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Review:
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Did you think Il Bacio Delle Medusa is the best new
Italian progrock band in the last five years? Well, check
out Italian four piece formation Pandora, what an exciting
sound! The band is rooted in 2006, inspired by Genesis,
Yes, PFM, New Trolls and Dream Theater. After a serie of
concerts in early 2008, Pandora got a record deal with the
known Italian label Btf., specialized in progressive rock.***
On their debut album Dramma Di Un Poeta Ubriaco (7 tracks,
running time 63 minutes) Pandora is scouting the borders
between Classic Italian Prog, symphonic rock, Heavy Prog
and prog metal in a very exciting way. We can enjoy lots
of bombastic and compelling atmospheres, loaded with heavy
guitarplay, sensational keyboardwork (3 members play on
keyboards!) and thunderous drumming like Il Giudizio Universale
(exciting break, great wah-wah guitar and passionate Italian
vocals), the instrumental March To Hell (swirling Hammond
organ solo, fat Minimoog sound and obvious Dream Theater
elements), Pandora (the piano is wonderfully blended in
the heavy sound) and the titletrack (beautiful Grand piano
intro and a splendid grand finale with compelling keyboardwork
and a very moving guitar solo, goose bumps). But in other
songs Pandora also deliver great build-ups like Così Come
Sei (from dreamy with soaring keyboards and acoustic guitar
to compelling with a strong electric guitar/synthesizer
duet and bombastic with furious drumwork and heavy guitar)
or mellow like Breve Storia di San George (wonderful blend
of acoustic guitar, flute-Mellotron, warm Italian vocals,
classical orchestrations, delicate harpsichord runs and
a pleasant flute solo in the end). The most elaborate composition
is the final track entitled Salto Nel Buio (close to 14
minutes), it sounds very varied and contains lots of captivating,
very flowing shifting moods and surprising musical ideas,
from a short interlude with acoustic guitar and choir-Mellotron
to a piece with prog metal overtones and a jazzy vibraphone
solo. The final part is very exciting featuring fat synthesizer
flights and propulsive drum beats, slowly fading away, I
am in Progheaven! -
My simple conclusion: highly recommended and ... play
it loud!
www.progwalhalla.com
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