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REWOTOWER

Profusion

Eclectic Prog


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Profusion Rewotower album cover
3.96 | 209 ratings | 22 reviews | 29% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2012

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Ghost House (4:13)
2. Taste of Colours, Part 1 (3:48)
3. Taste of Colours, Part 2 (3:05)
4. Treasure Island (5:04)
5. So Close but Alone (4:46)
6. Tkeshi (2:00)
7. Chuta Chani (6:13)
8. The Tower, Part 1 (4:39)
9. The Tower, Part 2 (5:30)
10. Turned to Gold (4:22)
11. Dedalus Falling (11:29)

Total Time 55:09

Line-up / Musicians

- Luca Latini / vocals
- Thomas Laguzzi / guitar
- Gionatan Caradonna / keyboards
- Luca Cambi / bass
- Vladimer Sichinava / drums, percussion, vocals

With:
- Simon Hosford / guitar solo (11)
- Andrea Beninati / cello
- Andrea Libero Cito / violin
- Titta Nesti / vocals ?
- Maia Baratashvili / vocals ?
- Oliver Basi / vocals ?
- Alessandro Petreni / vocals ?

Note : The actual instrumentation could not be fully confirmed at this moment

Releases information

Artwork: Clizia Corti with Andrea Lombardini (photo)

CD ProgRock Records ‎- PRR565 (2012, US)

Thanks to Ursa Minor for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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PROFUSION Rewotower ratings distribution


3.96
(209 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(29%)
29%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(38%)
38%
Good, but non-essential (23%)
23%
Collectors/fans only (7%)
7%
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
4%

PROFUSION Rewotower reviews


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Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by VanVanVan
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I was asked to review a promo copy of this album, and boy oh boy am I glad I was. Profusion plays an incredibly dynamic kind of progressive rock (per their eclectic categorization, I suppose), blending elements of metal, art rock and more than a few influences from the bombastic symph-prog of the 70s. It all adds up to an incredibly satisfying album, and certainly one that deserves a listen.

"Ghost House" kicks off the album with a catchy keyboard part that repeats a few times before a heavy guitar part kicks in. The combination of the two laid over one another creates a very intense, anxious atmosphere, and when the vocals come in they play off of this perfectly. Immediately coming in at full force, the vocal line has a great melody and near perfect delivery. The result is that the song comes off as equal parts metal and crossover art- pop, which is a surprisingly effective combination. "Ghost House" is a killer opener that sets the tone for the rest of the album very well.

The two part "Taste of Colors" comes next. Part one begins with some gorgeous vocal harmonies laid over a piano line a combination which is soon joined by a little synth melody. This leads into the introduction of another heavy guitar part, over which the synth takes a great, albeit short, solo. After this the piano returns to its place as the primary instrument in the track, and along with bass and percussion, sets up a rather dark, jazzy ambience over which some restrained but effective vocals re-enter. About this time the guitar part returns as well and the vocals kick into overdrive, belting through a very melodic (but still heavy) chorus. The track slows down a bit as part two begins, stripping down the instrumentation as well for another piano solo section. Bass and some very minimal guitar soon join in as well, setting up a spare background for some of the most intense vocals on the album, which are probably made even more effective by how much room they have to shine. As the vocal line hits its apex the guitars come crashing back in earnest, launching into a great, emotive solo before the concluding vocal section of the track.

"Treasure Island," rather unsurprisingly, has a bit of a pirate theme to it. Starting with some nautically flavored soundclips, there's a brief instrumental introduction that reminds me a bit of Dream Theater before some gravelly vocals enter with the traditional "fifteen men on a dead man's chest/yo-ho and a bottle of rum" pirate slogan that's appeared in much of the pirate themed media of the present day. There are some added lines that sound like they could be continuations of the rhyme as well, all delivered with the same pirate-like intonation. To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of this section; it seems a bit out of place and even perhaps a bit silly. However, the chorus returns to a more conventional delivery, and with a great melody, a lot of great harmonies and a fantastic assisting guitar and synth part, it's actually one of my favorite parts on the album. So overall "Treasure Island" is a bit of a mixed bag for me, but luckily the pirate-voice parts are used pretty sparingly, so I would say the song ends up being more good than not.

