BACK TO KNOWLEDGE

In mid-90's Italian prog act Syndone disbanded due to musical disagreements with Nik Comoglio taking his own path.However two of the members, drummer Paolo Sburlati and keyboardist Edo Rogani decided to move on together forming their own project Empire along with female vocalist Rosanna De Luca.Their sole release ''Back to Knowledge'' was released in 1994 on the Milanese label Vinyl Magic.

You cant simply expect much out of a keyboard/drum duo but these guys created some trully interesting, rich and quite bombastic musicianship at moments with strong E.L.P. references and a sound close to ZAUBER or Beppe Crovell'a's TOWER.The style is somewhat defined by the heavy Classical Prog instrumental parts and the frenetic keyboard-driven Fusion grooves along with some commercial bits thown in.Actually, De Luca's voice, although being clear and crystalline as water, sounds like a pop artist tortured to sing in a complicated prog album, while the drum parts are often too mechanical.The musicianship on the other hand ranges from decent to great quality thanks to Rogani's brilliant performance, offering grandiose orchestral parts, organ workouts, full-blown synthesizer solos and dreamy soundscapes, where Symphonic Rock meets Classical meets Fusion and, no question, the massive instrumental parts of the album have more than plenty to offer with standout breaks, melodies and shifting moods, always under a grandiose symphonicism.Of course the pair of rather commercial vocal tracks have no place next to the more progressive compositions, but they will not spoil the magic of the rest of the album, hailed by Rogani's awesome keyboard moves, with closing track ''The empire goes on'' being simply a masterful symphonic instrumental experience.

Unfortunately Empire never went on actually, as ''Back to Knowledge'' was the only trace they left to the music public and all keyboard-freaks around the prog league should chase for this release, which is no less than a strong prog effort with a talented man delivering series of inspired and energetic keyboard performances...3.5 stars.