ANGELO SALUTANTE

I'm happy to be the first reviewer of this awesome Hungarian band's album.

Angelo Salutante is the first and only studio album by Stonehenge. Two years after the release they fell apart and later, with other members, they recorded an EP. That EP, Nerine, doesn't consist the lead vocalist of Angelo Salutante, Zoltán BZ Bátky, and although I've never heard it, I'm sure about the fact that it isn't as good as AS.

The music is prog metal, most in the vein of Dream Theater, but they have a lot of uniqe things. The members rule on their instruments, they play greatly.

There are more tracks, what if you start to listen to, you'll say: No, this will be a hard, non-prog metal song!, but in the end you'll recognize, that you were wrong. The longer songs (like Newcomer, Between Two Worlds, Rambling and Fly) are very complex, maybe even symphonic.

And now, about the songs after one another:

1. Invocation - Just an intro to the album with nature sounds.

2. Newcomer - One of the best tracks. Quite long, complex, consists a lot of musical themes. Heavy metal riffs and acoustic piano sounds are here together, with a great chorus.

3. For Another - Its chorus is similar to Newcomer's, but the song isn't as good, consists maybe the most popular sounding of the album, but nonetheless you'll enjoy to listen to it, if you've similar taste as me.

4. Wendigo - Slow tempo, dark feelings, great song.

5. Angelo Salutante - A short acoustic introduction to the following track so in lyrics as in the main riff.

6. Angels - A heavier continuation to Angelo Salutante, they share a lot in common, as I said it before.

7. Full Moon - A hard song with arabic musical parts, not my favourite.

8. Whisper - Beautiful melodic love song without banal lyrics.

9. Between Two Worlds - My favourite track! Great melody, complexity, fantastic lyrics. You can watch its music video on YouTube, this could be a delicate recommendation if you want to get acquainted with Stonehenge.

10. Rambling - Also a hard one, but with excellent lyrics and the band's general complexity.

11. Fly - Again a long and diverse song, I like it!

12. Yellow - The closer track is a good instrumental lead by bass, it gives a lovely end to this excellent album, that could come through in any prog music collection.

I hope that I could recommend you this album with my review, it will worth if you'll try it!

Angelo Salutante is the debut full length studio album by Hungarian progressive metal band Stonehenge, who come from Veszprém, a relaitvely large town in the Western part of my country. Stonehenge was active in various incarnations since the early nineties, but they managed to release their debut studio album only in 2001, even if they were the opening band at the legendary 1997 concert of Psychotic Waltz in Budapest. For a debut this is a very consistent album of a quiet high quality, but Stonehenge were already rather experienced musicians in 2001. The music on Angelo Salutante can be described as melodic progressive metal, versatile songs, with sometimes quiet heav riffs. No coincidence that Balázs Bóta, guitarist and main composer of the band cites among his influences Meshuggah and Jeff Waters of Annihilator, beside Rush. The heavy riffs are nicely balanced by soft piano passages and occasional string parts and catchy choruses. All musicians are really good, and the vocals are great as well. In my opinion this music fits the voice of Zoltán Bátky better, than the music of After Crying. Don't get me wrong After Crying is a very nice band, but "BZ " is mainly a hard rock/ metal singer. For me the obvious higlights include Newcomer, that pretty much captures the main features of Stonehenge. Heavyness, some complexity, great melodies sensible lyrics. Another favourites of mine are Angels, Full Moon, Between Two Worlds, Rambing and Fly. Maybe this album is not as great as the best albums by Fates Warning, Psychotic Waltz, Dream Theater or Sieges Even, but it is a very good progressive metal record which I gladly recommend to any lover of thiskind of music, it deserves four big stars. In 2011 Stonehenge reunited with a line up, that almost identical with the line up of Angelo Salutante for some gigs, and even for writing and record new material. Well, guys what can I say? From the chorus of song Angels on Angelo Salutante: "Let the Angels give You a new Start!"

Stonehenge was one of the most solid prog metal bands Hungary ever had and probably one of the top from east Europe, sadly disbanded some years back and gone into oblivion. They released only one album in 2001 named Angelo salutante issued on Nail records. pleasent surprise this band, even I know this album for years I've almost forget how sounded since the first listning I guess around 2010. This is quite solid and intresting prog metal, well constructed and with top notch musicianship. The vocalist Zoltán Bátky is excellent, he has a very good range for such music and also he delivers some memorable jaw dropiing vocal lines on some pieces like Newcomer, Wendigo or Full moon happening to be the best pieces from this release. catchy choruses, nice interludes between guitars and keyboards, top notch vocalist, so a total winner for me. They are similar with DT, dutch Lemur Voice, even the vocal lines here and there are similar or with danish prog metal band Chroming Shift and their excellent Ripples in time only album. So, Angelo salutante is quite a good prog metal album, sadly underrated and unknown, but for sure they need a wider recognition even thay are disbanded for quite some years now. 3 good stars from me.