BENEDIKTUS UND VOBIS QUOQUE, CATAFALCUS EST TU

It's been a long time since i've listened to an album that i've found so interesting. Different is the word I suppose. I didn't know until I had my review finished that Cristiano Roversi (MOONGARDEN) plays keyboards, organ and mellotron on this record. And the atmosphere he creates here is incredible to say the least. This is dark, atmospheric and has plenty of depth to the sound. The vocals remind me of Toby Driver when he sings in that reserved manner. The music here lacks the grit and heaviness to be labelled Post Metal as it only hints at it. The Neo-Prog reference though is very misleading in my opinion but hey if that's what it took to get them on the site i'm happy.

"E Adesso Facciamo I Soldi" hits the ground running then settles back when the vocals arrive. Tons of mellotron here. Bass 2 minutes in then it picks up again. Guitar before 5 minutes. "Benediktus" opens with bass as spoken sampled words and cheering come in. Drums too followed by pulsating organ before 2 minutes then synths. It picks up before 4 minutes and the vocals follow as it stays uptempo. "Dark Deglutation" is nice and heavy with so much atmosphere. Mellotron before 1 1/2 minutes. Vocals 3 minutes in. Mellotron is back late. "Ocean" opens with atmosphere then vocals and strummed guitar come in around a minute. A calm with water sounds follows then it builds with bass and lots of atmosphere. A powerful soundscape 7 minutes in.

"Carabinieri" has atmosphere galore with percussion sounds. Piano before 2 minutes. "Metanolo" has a solid base as guitar and vocals come in after 2 1/2 minutes. It picks up then we get atmosphere only before 4 minutes then the drums and guitar return. The guitar is much more aggressive here. Vocals end it. "Recinzioni" is uptempo with solid drumming and lots of depth. Vocals and mellotron 1 1/2 minutes in along with piano and lots of atmosphere. "Ipercomunismo Postalieno" is dark and atmospheric early on. It kicks in before 2 minutes with synths. Powerful stuff.

Thankyou Todd for recommending this band. Hmmm...dark with lots of atmosphere and mellotron. My kind of music.