and released, and the band split. Singer Spitaleri went to the USA and later, coming back to Italy, released two solo albums in 1979 and 1980, the first under the name of Thor, the second with his real name Davide Spitaleri.
[above from ItalianProg.com]
Replies: Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: April 08 2021 at 17:25
Inferno is supposed to be their best one.
Posted By: Pelata
Date Posted: April 08 2021 at 18:53
AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:
Inferno is supposed to be their best one.
Based on what I've listened to so far, I'd agree with that.
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: April 08 2021 at 19:08
At least once a year , I spin Metamorfosi's "Inferno" and 2016's "Purgatorio". Two albums split by 44 years.
Spitaleri's voice help up surprisingly well and I recommend both albums. I can't say that for the other albums in Metamorfosi's limited catalog.
Posted By: nick_h_nz
Date Posted: April 09 2021 at 01:53
I love Inferno, but I’ve never listened to the other two albums in the trilogy. I guess because so often, when a band comes back after so long, often the magic is gone.
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Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: April 09 2021 at 15:19
I only have the Inferno album and enjoyed it immensely. Purgatorio is on my list of things to look out for.
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: April 09 2021 at 21:08
I really love Inferno, it's just a perfect album, with such incredible keyboards, and vocals. Just for this album Spitalleri has become one of my favourite singers. I do have the Purgatorio album too, and it's nice enough (though not at the same level as Inferno). I didn't get Paradiso at the time it was released, and now I regret that I can't get it, for I would like to complete the trilogy. I also knew that Spitalleri joined Le Orme for a little while, in the mid 00's I think, and released one studio album, and one live one, which would be really interesting to hear some of those classic Le Orme songs sung by Spitalleri.
Posted By: Pavlos
Date Posted: September 22 2021 at 14:18
Actually Inferno is my fave album from the classic 70s Rock Progressivo Italiano era. A wild ride from start to finish...
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: September 22 2021 at 18:48
Inferno is indeed a Hell of an album.
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: September 22 2021 at 19:15
Sounds as if Camel were trying to break out of their 1960s The Doors or early Uriah Heep roots--an incarnation, of course, in which they're trying out an operatic Italian in the vocals. Nice stuff! You got me chummed up to check out Purgatorio and revisit Inferno. Thanks!