DI CARNE, DI ANIMA

From the beautiful Toscana and the city of Grosseto hails this Italian quartet, found in 2008.With a 5-track demo titled ''In un solo brivido'' they hit the stages to make memorable performances and promote their music.After line-up changes and several gigs they settled to a core with Claudio Filippeschi on vocals/keyboards, Flavio Timpanaro on bass/backing vocals, Stefano Magini on drums and Massimo Dolce on guitars/programming and were offered a contract by the Lizard label to deliver their debut, eventually coming out in 2011 under the title ''Di carne, di anima''.

Gran Turismo Veloce claim to have been influenced by both 70's Prog Rock and the contemporary Prog Metal trend, the result is a flexible, powerful and energetic album, where the band tries to add some personal touches, adding lots of dynamic shifts and passionate instrumentals into more poetic and romantic offerings.The affects of their choices was music that sounds both mascular and ethereal at the same time, highlighted by impressive piano work, guitar moves and tasteful Italian lyrics.You can listen to some edgy Hammond organ doubled with angular synthesizers, you will face the richest of sounds, as guitars enter into the heaviest of volumes to deliver striking riffs and solos plus the material is extremely quirky and tricky with Classical influences, symphonic overtones, Fusion plays and Songwriter values.Great and clean production, I praise the band for delivering numerous shifts even on the shortest piece, without getting trapped into long, overstretched, needless performances.The compositions are very nice with tight bridges between the different segments and echoes of the 70's during the softer and more atmospheric parts (especially when the Mellotron jumps in) or during the vocal deliveries, the heavier material is another proof for where modern Prog drives to: Emphatic, grandiose and playful instrumental-vocal changes with complex themes and melodious touches.

Very good work, that left much to be desired for the future of the band.Symphonic, heavy, intricate and poetic.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.