PARADISO

I'm a big fan of METAMORFOSI's "Inferno" album from 1973, but this comeback record some 30 years later pales in comparison. Piano and vocals lead the way here but something is missing. In fact a 3 star rating seems a little high for me but in the end that's my rating. This is a concept album with a lot of short tracks.

"Introduzione" is spacey to open before piano then spoken Italian words arrive. It's fuller before 2 minutes. "Sfera Di Fuoco" features theatrical vocals and bombast. "Cielo Della Luna" opens with solo piano as reserved vocals come in. They turn passionate as a fuller sound arrives. Contrasts continue. "Salita A Mercurio" offers up more theatrical vocals with piano and drums standing out. "Cielo Di Mercurio" is piano led before it kicks in around a minute with synths leading.

"Salita A Venere" has some very impressive piano melodies throughout. "Cielo Di Venere" opens with acoustic guitar as fragile vocals join in. "Il Sole" is an orchestral sounding instrumental. "Cielo Di Marte" features drums and a full sound before it settles late. "Cielo Di Giove" opens with synths before a full sound arrives as the tempo picks up. It settles with piano 1 1/2 minutes in and fragile vocals join in. Some nice bass 3 1/2 minutes in then it kicks back in with synths. "Cielo Di Saturno" has some passionate vocals. "Stelle Fise" features drums and synths and some prominant bass. "Empireo" is uptempo early with bass, piano and drums leading. It settles a minute in as the tempo continues to change. Synths and guitar later. "La Chiesa Delle Stelle" is the best track in my opinion as we finally get some emotion 3 minutes in. Organ ends it.

Barely 3 stars.