ZARATHUSTRA

Quite heavy, dark progressive music this, but melodic nonetheless. It only really softens for any length of time on the excellent track 'Superuomo', one of the five tracks which together make up the title supertrack 'Zarathustra'. There is a lot of electric guitar, bass and drums in the fore, with some good Mellotron and Hammond work supporting it and taking the lead in several places. How to describe the music? A dash of BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO, THE DOORS, DEEP PURPLE and JOE COCKER, perhaps?! (It's cleverer and more complex than the music of the last three though.)

The singer has the slightly rough singing voice characteristic of many male Italian rock and pop singers; perhaps that's why his nickname is Lupo (Wolf)! In my opinion his voice is not as pleasing as that of some of the other Italian prog rock bands' singers. I wish I could understand Italian better though, because the singing is full of passion and I suspect the lyrics are good.

Taken as a whole the album does feel very slightly like a classical symphony, despite the electric guitar and drums; it's cleverly constructed music. The ending of the last track, 'Dell'Eterno Ritorno', while being totally modern instrumentally, reminds me of the ending of a fourth movement and nicely rounds off the album. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the album is divided into four principal pieces (equivalent to the four movements of a symphony). This may all sound like pretentious babble I know, but the more I listen to the album, the stronger this impression becomes. This is another album that really does deserve persevering with if you don't like it instantly.

In my opinion "Zarathustra" is not the masterpiece claimed by some. However it is very good, sophisticated, heavy progressive music, and I am pleased to have it in my collection.