LA LEGGENDA DELLA GRANDE PORTA

I was surprised to see this band listed as Prog-Metal, they do offer up some aggressive guitar and heaviness at times but I wouldn't consider this a Prog-Metal band. I guess you have to put them somewhere though. This is an album that should be an easy 4 stars for me. I like this style of music a lot but right from the first listen I knew something didn't sit right with me.Well I feel it's the vocals. When he sings in a reserved manner he's great but when he "lets go" it sounds like he's yelling the lyrics instead of singing them. At least he sings in Italian. Anyway regardless of that this is a really good album. Love the cover art too. By the way in the liner notes the guitarist thanks "PAIN OF SALVATION and my dog Rush for all the joy he has given me". My kind of guy.

"La Leggenda Della grande Porta" opens with chirping birds as piano the guitar arrive. Reserved vocals follow. It's fuller before 1 1/2 minutes then it really kicks in with scorching guitar. The drums,piano and guitar shine. "Mediterranea" builds to a heavy sound quickly. Some killer guitar 3 minutes in then it settles with reserved vocals. Scorching guitar after 6 1/2 minutes. "Ulysses" opens with drums as guitar comes in. It settles 1 1/2 minutes in with piano and reserved vocals. Piano only 3 1/2 minutes in then it turns heavier.

"Sinergy" is an instrumental. It opens with the sounds of traffic then it kicks in with keyboards. Guitar follows. Speaking of guitar check it out before 4 1/2 minutes ! It settles a minute later then kicks back in around 7 minutes. "Laguna Di Giada" is mellow with reserved vocals. Ripping guitar after 2 minutes. Great sound before 3 1/2 minutes. The guitar lights it up before 5 minutes. "Amanecer" is a short instrumental of acoustic guitar and piano. "La Terre Dei Falo" has this nice heavy sound then the vocals come in as it settles some. A calm 4 minutes in with fragile vocals and piano. Then it kicks back in. I really like the guitar after 6 minutes.

3.5 stars. A really good album