Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

DGM

Progressive Metal • Italy


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

DGM picture
DGM biography
The classic trademark of this Italian power-metal band are catchy melodies, explosive riffs, choir harmonies and a powerful rhythm section. As for comparisons, they sit comfortably with the likes of DREAM THEATER, SYMPHONY X and VANDEN PLAS. They went through a series of personnel changes and at last count, the band consisted of vocalist Titta Tani, guitarist Diego Reali, bassist Andrea Arcangeli, drummer Fabio Costantino and keyboard player Fabio Sanges. They have released six studio albums since 1994, including a mini cd.

Their best material can be found on their later albums "Wings of Time (1999), "Dreamland" (2001) and "Hidden Place" (2003). All three feature excellent melodic power-metal, great musicianship, walls of keyboards and some powerful and catchy vocals from Titta Tani. It is still too early to comment on their latest cd "Misplaced" (2004), as it had just been released at the time this bio was written.

Aggressive, melodic and progressive, DGM is a fun power-metal band with a pleasant neo-classical flavor. Their material will certainly appeal to fans of DREAM THEATER, SYMPHONY X and VANDEN PLAS.

: : : Lise (HIBOU), CANADA : : :

DGM Videos (YouTube and more)


Showing only random 3 | Show all DGM videos (1) | Search and add more videos to DGM

Buy DGM Music


DGM discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

DGM top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.83 | 12 ratings
Change Direction
1997
3.28 | 19 ratings
Wings of Time
1999
3.91 | 16 ratings
Dreamland
2001
3.60 | 27 ratings
Hidden Place
2003
2.95 | 22 ratings
Misplaced
2004
3.24 | 25 ratings
Different Shapes
2007
3.72 | 32 ratings
frAme
2009
3.11 | 26 ratings
Momentum
2013
4.00 | 21 ratings
The Passage
2016
4.04 | 9 ratings
Tragic Separation
2020
3.67 | 3 ratings
Life
2023

DGM Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.20 | 5 ratings
Passing Stages - Live in Milan and Atlanta
2017

DGM Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

3.67 | 3 ratings
Synthesis (DVD & CD)
2010

DGM Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

DGM Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.00 | 2 ratings
Random Access Zone
1994

DGM Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Wings of Time by DGM album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.28 | 19 ratings

BUY
Wings of Time
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by DangHeck
Prog Reviewer

2 stars Progressive/Symphonic Power Metal hailing from Italy, their second release (1999). The first thing I want to note, before getting into my general feelings about this album, is that the musicianship of DGM is certainly great. Now, where I find much of the album wanting is compositionally. Sure, everything is well performed, from guitars to drums to vocals. But quite a few of these tracks were only "good" because of the musicianship, not because the tracks were particularly exciting or interesting (looking at the tracks individually using the PA rating system, nearly half of them wouldn't make it to a 3 in my book, and that certainly sullens my overall rating).

Much of the album frankly isn't overly interesting at all. Soloing, as I'll mention for the standout track, is the clear strongsuit of the band. At this point, providing the listener with something progressive and/or surprising does not seem like a super primary objective. I'm not saying any of the tracks are actually bad, but of course this is Prog Archives and not... uh... "Songs... Archives"? Ha!

Without further ado, we have track 7, "A Drop of Shadow," the certain standout on the album. Finally, some rhythmic complexity, great soloing (including some tasty sax), and a classic sound (with melodies reminiscent of Iron Maiden—hell, even their vocalist has a voice at times reminiscent specifically of Bruce). Mostly a standout because everything else just sort of blends together on this album... and therefore...

True Rate: 2.5/5.0 FFO Dream Theater, Symphony X, Evergrey, Darkwater

 Tragic Separation by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2020
4.04 | 9 ratings

BUY
Tragic Separation
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars It never ceases to amaze me that I can still come across incredible bands and then realise they have been around for years. My initial reaction that here we had a supergroup put together from established musicians, but at the same time it has a way more organic feel than that, so off I went and did my due diligence and was somewhat surprised to see that this is their tenth album in more than 25 years of existence. There may have been some line-up changes over the years, as is generally the case, which means there are no longer any founder members involved, but everyone has been in the band since at least 2008, and drummer Fabio Costantino has been there for more than 20 years, so it is certainly a valid line-up.

This is an Italian prog metal act, who interestingly are approaching the metallic side far more from AOR than what would normally be expected. There are nods to the likes of Stratovarius, with a grounding in incredibly quick runs on keyboards and guitar which tend to give this music a particular flavour. They are not always shredding, but more often than not we hear incredible note density from the guitar of Simone Mularoni in particular, but what makes this album stand out is that it is very much part of the song and not just an opportunity for someone to show off their skills: it feels far more holistic and controlled than material by Yngwie. The bass is often right up behind, with Andrea Arcangeli showing he can do the same on his instrument, yet there are also times when he backs away to join more in with the symphonic style of the keyboards to provide support and control. Then at the front we have Mark Basile, who is a superb singer with great breath control who cuts through the maelstrom beneath.

