CONCERTO GROSSO PER I NEW TROLLS

Brilliant is turning into a meaningless word, being that many people use it to describe their favorite musical ensemble from GENESIS to BRITNEY, quality matters very little, most people just apply this adjective to any album they enjoy, that's why this word seems so empty when we are before a masterpiece like Concerto Grosso Per I New Trolls, but if there's an album that deserves superlative adjectives is this precious gem.

My first surprise was to find that despite what most people say, this is not a Symphonic album exclusively, because this guys give us Classical Music, Hard Rock, Symphonic Prog, Folk and Psychedelia, all blended with such care that the fusion sounds as the only natural way to perform the eclectic "Rock Progressivo Italiano".

But to understand the album, we must say that a "Concerto Grosso" is a musical form from the Baroque period, which main characteristic is the interplay between several soloists and orchestra through four to six movements, and THE NEW TROLLS have developed it perfectly, because the orchestra (strings) create the general atmosphere of the music while the guitar, flute, organ and vocals, take the place of the soloist by turns, simply outstanding structure.

The album starts with Tempo Allegro, an excellent overture that begins with "contrappunto" between violins and flute, as the piece advances, a distorted guitar takes the role of the flute to apply extra power to the magnificent VIVALDI inspired music.

Tempo Adagio is much more dramatic, the strength relies more in the force of the sentiments evoked by the music itself rather that in fast or loud instruments. Now, the real beauty start with nostalgic vocals enhanced by beautiful strings and some short distorted guitar passages that show us that THE NEW TROLLS are a Rock band. Extremely delicate and delicious music.

Tempo: Cadenza - Andante Con Moto is opened by a virtuoso violin solo again reminiscent of VIVALDI, but when the whole band enters they retake the main theme explored in the previous movement, this time giving more importance to the strings and percussion instead of the guitar or flute, and the heartbreaking choirs are the cherry in the top of the pie....By this point I'm speechless.

Tempo Shadows took me by surprise, because the orchestral arrangements are left behind to create some sort of Bluesy / Psychedelic movement allowing the band to play some sort of soft Rock, really experimental song..

The album ends with the 21 minutes epic Nella Sala Vuota, Improvisazioni dei New Trolls Registrate in Diretta is the turn of THE NEW TROLLS to rock with all they have,. blending blues, Psychedelia, Heavy Rock (URIAH HEEP inspired) and a lot of jamming in one track full of energy and class.

Normally the Prog bands use one of two options when trying to perform Classical oriented Prog, some as the Moody Blues add orchestral intros and codas to Rock or Pop tunes, while icons as WAKEMAN and EMERSON add fragments (or complete works) of well known artists to a Symphonic Prog structure, but this guys go a step further, they have composed a real and original "Concerto Grosso" allowing the band to take the part of the soloists, creating a perfect fusion between Rock and Baroque.

If this is not an "Essential masterpiece of Progressive Rock", this qualification has no sense at all, so without hesitation I will give 5 solid stars to an amazing and ambitious project developed with uncommon skills.