NEOGOTHIC PROGRESSIVE TOCCATAS

Unique band from Arezzo, Italy, performing music on pipe organ.The handler of the instrument is Paolo Lazzeri, an experienced composer, who played with some local progressive bands during the 70's.His bandmate Maurizio Bozzi, a bassist and sound engineer, is also an experienced musician and the performing trio was completed, recruiting two drummers, Roberto Bichi and Claudio Cuseri, each one executing his parts on different tracks of Three Monks' debut ''Neogothic progressive toccatas''.The album was originally released as a self-production in 2010, reissued the following year, after Black Widow discovered the trio.

So, things are simple here, only three instruments, a bass, a pipe organ and a drum kit, and a monster dose of Classical influences from the romantic and Baroque periods.The overall sound reminds me of PAR LINDH PROJECT's monumental performances on pipe organ with a bit of RICK WAKEMAN.The album's title is on par with the music.Very much Classical-influenced music with a certain reference to the old progressive bands of the 70's, having also a quite gothic atmosphere with a very dark and mystical approoach, which comes close to the sinister sounds on DEVIL DOLL's albums.The music is extremely bombastic with endless interludes and organ solos and a powerful rhythm section supporting Lazzeri's mascular pipe organ deliveries, while there are moments when the whole thing turns even to be frightening with the ghost-like Gregorian choirs.IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO is the most fair comparison from the Italian scene, as the music features a combination of symphonic atmospheres and heavy parts under a haunting mood.On the other hand the lack of additional keyboards or instruments and the absence of breathing, softer themes can get this listening a bit tiring on the way.Of course this is far from an uninteristing release, I could even say that this is one of the most original works launched within the first decade of the millenium due to the monstrous sound of pipe organ.

For fans of Classical Rock and keyboard Prog Rock with a nostalgic style.Powerful and sinister music with an unmet grandieur and great executions on pipe organ.Recommended.