VELHA GRAVURA

Quaterna Requiem means "the rest of the four". The name was given by Cláudio Dantas (the band's drummer and co-founder alongside Elisa Wiermann) to the first line up. "Velha Gravure", the band's debut, was released in 1990, but it really sounds a lot like a 70's album.

It's quite easy to characterize the band's music: instrumental, keyboard-orientated symphonic prog rock. The biggest influences of this brazilian band are Camel, Yes and UK, and the similarities are too obvious in some specific moments (especially the title track, which sounds a bit too much like "Snow Goose" around the 4th minute. Great piece anyway).

However, the band's perfectionism and obvious love for symphonic prog rock wins in the end of every listen. "Velha Gravure" is a great album from start to finish, full of energy, and inspiration that might appeal not only to the fanatics of the subgenre.

The things that hold me from characterizing this album a masterpiece is the excessively polished sound of the synths in most tracks (typical of many late 70's and neo-prog bands), which is not exactly my cup of tea and the relatively poor sound.

Apart from the title track, it is really impossible to mention some standout songs here. Brilliant album.