IL SEGNO DEL COMANDO

Il Segno del Comando started around mid-90's as a side project by singer Mercy and bassist Diego Banchero, both members of the Gothic Rock act Malombra.The group was named after the eponymous novel of writer Giuseppe D'Agata, which was transformed in a TV drama by RAI in early-90's by director Daniele D'Anza.The rest of the crew were guitarists Gabriele Grixoni and Matteo Ricci, drummer Carlo Opisso and keyboardist Agostino Tavella.Il Segno del Comando's self-titled debut was the perfect product for the nearby Genoa-based Black Widow Records, that released it in 1997.Among the guest stars the album features a surprising Mellotron performance by Osvaldo Giordano, sound engineer of many contemporary Italian Prog albums.

The Italian's style draws evident comparisons with old Italian Dark Prog groups such as PHOLAS DACTYLUS, GOBLIN or IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO and even stronger connections with more recent acts such as AKRON and LA MASCHERA DI CERA.The music is bombastic and very sinister all the way with huge waves of Church organs and powerful, heavy guitars, characterized by massive riffs and dominant grooves.Some carefully used synths and a charismatic singer with a crying, expressive voice are the other main elements of Il Segno del Comando's style, not to mention the very solid rhythm section.Among the excellent rhythmic parts of the album there are lots of dynamic breaks and more complex yet intelligent workouts, while there is a strong essence of Classical and Gothic music throughout this first effort.The longer tracks offer different variations with the most varied keyboard work, full of organs and Mellotron, definitely with a symphonic flavor.The shorter ones are mainly instrumental with a very cinematic feeling, close to Horror movies soundtracks, with nice vocal parts in a choir-type and a very dark mood with emphatic organ and synth passages.

Very good debut, influenced halfway between Classic Italian Prog of the heavier edge and Soundtrack Music.Powerful, passionate and well-executed.Great and strongly recommended stuff, especially if you love trully atmospheric still rich Progressive Rock...3.5 stars.