"So Close But Alone" again makes use of solo piano for its opening strains, and even after vocals enter it continues to have a dark, jazzy sort of atmosphere, a mood which is further enhanced by the rather bleak lyrics. After this opening section, however, the track contains a ton of variety, from an almost flamenco sounding guitar part to even a brief scatting section. A great, dynamic track with a lot of sounds that one doesn't typically hear in progressive rock.

"Tkeshi" serves as an interlude of sorts, with guitarts, strings, and field recordings of nature sounds creating a quite peaceful ambience and even developing into something resembling tribal music, with wordless chanting and some unconventional percussion sounds.

This is followed up by "Chuta Chani," and I'll give you fair warning: if you're anything like me this song will get stuck in your head. Starting with a great duet between low strings and violin, there's an almost middle-eastern folky theme developed. Pounding metal guitars are added at this point, and the folk/metal hybrid is a bit reminiscent of a less frenetic Fair to Midland. Over this is added an incredibly catchy vocal part, and several stellar solos from various instruments make appearances as well. While perhaps not as overtly proggy as "Taste of Colors," this is nonetheless a spectacular song and one that would get all kinds of radio play if there were any justice in the world.

Another two part epic comes up next. "The Tower (Part One)" begins with a rather ELP- esque piano part that serves as a little intro for the crunching guitar riffs that quickly enter. However, these quickly fade out as well to give way to an idiosyncratic guitar and vocal part that feels a lot more psychedelic that a lot of what has appeared on the album up until this point. However, the track quickly ramps up in heaviness again, and guitar, keyboards, and vocals blend together to create a grand, dramatic miasma of sound. I can hear similarities to Dream Theater again, but they're fairly subtle and it never sounds like plagiarism. Part two of the track begins on a cinematic note, with driving percussion and strings setting up a great introduction. After a while those same crunching guitar chords begin to creep into the track, but just when you think you know where the music is going there's a break in the sound and the track bursts into a grand, bombastic synth solo that transitions into a huge instrumental section, with multiple solos from both guitar and keyboards. This takes up most of the bulk of this second part of "The Tower," but the track does close by reprising its main vocal melody. Overall, "The Tower" is a sophisticated, mature sounding epic that nods to its influences without ever ripping them off.

"Turned To Gold" moves things back to softer territory, beginning with a very pretty piano and acoustic guitar duet. When the vocals come in, they're airy and carefree, and overall the track just feels incredibly spacious and open. The track really highlights how equally comfortable Profusion is with knotty, bombastic epics and softer, more melodic songs, and I think that variety is one of the things that makes this album so good. The vocals also really stand out here, with a ton of gorgeous harmonies and (unsurprisingly) amazing melodic lines.

The album comes to an end with "Dedalus Falling." Beginning with some ominous synth ambience, an epic guitar line quickly kicks in and it becomes clear that Rewotower is going to end with a bang. With guitar/vocal interplay that's almost reminiscent of power metal, "Dedalus Falling" is a superb closer that highlights everything that makes Profusion a great band: virtuosic playing, perfect compositional balance between melody and technicality, and awesome pacing. The song proper ends after about 7 minutes, there's a minute of silence, and then there's a nice little hidden track/postlude that features some very nice keyboard textures and an interesting reprise of the melody from "Ghost House," which gives the album a nice sense of closure.

Overall, this is an incredibly solid album. With the exception of some slight missteps on "Treasure Island," there isn't a bad moment here, and there are a whole lot of good ones. While it does, in my opinion, fall just a bit short of masterpiece status, this is still a great album from a band that ought to be watched very carefully. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more from these guys. Highly, highly recommended.

