PLEROMA

On this album Runaway Totem is reduced to a duo. Pleroma is generally not as heavy sounding as their other albums. But it's basically the same sort of symphonic Zeuhl metal as usual. Only on one song does singer Suzanna Villanova appear; she was also on the last album.

"La Porta Del Duat" opens with a great flute melody with acoustic guitar. The flute part comes back later. After 5 minutes there is a spacey, atmospheric section before some pounding drums and a military style beat. Around 7 1/2 minutes in there is a good vocal melody. Before 12 minutes begins a section with piano and choirs. Later a metal like part before some more piano and some spacey choir sounds. Then some vocoder vocals with spacey, atmospheric sounds before the drums and guitar returns. Some horn like sounds before it gets quiet. Back to the flute melody to end it.

"Il Lago Di Fuoco" has a nice section with bass, organ and vocals. Later on an intense guitar solo. "Restau" begins in Zeuhl territory, especially the rhythm section. Later a symphonic prog metal part. "Abisso Del Acque" has some good drumming at the beginning. A spacey section with cool synth sounds starts in the middle. "Sokari" is the only song with female vocals. After 2 minutes is a good drum and piano pattern where both male and female vocals appear. Later on there is a polka type beat with almost punk male vocals and more operatic female vocals.

"I Due Orizzonti" has some Zeuhlish piano and metal guitar soloing after a few minutes. Around 5 minutes it sounds very Zeuhl. Around 7 minutes a more symphonic prog part. In the middle begins a long section with cool guitar effects along with piano and organ, later choirs too. After comes a symphonic metal part. It all ends with pounding drums.

This album is neither as consistent or strong as the previous Tep Zeri or the following Esameron. Still some good modern Zeuhl influenced music, but nothing essential. 3 stars.