ARKANA

As already mentioned on ''Esoteric poem'', Asgard were trully on fire in early-90's and had already prepared what was going to become the band's second full-length album.Unfortunately Marco Michieletto had quit his position (he would later team up again with Asgard's members on Ines) and the album was recorded with new drummer Marco Ferrero.''Arkana'' was released just a few month after ''Esoteric poem'', again on Music Is Intelligence.

This was another mysterious, difficult yet masterful album by Asgard.They combined the MARILLION-esque Neo prog with Medieval Folk and Symphonic Rock and the result was again outstanding as well as original Progressive Rock.The main influence appears to be very early MARILLION, not only in the vocals and the great melodic keyboard and guitar lines, but also in the dark, lyrical and extremely poetic atmosphere.Sometimes I think they can get even darker and more poetic than FISH could ever imagine.''Arkana'' is filled with mini-epics and long theatrical suites, constantly with a sinister climate over the sky, based on Grosso's sensational voice, the powerful rhythm section and the performances on both analog and modern keyboards.Guitar work is often very angular with heavier overtones, synth passages range from symphonic grandieur to fiery solos and the arrangements are more than interesting with bombastic executions, melodious soundscapes and lovely but haunting Medieval-styled acoustic underlines.There are certain inspirations from the music of GENESIS, YES and E.L.P., however the band achieves a very personal style with the impressive display of symphonic and Gothic images throughout.Excellent music.

Among the top albums of the year and an amazing offering among 90's Neo Prog albums.If you search for atmospheric, dark Progressive Rock, this is the place you got to stop.Highly recommended.