4.5/5, rounded down.

Review by octopus-4
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams
4 stars I went to know the existence of this band and this album from the "reviews discussions thread" forum on PA. I didn't know anything of the band and the polemic about this album made me curious so without knowing what I had to expect from it, I got in touch with the band which provided me a link to download the album.

The first impression is that this contamination between "Prog" and "Fusion" which gives the name to the band is not to dissimilar from the music of From.Uz. The difference is that Profusion are more song-oriented and melodic. With clean high pitched vocals and heavy guitars they can sometimes remind to some 80s longhair metal bands. (I include Hackett and Howe's GTR project in the list), but also some neo-prog or symphonic influences as it's normal when one is considered "eclectic".

The album is highly enjoyable and contains some very captivating melodies in particular "Chuta Chani" remains fixed in the listener's mind for hours after the listen, also thanks to the excellent production of the whole album.

Let's now go track by track:

"Ghost House" is what makes me think to From.Uz for the instrumental parts. It's a rock song with odd signature. The choirs and the melody have some of the 80s YES, those of Trevor Rabin, specially in the choirs and the rhythm. The vocalist is not as high pitched as Max Bacon, but his voice is not dissimilar.

"Taste Of Colours (Part One)" has a melodic start with piano and choir then it grows rocky but again with odd signatures. Another band which comes to my mind is Phideaux. Specially in the start of "Taste Of Colours (Part Two)". This song features an excellent clean guitar and the only thing that I always dislike is the fading out final.

"Treasure Island" is a temporary excursion in a different realm. The vocals are not always clean and the song is close to the prog metal of bands like Riverside or Pain Of Salvation but with some jazzy taste in the instrumental interlude.

They go melodic again with "So Close But Alone" which has some jazzy passages including a change of tonality after the intro but a mood between neo-prog and newage. Few passages and lyrics and the newage mood is replaced by a bossa-nova part that will work as chorus. Excellent vocals and choir.

"Tkeshi" starts with noises, cello and an acoustic instrument similar to a classical guitar but with a higher pitch. Then percussions and a tribal choir.

Violins and percussion make a crescendo in RPI style which explodes into metal thanks to a distorted guitar. Quicly the metal is transformed back into wood by the classical guitar. It's the best album's track: "Chuta Chani". The alternance of metal guitar with melodic choirs and a very captivating chorus is hypnotic. The chorus is a wire in the brain. Try to forget it if you can. A reference for this song is Tuatha de Danann.

"The Tower Part 1" Starts with metal guitar but after the intro is melodic fusion in Jamiroquai style...well, a bit more prog than Jamiroquai...Part 2 is more in line with the rest of the album. A very good jazz-metal instrumental on which all the instruments do their best. If you like bands like From.Uz this is your pot.

"Turned To Gold" has a pop-Canterbury flavor. Melodic with jazzy passages has a sound too clean to be compared to Caravan or Camel but that's the first thought that this song has given to me. With some relistens I find it close as genre with Colin Bass solo works. Another excellent song.

"Dedalus Falling" has a guitar that reminds to a heavy version of Bryan Josh with hints of Rothery. It's a good closer on the pop side of the album. A song that you can imagine sung by Steve Hogarth. After the first 4 minutes there's an instrumental interlude with a strange signature from which the song that's also the longest track of the album take the sembiances of a suite before returning to the chorus not as hypnotic as "Chuta Chani".

Silence...a ghost track is coming....

Ghost tracks are somehing that I have never understood. The reason of being ghosts I mean.However it's not bad. Slow and melodic it's the real album closer...of course it's nothing but the reprise of the first track: "Ghost House" as ghost track. Nice joke.

It's a very good album and a surprise. Easy enough to be suitable for all the tastes, it's very well played and arranged and has also a very good production.

Calling it "essential" is probably too much, but it is more than good and I don't have problems in raising up the rating to 4 stars.

