The
Delphic Prophecy is the third album by Gran Torino, an
interesting prog band from Verona. It was released in 2020 on the
French label Musea Records, seven years after their previous work
Fate Of A Thousand Worlds (2013), with a renewed line
up featuring the confirmed Alessio Pieri (keyboards), Gian Maria
Roveda (drums) and Fabrizio Visentini (bass) with the prog veteran David
Cremoni (guitars – from, among others, Moongarden and Submarine
Silence) who took the place of Leonardo Freggi. According to the
band, the album was conceived as a sort of soundtrack for an
imaginary journey through Ancient Greek mythology and the art cover
by Pablo Elices tries to depict the musical content...
The
dreamy opener “Ondine” starts softly by a piano solo pattern,
then the electric guitar takes the lead evoking dangerous, soulless
creatures wandering slowly under the moon... The title refers to the
water nymphs that appeared in the Aegean Sea under the form of
beautiful women but in the booklet there are no liner notes with a
guideline to follow, so the plot of this imaginary peplum film is up
to your imagination!
The
mysterious “Faint Dimness” conjures up nocturnal landscapes and
threatening shadows, then the disquieting “The Sibylline Oracle”
evokes the feeling of an impending trick of the destiny. In the
oracles the Sibyl predicts future events and here the priestess
seems to prophesy disaster...
The
suggestive “From Lust To Shame” flows steadily through martial
rhythms and exotic flavours while the following “A Gentle Soul”
is reflective and dreamy. “After The Cure” is a piece with some
echoes of new wave and a dark, Gothic sound that seems chiselled by a
smith...
Then
the melancholic “Faded Elation” leads to title track and to the
mysteries of the oracle of Delphi. “The Delphic Prophecy” is a
wonderful track that every now and again recalls seventies
atmospheres and black and white TV series... Then it’s the turn of
the nervous “Ancient Labyrinth” where we can follow the thread of
Arianna or admire Dedalo’s bold, clever plans to escape. “Ethereal
Noise” closes the album with some nice soaring electric guitar
parts and some hypnotic keyboard passages.
On
the whole, a good album, especially recommended if you like bands
such as L’Ombra della Sera...
You can listen to the complete album HERE
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