APOCALYPSE NOW

An Italian band that has been offering their own sleek interpretations or tributes to some of the 20th Century's most iconic films. I love the use of actual clips from the film's dialogue within the songs--reminding me of French residents Hypno5e's soundtrack/accompaniment to Bolivian-born band member Emmanuel Jessua's film, Alba - Los Hombres Errantes.

1. "Saigon" (7:03) a very cool pulsing synth opening--sounding a bit like a helicopter whirligig in slow motion. Joined by synth and ominous guitar arpeggio at the end of the first minute, I can already tell we're in for something very special. Solo lead electric guitar ends the second minute, repeating a melody line a few times before shifting into a chorus. Very controlled and tightly accompanied--especially by some excellent drumming. Choral vocalise next before sparsity of solo piano sets up the entrance of the singer. Very nice voice--very accurate and pitch perfect. Then, at 4:15 the rest of the band joins in with some soundscape-expanding accompaniment. Great vocal performance--I can see why the instrumentalists have been instructed to hold back. Daniele Pomo's voice reminds me quite a bit of Paolo Farina, singer and composer of the HUMANA PROG material from 1975 and 2014. Excellent fill of the soundspace during the two minutes of wordless finale--with such beautiful drumming! (14/15)

2. "Cuore di Tenebra Pt. I" (3:58) singing about the background of some of the players ("New Orleans," "The Bronx") gorgeous strings over the second half. (8.75/10)

3. "Dossier" (1:56) like a soundtrack to an old hoofer-detective film. Jazzy. Classy. (5/5)

4. "Napalm" (20:12) (35.5/40) - i. "Arc Light" - solid, tension-filled high octane prog rock. Great singing--both lead and multi-voice harmonies. (8.75/10) - ii. "Kilgore Pt. I" - Lance and Colonel Kilgore meet on the beach. Enter a beach-like theme song. Great drumming! The surrounding music is pretty good, too. (8.75/10) - iii. "Apache" - When Daniele enters to sing at the end of the eighth minute, it's a very nice section that leads into the napalm bombing and strafing of the woods to allow the surfers time to surf and then to exit. Juxtaposed with Italian children in a school setting--perhaps during a practice air-raid response--to put things into perspective? Then we're into a hard-driving section with penetrating guitar riff on repeat until it's time for a scorching solo. I love the way the strings add so much to the rise in tension. When things break, there is a smooth driving passage over which searing electric guitar shreds. Then Daniele returns to continue to tell the story of "the hidden cries." Very powerful bombastic section comes out of this. Amazing power! (9.25/10) - iv. "Kilgore Pt. II" - "cause Charlie don't surf" (8.75/10)

5. "Playmate" (6:21) complete with the USO's emcee's introduction of Miss August. Bombastic RPI with 70s Hammond and 80s power chords. Solid, powerful music--great performances across the board. A little too classic rock, though I get what they're trying to do. (8.75/10)

6. "The Eden Cries" (10:37) a song that you can definitely tell is telling a serious story. I love the keys. Despite the shifting themes with different film samples, there's just a little too much Italian bombast here for my tastes--though all of it with fine instrumental performances. The final two motifs of the final two minutes are my favorites--especially the Vietnamese violin-like instrument and bamboo flute over the slow pulsing organ chords. Gorgeous! (17.5/20) - i. The Eden Cries Pt. I - ii. The Eden Cries Pt. II

7. "Cuore di Tenebra Pt. II" (4:33) A stunningly gorgeous song--with some surprisingly intricate and complex textures and instrument play. One of the best songs I've heard all year. My favorite song on the album. (10/10)

8. "The Horror" (16:21) Unfortunately, some of my ratings here are biased by the voice clips from the film. (28/30) - i. "Kurtz" - the music supporting the dialogue between Willard and Kurtz is so beautiful it sounds and feels almost like a praise tribute to Kurtz. (10/10) - ii. "Metodi Malsani" - as menacing and crazed as the Brando character the movie was trying to portray. (4.75/5) - iii. "Falso Idolo Pt. I" - gorgeous Italian prog--with great vocals and equally gorgeous prog accompaniment. (5/5) - iv. "Like Some Grandmother" - music to accompany Kurtz's horrific story about innoculating a village of children against polio. (4.75/5) - v. "Solo la Verita" - powerful vocal and music as only the Italians can do. (4.5/5) - vi. "Sacrifice" - I don't really agree with the choice of using bagpipes and military drumming for this motif--as if we're honoring a military man (with a German last name). And then the "monster" church organ to finish. (4.25/5)

9. "Un Nuovo Dio" (6:52) Another incredible song--my final top three. The uptempo second part is as powerful as the first part is beautiful. Great use of choral voices and great lead guitar work. And then there's the pulsing chord play of the final two mintues. Wow! What a finish to a great album! (14.5/15) - i. Falso Idolo Pt. II - ii. Cuore di Tenebra Pt. III

Total Time 77:53

Very special talent in drummer Daniele Pomo. And his excellent, powerful voice reminds me of that of HUMANA PROG singer-songwriter, Paolo Farina (a part of teh MAXOPHONE scene in the 1970s).

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music and definitely in the running for my favorite album of 2022.