The result is an album which ticks boxes in multiple genres, including AOR, melodic hard rock and prog metal, and in each case one has to say this album is something very special indeed. It is immediate, with songs which hit hope from the very first play, but underneath the melody there is a wonderful complexity which takes it into different places. For anyone who wants to hear something that little but different that is also mainstream then this is worth seeking out.

 Momentum by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2013
3.11 | 26 ratings

BUY
Momentum
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by siLLy puPPy
Special Collaborator PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic

2 stars DGM (stands for "Diego Gianfranco Maurizio" a founding member) hails from Italy and began as an instrumental band all the way back in 1994 and has released several albums since then with many a member coming and going over the years. They basically are a power metal band with a few minor progressive twists now and again. To be honest I don't hear much progressiveness on this album so I have to assume that they must have had more of it on previous albums for them to be considered as such.

This is another highly rated album and group that just doesn't do it for me. Nothing bad here. Everything is played quite well and done in the proper manor. It's just really predictable and generic. Even the solos fit into the formulaic song structures which are ok but nothing that really stands out. Nothing new until track 6 when we finally get some piano. It's like haven't I heard all this somewhere before? Not sure this would have really stood out ten years ago. The production is extremely well done and the musicians are top notch but this just lacks the originality and diversity that makes an album interesting for me after so many phenomenal power metal albums have been released. Listening to MOMENTUM leaves me no desire to check out any of their previous albums. Love the album cover though.

 frAme by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.72 | 32 ratings

BUY
frAme
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars This is the latest from Italy's DGM. A Prog-Metal band who blasts us with double bass drumming throughout. A new vocalist for this one in Mark Basile and he does a great job here. I found that there wasn't a lot of variation on this album, and as I mentioned there's way too much double bass drumming for my taste.

"Hereafter" features lots of synths and double bass drumming early on. It settles some before a minute with vocals. It turns mellow before 3 minutes then kicks back in hard. "Enhancement" opens with a barrage of double bass then it settles before a minute with vocals. "Not In Need" kicks in right away and again settles some when the vocals arrive. "No Looking Back" builds as vocals come in after a minute. Keys and drums lead after 3 minutes. A guitar solo before 4 minutes.

"Trapped..." has this marching-like rhythm with choir-like vocals.Then it kicks in. Great sound. "...In A Movie" is a good uptempo rocker. "Away" kicks in before a minute. A nice crunchy sound here. It settles with vocals as contrasts continue. "Heartache" turns full rather quickly. Reserved vocals with riffs follow. "Rest In Peace" is uptempo with vocals. "Brand New Blood" has this hard hitting intro. Double bass drumming galore after a minute. "Fading & Falling" opens with gentle guitar and reserved vocals. Keys join in. It kicks in after a minute.

A good album but it doesn't suit my taste in Metal that well.

 Different Shapes by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2007
3.24 | 25 ratings

BUY
Different Shapes
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 this time

Sixth studio album of this italian prog metal band released in 2007 named Diffrent shapes is an inprovement over previous one, the arrangements are more precise, more direct in aproach, the power metal elements are all over again, but this time are very well melted with progressive ones. This time DGM climb a stair from previous relese and that is a good thing, if this one was sounding like Misplaced I will forget for good about this band. Even the album is good and the musicianship is quite great on entire release, Diffrent shapes brings nothing new in DGM sound or in prog metal scene. 3 stars maybe 3.5 because the album sounds good , professional and maybe better then many power metal releases with prog metal leaning in last years, even is not fantastic. I remain to Wings of time and Dream land to be the best DGM albums ever, the resta re only ok with few excetions of greatness.

 Misplaced by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2004
2.95 | 22 ratings

BUY
Misplaced
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Fifth studio album of this prog metal band from Italy, now more a power metal outfit with some prog leanings here and there, named Misplaced from 2004. To tell the truth this album was a little deseppointing for me, I mean this release sounds like usual power metal with some keybords added that doesn't make a prog metal album IMO. They fall now in a category and took a path followed by hunderd bands. The only DGM album with Tita Tani behind the microphone who I consedered essential is the first one where he appears from 2001Dream land, the rest are usual stuff with very little to offer, even the musicianship is quite good, they suffer in ideas. This album is same, the ideas are almost down to zero, but what make this album listenable is the good musicianship all over the album. All instruments sound good, each musician envolved here make a good job, but I think that DGm can't do much better then this kind of music. Is the best they can give and that's all, no one to blame, they will never be another Symphony X even they try on some pieces to sound alike. Now here DGM sounds like Stratovarius or Kamelot, more power metal then prog, not a bad thing after all, but as I said the ideas are mediocre. Not a piece stand in front, all are almost the same in value, but almost forgetable aswell. I will give 3 stars because I like the band, more like 2.5 rounded to 3, but only this time I'm so generous. No wonder why the album is so low rated.
 Hidden Place by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.60 | 27 ratings

