LA CRUDELTÀ DI APRILE

This is UNREAL CITY's debut album released in 2013 and it certainly created a buzz back when it came out. I really like the cover art as well as the picture of the band in the liner notes. Unfortunately all of the written notes are in Italian so I can't relay any information from there. I really like the fact that I can hear some of the classic RPI bands at times when listening to this album but there's also a modern flavour in the Neo vein at times. So while i'm very impressed with this recording i'm also not blown away by any means. Great singer here singing in Italian and lots of mellotron which I appreciate. Some guest violin on a couple of tracks as well.

"Dell'Innocenza Perduta" opens with piano as outbursts of power come and go. They then get in this groove until it settles back before 2 minutes then the laid back vocals arrive. Mellotron follows and it will come and go. Some nice guitar after 3 1/2 minutes then it all picks up 5 minutes in sounding like classic RPI with the drums and organ out front. Violin 6 1/2 minutes in to the end. "Atlantis(Conferendis Pecuniis" starts with mellotron as synths, piano and drums join in. The guitar starts to solo slowly over top. Vocals before 2 1/2 minutes as it settles back but then it quickly turns more powerful. Great sound 3 1/2 minutes in with the vocals and mellotron shining bright. A cool instrumental section follows then vocals are back after 5 minutes. Lots of synths and vocals in the second half of this song. "Catabasi(Descensio Ad Inferos)" features lots of organ and drums to start as vocals and mellotron join in. It kicks in at 3 minutes with the violin over top. Passionate vocals follow with a heavy sound. A calm before 5 1/2 minutes as the mood changes completely with fragile vocals and a lighter sound. I like the guitar after 7 minutes as it reminds me of Conny Veit's playing.

"Dove La Luce E Piu Intensa" is uptempo at first with lots going on. It settles with mellotron a minute in as vocals follow. It picks up again at 3 minutes but this is different from the beginning of this track. Another change after 4 minutes, vocals too. It picks up again with vocals a minute later. "Ecate(Walpurgisnacht)" opens with some gorgeous mellotron as piano and drums join in. It starts to pick up, guitar too. Vocals after 2 1/2 minutes as it has settled back some. Mellotron too, as we get a light and catchy sound. An interesting soundscape after 5 minutes as it turns dramatic then it picks up again around 7 minutes with vocals. A heavy ending to this one. "Horror Vacui" is the almost 18 minute closer. Synths and a fairly heavy sound a minute in as the mellotron rolls in. Catchy stuff. I like the piano/mellotron combo that comes and goes. Some aggressive guitar before 4 1/2 minutes followed by vocals as it settles, lots of synths too. There's an excellent pastoral section from around 10 1/2 minutes to 14 minutes when the guitar, drums and mellotron spice things up.

Without question this is one of the better modern RPI bands out there and this their debut is a very solid 4 stars in my opinion.