MOONLIGHT COMEDY

The second album saw the light after 3 years in 2007 and is named Dorothy, with story based upon the girl from Wizard of Oz. Well, to me this second effort is definetly better in any way over the debut, the music is much better constructed, the arrangements are more consistent and intresting, and the vocalist is more confident on his vocal posibilities. This time Moonlight Comedy really manage to create something worth investigating in prog metal field, no more so much DT similarities, even are obvious here and there, some Symphony X duels between keyboards and guitars. Fiorletta is awesome guitarist, had many time signature, lots of complicated riffs and solos, as must have a prog metal album. Germani did a great job here, his voice is fiting into this type of music very well, nice voice, Solar Eclipse or Fallin under are excellent pieces. All in all a very worthy afair, definetly fans of prog metal must discover this band and special this album. A nice art work and over all package. 4 stars.

Moonlight Comedy is a prog metal band from Italy who released so far two albums, well recived by fans of the genre and aswell by media. The band was formed in 1998 by excellent guitarist Simone Fiorletta and the music offered doesn't differ much from DT school. First offer was released in 2004 named The life inside and is pretty much ok most of the time for a debut by a young band. Even the music is not original at all, the members can really handle the instruments and creating some quite good instrumental arrangements. There are lots of keyboards melted with heavy riffs but all under a specific romantic italian atmosphere, a thing that is even better on their next album. All pieces stands as good, no groundbreaking moments but pleasent. For fans of DT, Empty Tremor, Vanden Plas, Madsword and alike. 3 stars

My second experience with Moonlight Comedy traced back their previous album in 2004 which was considered as their first debut full length album. Asa you might have read my review on their 2007's album "Dorothy" I have admired this band because their music is quite solid melody-wise as well as composition-wise. This debut album proved that they're an excellent band at its origin. My experience with Italian progressive metal band is not that intense but when I listened to Moonlight Comedy, including this album, I was not aware that this is Italian band not American. Wll, you know that Italy had been so famous with their symphonic prog which is so specific and people name it differently than typical symphonic prog band on other parts of the world.

This "The Life Inside" album offers you with the solid melodic based progressive metal music with very good composition. The album opener "Oceans" (7:34) proves it to be right that the music is very solid and I really enjoy the flow as well as the arrangements from start of the track until it ends. The keyboard plays critical role on top of the metal heavy riffs. The continuing track "Hidden Truth" (7:36) follows the similar vein as the first. The third track "Masters of Your Mask" (6:02) starts differently, i.e. by using drums solo followed with heavy and rough riffs followed with high register vocal notes. Keyboard again plays important role throughout the track. So, I don't mind when people say that this band follows the path of Dream Theater. The quality voice of the band's vocalist reminds me to DC Cooper (was with Royal Hunt). All remaining tracks are enjoyable progressive metal music with heavy riffs and good melody for all tracks. The only little problems are there are less variations among tracks and the mixing or production issues that does not sound quite smooth, sometimes it sounds rough.

Overall this is a very good album with 3.5 stars rating. Fans of progressive metal would love it very much. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

This album represents my first experience with Moonlight Comedy that was established sometime in 1998. The idea was basically turning their roles as musicians into actors as well and they make an album on comedian style. "Dorothy" is basically their second release with a story that revolves around the girls from "Wizard of Oz". The music of this album would fit well to those who love riff-based music with stunning keyboard and guitar solos.

The opening track "Int(r)o Desire & Whisper" is basically a female narration that bridges into next heavy rhythm track "Solar Eclipse". Listening to this song reminds me to the like of Adagio or Pagan's Mind and a bit of Dream Theater. Yeah, there are great keyboard solo performed here, plus nice musical breaks with a bit of gothic nuance. The music continues with the heavy style and fast tempo in "Fallin' Under". There are many great intertwining roles between guitar and keyboard in high density music style. It's really dynamic and energetic. "The Sea And Time Of Mars" continues with the heavy blast of the music with some loop in the beginning. It's really a great music loop with great vocal line. It reminds me to the music of Pagan's Mind, really. The guitar riffs are really killing! The melody line is really catchy. There is a great intertwining work done nicely between guitar and keyboard. It's really cool!

"Metamorfosi", one of the longest tracks, starts wonderfully with great bass guitar loop combined with keyboard work followed by a blast of music in symphonic style. At first I can here the tight bass lines and dynamic drumming that accompany keyboard improvisations followed with a break that provides a seat for vocal to enter peacefully, in a good melody. The music moves in crescendo with guitar riffs and drumming. As the name of the song implies, it is clear that the styles of the music evolves like a metamorphosis. It's really excellent!

"Lunar Eclipse" is a short track with acoustic guitar accompanying vocal line that you can consider it as a ballad. "Into Whispers & Desire" (you might have confused with the opening track which has similar title, but musically it's totally different) start mellow with acoustic guitar followed by a blast of heavy music featuring pulsating keyboard. It's basically like a power metal track with nice melody and excellent singing style, stunning guitar solo and riffs. "Imperfect Mind" opening part reminds me to Symphony X music especially on the way guitar is played. It's an excellent track. "Dust Of The Past" is a classical piano work - it's nice - and it serves a bridge to ".And Why Not?", another excellent power metal track. The album concludes with "Side Effects", the second longest tracks of this album, using acoustic guitar fills at the intro part followed by powerful vocal line. There is great musical break where bass guitar demonstrates its virtuosity combined with dynamic drumming and stunning guitar. The music moves wonderfully in power metal vein, it reminds me to the like of Kamelot, Angra, Shaman and Symphony X / Dream Theater.

It's definitely a GO for progressive metal freaks!!

Overall, I can summarize this second album by Moonlight Comedy is a MUST for those (count me in! please ..) who love progressive metal or power metal music due to the heaviness of the style. On compositions, this album demonstrates the band's strengths in songwriting and merging diverse styles and energy into their music. Yes, you might say this is a power metal or progressive metal vein, but each track has its own style that makes you not getting bored with the flow of the music. This is an excellent addition to any progressive music collection. 4.5 star rating. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)

Very difficult to write a review for this CD because its not my favorite genre but I will have a go! This is a very polished act ! some very good songs and some fantastic playing. Moonlight Comedy fit into the technical prog metal mold however there is perhaps a lot more melody and hooks going on in their music, Fans of Dream Theater and Pain Of Salvation should take note of Moonlight Comedy as I am fairly sure that they will be pleasing to this audience. One of the strongest features of Moonlight Circus is they have a extremely good vocals in a way the singer reminds me of a cross between Russel Allen (in deliverance) & Daniel Gildenlow (for emotion) The vocals are wonderful considering this band is Italian and they sing completely in English, the singer has perfect diction. Its a bit of a trip listening to this Cd like being on a roller coaster ride, its seems to conjure up extreme complexity and heaviness one moment then all of a sudden you exit from that to a smooth melodic section of the track, anyway that's just a basic description I am sure if you get this Cd you will be happy with it. It is not an overly long Cd just the perfect length sometimes the overly long duration of a Cd can be a problem but in this case Moonlight Comedy seem to have edited things so only top notch material is there, no filler ! The Cd's duration is approx 60 minutes As I said at the start of this review the Dream Theater type technical stuff isn`t really my bag but even I will be playing this Cd again !

My rating 75% add an extra 5% because its not my favourite genre makes it a 4 star Cd