BUY
Hidden Place
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Second album with Tita Tani behind the microphone and forth from their career Hidden place from 2003 bring nothing to both to the genre - progressive metal or to their sound overall. Again a fait good album, a perfect balance between progressive metal with power metal elements. The album is up tempo most of the time minus 2 tracks who are more mellow, but the whole thing here is well done, god musicianship. Some pieces like A Day Without the Sun or Heaven stands as the best from here, the rest are ok. The music in places is more complex then usual like on Heaven, great tune, but overall something is missing, to usual stuff. I don't think is their best, I prefere previous one and with the first vocalist Wings of time. I will give 3 stars, a good one but nothing more.
 Wings of Time by DGM album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.28 | 19 ratings

BUY
Wings of Time
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Excellent and yet unnoticed release

DGM is one of the prog metal bands that for some reasons never gained much succes over the years like other bands from this genre. While their music is quite good towards great on some albums, DGM is an underrated band in my opinion. This is their second studio release from 1999 named Wings of time. Great, simply excellent album full of catchy arrangements and superb vocal passages sung by their first vocalist Luciano Regoli. I don't realy know why he was replaced after this album with Tita Tani, because here he delivers one of the best vocal lines I ever heared on a prog metal album. He's voice is perfect for this kind of aproach, a perfect balance between prog metal with some power metal arrangements. As I said the music has some superb guitars and keys passages, just listen to Mirrors Of The Night and Guiding Light , the best from here. The rest are also good, some sax interluded with the rest on Deep Inside and Drop of shadow and gives a special atmosphere overall. Also female singer Cristina Cioni helped the bad on Deep inside, her warm voice fits perfect in the tune. The song structures are complex and has an up tempo almost all the time. DGM uses a powerful double bass throughout plus a strong use of keyboards, not to mention the guitar who is quite impressive. In the end a 4 star album. Try this band because they are among the best in prog metal, even if they are in the second league for many listners, and maybe not so well known by metal heads, to me is an excellent album that needs a wider recognition. Similar bands Elegy, Ivory Tower, Eldritch. 4 stars without hesitation. I'm the second reviewer of this release, how strange, is DGM so unknown to wider public???

 frAme by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.72 | 32 ratings

BUY
frAme
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by Robinanimate

4 stars Improvement on all fields

DGM is a band that always seems to be a bit indecisive. Either they seem to be a bit too pop- influenced with their melodies, or they tend to focus too much on technicality.

Well... No More. For the first time DGM seems to live up to their potential. The album is heavier all over then before. Their melodies pops up from my unconscious as I catch myself humming to Hereafter while at work. And the best thing of all is how they have managed to fuse melody and technical performance on this album. Before FrAme, they were an okay band. Now, I would mention them along some of the best progressive power metal bands out there. Like Symphony X, Pagans Mind and Eldritch. The singer has suddenly also become a favorite as he has evolved a more powerful style. I definitely prefer him before the singers of Pagans Mind and Eldritch. Still has a bit to go, before he reaches the power of Russell Allen though.

The production also deserves to be mentioned. It is powerful and detailed as before, but I would have to say that this one has raised the bar for DGM production wise as well.

Kudos to DGM for their improvement. And for those of you who got scared away by their last dreadful effort Different Shapes. Listen to Hereafter from FrAme and realize that DGM has risen to the occasion and made their best album to this date.

 Different Shapes by DGM album cover Studio Album, 2007
3.24 | 25 ratings

BUY
Different Shapes
DGM Progressive Metal

Review by 1967/ 1976

2 stars A perfect copy of Dream Theater!!!

DGM without Luciano Regoli (but with the Italian Metal singer wizard Titta Tani) has turned a true copy of Drean Theater! They also lost any reference to the Italian Prog becoming a sterile and without soul band. 100% technique... No feeling in my mind... No magic in my mind... Certainly this remain a great band. But the defects of Prog Metal are all in this album.

If the writing style is contamined by Symphony X, Vanden Plas or Artension the final result not conquest me.

In every case: great production, good booklet and good Titta Tani. But no one song remain in my mind. Only the aggressive guitars and drums remain in my mind.

Excuse me but if I speak about Prog Metal I seek a more varied and less aggressive music.

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to easy livin for the last updates

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.