Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Museo Rosenbach - Barbarica CD (album) cover

BARBARICA

Museo Rosenbach

 

Rock Progressivo Italiano

3.62 | 100 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Andis like
4 stars In 1973, Museo Rosenbach delivered the greatest album of all time, a masterpiece that withstands the test of time with its brilliance in progressive rock. In 2013, a *true* follow-up was released; Barbarica.

Museo rosenbach plays progressive rock with clear roots in the classic Italian prog tradition. On Barbarica, influences from their debut album are evident, but with a more modern sound. The music shifts between lighter and heavier sections, creating a dynamic whole. In some parts, one can sense similarities to Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, although these elements are limited, by and large, it's the band's own sound that dominates.

The instrumentation is varied and well-balanced, with the guitar taking a slightly more prominent role than the keyboard. The guitars deliver both heavy riffs and melodic elements, while the keyboards contribute atmosphere and complexity. Flute and acoustic guitar also appear, broadening the soundscape. The production is of good quality, with a relatively well-balanced mix between the instruments. The sound quality is clear and crisp, allowing the nuances in the arrangements to shine through. The modern production values are combined with a sound that recalls the band's earlier work, preserving their characteristic style.

The vocals are strong and expressive, and the singer sounds as if he hasn't aged at all. His voice still carries a majestic quality that fits well within the progressive context. The singing is both melodic and powerful, serving as a natural part of the whole.

The songwriting is consistently high in quality, and within the context of Museo Rosenbach's discography, Barbarica stands as a worthy successor. It's an album that offers familiarity while clearly aiming to bridge the old with the new. Highlights include the powerful opening track and the quality of the vocals. Overall, it's a strong album, though if one were to critique something, it would be that the last two songs have unclear structures and occasionally lack a clear thread, but this is a minor issue. The album shows that the band still has much to offer, and they do it very well here.

Andis | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Social review comments

Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.