Review by Windhawk
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Italian band PROFUSION can trace their roots back to the start of this millennium, originally using Mardi Gras Experience as their moniker but abandoning that name in favor of Profusion in 2002. Since then two full length productions have been released by the band, of which "RewoTower" from 2012 is their most recent.

Spirited, energetic music is at the core of what Profusion supplies on their sophomore effort "RewoTower", music bordering rather than combining the music of acts like Sylvan and Porcupine Tree, but with brief detours into both folk and fusion tinged waters. Fans of the aforementioned acts as well as progressive metal fans who don't mind the occasional rock flavors in their metal diet should find this disc to be worth checking out. A good quality excursion where the compressed production most likely will be the most contested feature.

Review by b_olariu
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 6 long years for the band to come with a second offer, but they released it this year named Rewotower. With a slightly diffrent line up and with more bombastic moments this album is again a winner. The melodic side of prog metal is what they offer here, the band relies more on song orientated king of music even has some very intresting and complex chops here. Some again jazzy interludes between the melodic passages gives to this album a real enjoyble feel in the end. Great new vocalist, remind me sometimes of ACT music and Angra fame first era with Matos on bord, very nice and sincere vocal parts, specialy on pieces like Ghost house and Chuta Chani. Bombastic prog metal is what is here, but without sounding to metal, more towards the eclectic side of it, with plenty of memorable passages where the guitar and keybords make the law. Some stellar musicianship on Treasure Island where the prog/fusion metal is at the highest calibre like the bands name Prog meets Fusion is all about here. very nice album, very fat solid sound, and is very nice that they come back with a great second release and not falling in the category of the bands with one album released and then gone into oblivion. 4stars again, one of the top albums from this year and why nor in last years aswell.
Review by Evolver
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams
4 stars I hope this, the second album from Profusion, will bring the band the success it deserves.

The music is a blend of powerful prog, with hints of pop sensabilities, all done with superb musicianship from all in the group. The best comparison I can make is that there is a similarity to my ears with the music of Karmakanik. On a base of classic symphonic prog, Profusion blends in a fair amount of metal riffs, but also adds in the diversity of groups such as Queen and 10CC in their sound.

Precision seems to be a key to their sound. A tight rhythm section of drummer Vladimer Sichinava and bassist Luca Cambi never let up, while guitarist Thomas Laguzzi and keyboardist Gionatan Caradonna creat interesting tones and splendid solos. Vocalist Luca Latini has a very clear tone, reminding me at times of early Steve Walsh of Kansas, but mostly of Kasim Sultan of Utopia.

We are a only third of the way through the year, but there is a strong possibility that this will be near the top of my list for favorites of 2012.

Review by J-Man
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Though the Italian progressive rock scene is often associated with the lush, symphonic soundscapes of seminal acts like Premiata Forneria Marconi, Le Orme, or Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, there is actually much more to this vibrant scene than a casual listener may initially notice. Enter Profusion, a progressive rock quintet hailing from Italy that sports a modern, fresh, and eclectic sound. Taking elements of metal, fusion, classic progressive rock, and pop, Profusion thoroughly mixes them all together to form a style that is quite original and unique when compared to a lot of modern prog groups. Their second album, Rewotower, is a real winner across the board, and an easy recommendation to all fans of forward-thinking progressive rock.

Profusion's sound is quite melodic and easily accessible, but also complex and challenging enough to scratch my demanding 'prog itch'. Very much like Spock's Beard, Profusion manages to fuse catchy pop hooks with clever arrangements and brilliant songwriting - although finding this balance between accessibility and complexity without tipping too far in either direction is challenging, Profusion demonstrates that they are capable of doing exactly that on Rewotower. The melodic hooks will grab you right off the bat, and the strong compositions will keep you coming back for many more listens in the future. Rewotower's original approach doesn't go unnoticed by this reviewer either, and the band's firm grasp on tasteful eclecticism is quite impressive. Profusion strikes a nice balance between being eclectic and sounding incoherent, and this balance gives them a unique identity in the modern prog world. The frequent jazz flavorings, Dream Theater-influenced instrumental runs, symphonic arrangements, and pop sensibilities keep things fresh and interesting throughout all of Rewotower's 55 minute duration.

