BARBARICA

Italian Progressive bands have always been a kind of mystery. First, because they have been always releasing tons of albums since the end of 60's and throughout 70's. But not just that. There have always been bands releasing albums, especially in the 90's and forward. What was always weird, is that they release an album and fade away in the haze of time?

In the last years many bands that were considered 70's giants came back to life. Many bands that had only one album and it has always been classified as big classics of the golden era of Prog Rock came back to record. Locanda Delle Fate, Alphataurus, Antonius Rex and Osage Tribe are few examples of bands that released new studio album during last year. Also, the two biggest names of that country, Le Orme and Premiata Forneria Marconi released new albums in the last 2 or 3 years.

One of this bands that returned with total power is Museo Rosenbach This Italian band recorded one album only back in the 70's, the classic Zarathustra (1973), and vanished just some months after that. In 2012 a new line-up of Museo Rosenbach featuring original members Stefano 'Lupo' Galifi (vocals), Giancarlo Golzi (drums) and Alberto Moreno (keyboards) with new members Sandro Libra (guitars), Max Borelli (guitars), Fabio Meggetto (keyboards) and Andy Senis (bass) released a CD containing a remake of their 1973 classic called Zarathustra - Live In Studio (2012). This year they surprised many people by releasing a brand new album, Barbarica (2013).

The album comes wrapped in all the 70's details that most proggers love. Digipack in Gategold sleeve, 5 songs that spam around 40 minutes, the 70's sound style and of course, a conceptual album.

Barbarica (2013) tells a story based on a world that is dominated by an instinctive violence, this violence brings the civilization back to its primitive barbaric state. So the band tries to tell a story of a world that is lost and torn apart by wars and, of course, by man itself.

When the opening track 'Il Respiro Del Pianeta' starts you can see that the band still has power and the best thing, doesn't try to emulate new bands or new sounds, they go where they were good once, the Symphonic Prog Italian style. Over 13 minutes of great Prog. 'La Coda Del Diavolo' continues the quality of the first track, this time with some heavier passages. One thing to notice is that Stefano Galifi still has a powerful voice even after 40 years.

'Abbandonati' is enigmatic and abuses from the keyboards and guitars. By the way, great use of guitars by the new members Sandro Libra and Max Borelli. 'Fiore Di Vendetta' is a bit more Hard Rock and 'Il Re Del Circo' starts slowly but soon gains strength, Giancarlo Golzi drums on this track seem a bit sloppy, but everything turn out to be alright in the end.

Some people might say: "What's the point in a band like Museo Rosenbach to come back in 2013?" In times like ours that we have all these Prog bands that are supposed to 'sound modern' and all these bands that wanted to be on 70's but weren't. Museo Rosenbach is the finest answer around. They were there on the top of the Prog wave, they released one of the more important albums on that golden era. And on top of that, Barbarica (2013) is a hell of a comeback with some superb music and experienced musicians. This is a definitely 'must have' album!

(Originally posted on progshine.net)