IL TEMPIO DI FERRO

An Akron's track from ''La Signora Del Buio'' was included in the 2000 Black Widow's compilation '' Children of Black Widow'' and two years later Nicolini gathered his badmates for a second album.Next to him, Fabio Barraco, Insider's singer Eugenio Mucci and Lea Palmieri we find female singer Gabriella Saia and two organ players, Antonio De Angelis and Gabriele Di Monte.''Il tempio di ferro'' was a concept album around the Templar's knights, released by Black Widow in CD and supported by a limited vinyl edition.

Akron's sound hasn't change a bit compared to the previous album and remains a haunting, dark and sinister organ-driven experience of theatrical Progressive Rock.Comparisons with JACULA, DEVIL DOLL and GOBLIN are more than obvious with Akron delivering a very doomy music, filled with Gothic and Opera elements, based on long Hammond organ passages and solos with total absence of guitar leads but a very stable and solid rhythm section.However compared to their debut some of the inspiration seems to have faded, lacking the great measure of the previous compositions, as ''Il tempio di ferro'' contains longer and somewhat overstretched pieces.The overall performance by the band though is still consistent throughout the album with some nice organ themes, symphonic/Classical tendencies and hypnotic piano themes and a singer, who has a melodramatic and mysterious voice.The careful use of synthesizers and the interesting doomy grooves make the album even more atmospheric and Akron managed to produce another work with strong vintage references.

''Il tempio di ferro'' was Akron's last contribution to the Progressive Rock scene and this is another unique experience of dark Progressive Rock with massive keyboard work performed not in a virtuosic but in a very atmospheric way.Although I prefer their debut, this one comes also recommended, especially if you love a dose of sinister mood in your music.