Rewotower is the sort of album that should appeal to any listener across the progressive rock spectrum; the musicianship is phenomenal, the production is flawless, and the mature songwriting instantly reveals that Profusion is a group of gifted composers. I'll definitely recommend this one to fans of Spock's Beard, IQ, Pain of Salvation, Yes, and Echolyn - Profusion is a band too good to miss!

Review by Andy Webb
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Retired Admin
3 stars I've noticed there tends to be two kinds of Eclectic prog bands. In one category bands incorporate a vast multitude of influences into one distinct sound, such as groups like Van der Graaf Generator or Gentile Giant. The other kind of group are those who take a huge variety of influences and then incorporate them individually in different parts of their music, such as King Crimson, Beardfish, and this young Italian act Profusion. While in reality Profusion has been around for 10 years, their second album "Rewotower" is only their second, which comes after their six-year studio silence from 2006's "One Piece Puzzle." And indeed "Rewotower" contains that multifarious mix of musical influences, ranging from a very Gentle Giant-esque quirk prog sentiment to a near-Dream Theaterian progressive metal quality.

Across the 12 tracks of the album, like I've said, Profusion truly displays the breadth of their musical prowess. There's no secret that the quintet is incredibly skilled at each of their instruments, and none of them are afraid to show it across the album. Each track is a treat of proggy delicacies of guitar and keyboard solo trading, multi-part vocal harmonies, complex times and polyrhythmic drum parts and so much more. Obviously the guys have done their music theory homework, and they quite effortlessly can put all the skill that they have not only on their instruments but also in their pens into effect.

However, I felt like there was a certain aspect of the album that was missing. I considered branding the title of the album "Retrotower," poking fun at its obvious retro-prog (oxymoronic, I know) influences, but I realized that that's not really what it was. These guys have a huge modern prog influence, which also seemed to make them have that vicarious retro feel while at the same time keeping the clean, modern and accessible sound to them. In a way, there was so much Moon Safari and Neal Morse and all that great stuff in there that the music almost started to feel retro in weird, twisted way.

While the music is obviously ripe with the modern stuff, the one thing that really got to me through the entire album, and truly it was the only thing that got to me, was how dry the music seemed to get after 50-something minutes of energetic and complex prog music. While the compositions are fantastic and the musicianship is just supreme, after so many style shifts and influence "shout outs," it all seems to blend into a single blur of prog music.

Overall however, I really only have good things to say about the album. While the guys could work on a bit of a more signature sound, the album is incredibly well produced, put together, composed, played, and just about everything that can be done "well" on an album. The huge variety of styles put into the album added a nice dynamic, and the guys successfully pulled every style off, which, in many cases with other bands who try the same thing, doesn't go very well. In the end "Rewotower" was an enjoyable experience, and Profusion are a group I'd certainly like to visit again. 3+ stars.

Review by Rune2000
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars If you're even merely disappointed by all the recent new releases from some of your favorite acts from the glorious '70s and the more commercially inclined '80s then I'd recommend you to get off your nostalgia train and try out some of the fresh new acts that are starting to make headlines in the prog community. Profusion is certainly one of those bands that any prog fan can and should be excited about since they definitely work their eclectic label for all its worth on their 2012 release Rewotower!

I was pleasantly intrigued with this Italian act's sophomore release after listening to it's opening track Ghost House which pretty much sums up the entire eclectic sound spectrum into it's mere 4 minute running time. If I'd have to make a comparison then it would probably to my all time favorite Eclectic Prog band A.C.T which shares the same borderline metal approach to their music. Profusion is far from a one trick pony since the rest of the album features a very broad spectrum of sounds and experiences that can be attributed to many different musical influences. For example we have a track like The Tower, Part 1 which starts by sounding very much like something that could have been released by Sky Architect but then you have that chorus line that almost sounds like it has been lifted from some famous Rush anthem. I'm not saying the vocalist Luca Latini actually comes any close to the high pitch style of Geddy Lee but the overall melody of the composition during the chorus really rings a bell whenever I hear it.

