NEQUE SEMPER ARCUM TENDIT REX

I believe that to follow their career, it is important to start with their "Jacula" efforts to be able to grab this one. Especially, their debut album released in 1969 which was quite an adventure, really.

What's common to both bands is the scary, dark and heavy moods. Most tracks have Latin titles, but unlike "Heptade" says they are not sung in Latin. Italian is doing the job. The genesis of the band has been brilliantly outlined by "Finnforest", so I won't add anything on the matter.

In terms of music, once the opening number starts, a certain feeling of discomfort prevails. It seems that they are willing to go beyond the fame from "Black Widow" and "Antonius Rex" proposes a quite unhealthy and boring stuff during "Neque Semper Arcum". Giving the circumstances, over eight minutes of such a treatment is quite long. There is virtually nothing interesting in this song and the best option is to press next to reach "Pactus".

I won't tell you that this is a joyful track, but at least it combines very good instrumental parts on the heavy but also jazzy side. Still, these recitations instead of true vocals can be disturbing (they are actually). I think each proghead should quite appreciate the excellent guitar solo and the church organ closing section. The best song from this album.

Since all styles of music have been thrown into the Rock Progressivo Italiano category, one can hardly expect what is delivered here. Heavy to doom rock music, with lots of keyboards (being church organ or more conventional sounds).

It is not easily accessible (especially if you are waiting for some symphonic Italian prog, which it is NOT). The whole sounds quite monotonous to tell the truth. There are even some French recitation during "Devil Letter". But the whole is truly experimental and of little interest to say the least.

This debut album is quite a deception. So far, there was only "Jacula" 's debut which was really worth and you might well stick to this one instead of exploring later albums (at least till this "Neque Semper Arcum Tendit Rex"). Quite indigestible.

Two stars.