IF

Once again, I want to mention that you people can discover new bands whenever you want, one option is just click on the interviews section and read some of them, I bet you will have interest on some bands, no matter if you are not familiar with their music.

This is the second album of these Italian guys once named If, now named Ifsounds, and the title of this production has that first name?If. The album is shorter than their debut, with 8 compositions and a total time of 45 minutes. To make a reference of what Claudio from the band said in the interview with Torodd? "Conceptually "if" was like a collection of our past experiences, memories written when we were teenagers"

The first song "Don't Go" is a pretty good track, in moments reminding me to Queen due to the guitars. Contrary to their first album, since this very first song I felt attracted they acquired some identity, or at least they were in the good road. I must mention that the quality sound of the production here is much better than their debut.

"I Wish" is a beautiful composition where delicate acoustic guitars appear together with the voice, some seconds later female vocals enter as background and add more beauty to the already existent. There is like a cello sound, but I am not sure if it was done with the keyboards or if it was actually someone playing the instrument itself, the melody is quite pleasant until the last minute where an acoustic guitar solo makes it even more enjoyable.

After that beautiful passage you will suffer a heart attack when the next song begins, because all of a sudden "Blisters" appears like a lightning, with an aggressive sound that reminds me to some punk bands of the 80s. If you like punk, then you can enjoy this, but if you don't like, then skip it.

"Sweet Friend" starts with a raw vocal sound while some nice ambient is being produced by keyboards, the bass sound adds a dark touch, so the mood is in moments tense and desolated, but in others gentle and promising. The last minutes are excellent, with great guitar work and a great atmosphere. One excellent song!

"Loser" is a longer song which is a ballad with soft vocals and a delicate piano sound. A couple of minutes later the mood and rhythm are up, and the song is performed with great emotion, very touching. There are some backing vocals that along to the rockish guitars, remind me again to Queen.

"Las Vegas" is another short track, and like in Blisters here you will listen to a heavier and moving piece. There is a funny thing here that I noticed since the very first listen, and it is that the vocals here remind me a lot, but really a lot to Les Claypool of Primus, I don't really know if they are aware of Les' existence, but If not they should take a listen to them. Anyway, this is a song I enjoy listening, the rock element is always present and those guitar and keyboard solos are great.

"Midsummer Raving" contrasts again with the previous song, here it is again like a ballad but this time led by acoustic guitar and female vocals, later a piano appears and again a cello sound enters, the ballad is nice but plain, I would have loved if they make some changes within the composition.

The last song lasts almost twelve minutes and is entitled "D is Dead" , the acoustic guitars here are excellent and the entrance of the electric ones better, seems that this will be a promising song. Just before minute three the guitars fade out and the keyboards appear with a church organ like and some weird spacey sounds, then some hidden vocals enter and help creating that spacey mood. The instrumental passages are excellent; the ones with vocals are good too but pollute a little bit the song. All the elements added by the synthesizer play a main role, because they help creating an atmosphere. Moments later, some military drums emerge from the nothing but the whole song does not change, until it reaches minute nine and a heavier and powerful sound appears. The last minutes are just like this, but the last 30 seconds are calm. If you were wondering where was the progressive element in this album, with this song you will be more that satisfied.

A stronger and more mature album is this. A step forward from their debut record and an open invitation to keep exploring the band's music. My final grade will be 3 stars this time, but I am really interested in listening to their upcoming albums.

Enjoy it!