The album is far from a linear ride and we do get to experience some highs and lows along the way. Treasure Island is certainly my personal least favorite moment since I just don't see the point of this re-imagining of the great Robert Louis Stevenson novel and the lyrics really make it even more cheesy. Luckily, So Close But Alone gets me right back in the pleasant frame of mind with its Latin rhythms and overall exotic sounds. The two minute instrumental interlude Tkeshi is another pretty dull moment for me since the track literally goes nowhere. Some might argue that it's a prelude to the album's first single Chuta Chani, but that track actually has a prelude of its own so that idea just doesn't make much sense to me. Chuta Chani is a surprisingly enjoyable single that only falls slightly due to it being a bit too long for it's own good.

After the two parts of The Tower we get a ballad called Turned To Gold, which reminds me a lot of the Haken ballad Deathless but with a more exotic rhythmic approach to it which makes it a very pleasant experience. Dedalus Falling is where we finally return to the crazy eclectic style that was featured on the album's opening track Ghost House and is another big highlight for me. Those who expect this track to be an eleven minute prog epic will be slightly disappointed since the track actually fades out after the seventh minute only to return back to Ghost House right at the last minute of its running time. What we do in fact get are very memorable seven minutes of great prog music which do manage to tie the bag on Rewotower pretty well.

In conclusion, I've been spinning this album quite a bit over the last week and the experience has so far continued to grow on me. There are still quite a few notes and instrumental passages left for me to discover on Rewotower but I'm certain that I've gotten the basics of the albums which is why this review comes so early into my experience of Profusion and their sophomore release. If there is anything that I've very certain of then it's the fact that Rewotower is an excellent piece of modern progressive rock that shows that the music of the '70s is still very much alive and kicking!

***** star songs: Ghost House (4:13) Dedalus Falling (11:29)

**** star songs: Taste Of Colours, Part 1 (3:48) Taste Of Colours, Part 2 (3:05) So Close But Alone (4:46) Chuta Chani (6:13) The Tower, Part 1 (4:39) The Tower, Part 2 (5:30) Turned To Gold (4:22)

*** star songs: Treasure Island (5:04) Tkeshi (2:00)

Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars ''One Piece Puzzle'' was followed both by huge line-up changes and intense live activity by Profusion.Keyboardist Gionatan Caradonna, drummer Vladimer Sichinava and bassist Luca Cambi were the only stable members and by the turn of the decade guitarist Thomas Laguzzi had already joined the band, followed a couple of years later by singer Luca Latini.The band signed a contract with ProgRock Records and at the dawn of 2012 the second release ''Rewotower'' was reality.

This sophomore Profusion effort is trully excellent and in fact the music in the album is the closest thing I've heard to the artistic Rock/Metal approach of A.C.T. from Sweden.New singer Luca Latini adds a clear and catchy voice next to the frenetic, powerful and energetic musicianship of the instrumentalists, making Profusion one of the most interesting entries in the modern Progressive Rock scene.The tracks of the album are accesible, easy-listening and groovy but at the same time the arrangements are demanding, full of rich sounds and virtuosic passages.Drawing influences from the DREAM THEATER style of Progressive Metal, the technique of Fusion musicians/bands like DERIK SHERINIAN and PLANET X and the lyrical expression of QUEEN, Profusion propose an amalgam full of irritating melodies, intricate solos, superb vocal arrangements and memorable choruses.The great balance between the complicated instrumental interplays and the beautiful vocal sections is a listening to remember and a great guide for all young bands, which want to come up with something both accesible and progressive.

