CONCERTO GROSSO PER I NEW TROLLS

For people living in the Americas the thought of a symphonic rock sub-category based entirely off of Italian Musicians can seem a little bit threatening to start. Not to mention that in this new millennium the albums by these artists are almost impossible to find. The New Trolls emerged onto the scene in the late 60s and are likely one of the most ignored bands in the world considering that they've had a long and prolific career which just about no one outside of Europe has heard of. Granted, that's a big market, but for American prog lovers who are more accustomed to the UK scene this band, and indeed this subgenre, is well worth checking out. Concerto Grosso Per I is the third album from these Italian Prog rockers and they really seem to hit the market well here. The music presented is a terrific blend of classic progressive rock, hard rock and neo-classical that makes for a very interesting listen. While this kind of music normally would make the listener want to sit in a big leather chair in front of a fireplace and smoke a corn-cob pipe (aka - be snooty) the music fails to become pretentious throughout the course of the album, making for a very enjoyable and approachable listen. The album is mostly instrumental throughout it's two compositions, but splashes of well placed vocals are used for good measure.

The album is composed mainly of two segments. The first half is a suite comprised of 4 parts, and the second half is a 20-minute instrumental improvisation of massive proportions. While the second half is certainly the most tempting on the track list, it's not the standout of the album. The first half of the album is really the one that should get most of the attention. 1° Tempo: Allegro opens the album in a pomp and lush environment, mixing blissful violins with distorted guitars to make a blend of refined and raw which is really pleasing for the 2-minutes this section of the song has to unfold. The rest of the song is fantastic as well, slower and calmer parts mix in with the heavier other sections such as the wonderful 4° Tempo: Shadows (Per Jimi Hendrix) which may not be the most ''normal'' Jimi Hendrix tribute, but his influence is notable anyways.

The second half of the album may not be quite as breathtaking as the first half, but it's well worth the listen in any case. Nella Salla Vuota is a long and interesting instrumental improvisation full of everything from those heavy distorted guitars down to a drawn out percussion-jam-session with a rhythm reminiscent of what Yes would one day do in The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun). Some non-lyrical vocals come into the mix now and again to build the atmosphere, and everything just clicks overall. Many improvisational tracks have been done in the history of our fair genre, but not many of them work quite this well.

For an interesting use of neo-classical prog that's good on the ears, The New Trolls receive a 4 out of 5 for this effort. While the album may not be quite in everyone's style, its eclectic nature certainly makes for a ''something for everyone'' feel, and with repeated listens it certainly reveals more and more of its charms. Highly recommended.

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