SPARTACUS

As the band quickly introduces it's music in the first two compositions,the profile of Triumvirat is reflected already:massive use of synthesizers in all tracks,cutted by generally brief vocal sections(and I'd say that most of them could be dismissed),and a quite vivid rythm background.I noticed some reviewers claiming a resemblance to ELP.But how could that be,if Greg Lake is the owner of the most remarkable voice in progressive rock,and this Kraut band is almost totally focused in mighty instrumentals?

There are exceptions,at least in this album.The Deadly Dream of Freedom is a relatively short piece which intencionally creates a diferent mood to what was presented in the album 'til that point.An acoustic guitar(very oftely presented here)ballad which grows until a climax is reached in a stunning chorus.No relevant instrumental sections here,but then again this is only a transitional track.

The album follows this delicate intrumental mood,as the story of a gladiator who,followed by an army of slaves,stand against the tirany of the mighty Roman Empire,as the concept reach a climax in the last moments of the album.And so on throughout songs as The School of Instant Pain,The Walls of Doom and The Burning Sword of Capua(one of my personal favourites is The March to the Eternal City,with a stunning synth riff).

The last song represents the anticipated epic conclusion to the album.Separated in two movements,the title track tells the story of how the army of slaves stood against their opressors,contrasted in an uncanny arrangement.Both in the relaxed,acoustic first part,as in the total weirdness and dispair of the second part,this is yet another exception to the album:the driving force here is definetely the vocal lines,as the instrumental tour de force fits as a leading background.The albums reach a climax in the lines 'Spartacus stands/sword on his hands/driving a blood line all around',and the last minutes are truly remarkable.

Released in '75,this is really a latecomer,as the mood of the album is closer to Brain Salad Surgery (ha,so there you go)than,say,Autobhan.Overall,a very nice recording by this German prog band,sustained by it's amazing last minutes.Although this was the only of their albums which holded (and still holds)any reputation by the general prog public,other nice efforts by Triumvirat include their two previous albums,Meditarrenean Tales and Illusions On a Double Dimple.

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