Definitely ''Rewotower'' ranks among the best releases of 2012.An album that respects the feelings of anger and happiness, the words accesible and complex and the styles of Rock and Metal.Stunning stuff, highly recommended.

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
4 stars This Italian group originally started life as a trio called Mardi Gras Experience, but they changed to Profusion, a combination of 'Progressive' and 'Fusion', in 2002 and at that time also expanded into a five-piece. This is the follow-up to 'One Piece Puzzle', which was released in 2006, and there have been a few line-up changes since then which may have impacted the time it has taken to deliver the follow-up. I can only hope that it isn't another six years until we hear the next one as this is quite an achievement. 'Rewotower' moves through loads of styles and emotions, combining neo-prog and metal with heavy AOR and art-rock in a way that is instantly accessible and appealing.

This album may short through different styles, but Luca Latini's clear and powerful vocals are always to the fore and this is never short on melody. In fact, there are so many hooks that some will argue (with some justification) that this isn't prog at all, but a melodic metal hybrid. Every person who listens to this will pick up on one influence or another as there is just so much going on; for me it is Porcupine Tree mixing with Dream Theater and possibly Sylvan, but the way that this is melded together is a delight and does it really matter who may have impacted their sound? The short version is this: if you enjoy music that is full of melody, extremely well played by guys who aren't adverse to complexity and note density who like stretching perceived boundaries, then this is something you simply must have. Four solid stars in anyone's book.

Review by jampa17
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I was asked to review this album. It was an impressive experience since I expected a Dream Theater clone but I found a wonderful band with a lot of sources of inspiration. What attract me the must was their use of latin styles such like "salsa" or another more "danceable" bits inside a straight Prog Metal sound. The result is a great travel through strength and inspiration.

I let the music hits me here and there through many many weeks, and now I'm convinced it's a great album, especially for Prog Metal fans, but also for those who think that this particular sub-genre is no original any more. Here's an example of great music recorded by some really wonderful and "unknown" Italian musicians. The balance of energy, melody and freedom is what you find in this particular album and I think most prog fans should give it a try.

Well, I think that after several spins in these past months there's not much else to say about it. I do encourage anyone to try this wonderful band. There's quality and good notion of soul and sense in this prog metal band. But, in the other hand, I think there's nothing else to be a stand-alone album.

It's a strong 4 stars album for sure. Now I will keep on check the track of this particular band. Give it a try, you don't have anything to lose and a lot more to win.

Review by AtomicCrimsonRush
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars Profusion create an album with a myriad of diverse styles mixed into a bubbling cauldron of prog metal meets jazz fusion, Latino acoustics and beyond.

Profusion are an Italian quintet that refuse to remain in a box but explore other musical territory blowing the doors off boundaries that are usually inherent with prog metal. They are not afraid to explore new ideas, and seem to be focussed on blending genres, rather than to stay with the familiar. The album "RewoToweR" is a concept album that relies heavily on personal interpretation but overall is an allegory to climbing to greater heights in life. Within the spectrum of conceptual ideas are some poignant lyrics concentric on the steps that guide the listener into a tower and then the ascent becomes a descent as the album becomes full circle. As the album progresses there is a plan revealed that guides you to the top. The musical scape changes with each step and is bookended in the same way the title can be read backwards or forwards. There are some deep conceptual ideas enmeshed in the album, and the music is like a maze or a puzzle that has a plethora of solutions; similar to a fractal mirror.

'Ghost House' is the first step to the tower, and within are ensnared intricate metal rhythms, and outstanding vocals that are very melodic. The melody in fact is bookended at the end of thhe album so this is like a never ending cycle, perhaps akin to walking on Escher's illusionary never ending spiral staircase that can either go up or down. Interwoven in the mix are Thomas Laguzzi's spiralling twin guitar harmonics, cymbal splashes and then a blistering riff crashes in. Luca Latini's vocals remind me of Klaus from Scorpions at times, very high and full of descant. There are polyrhythmic notes, similar to Soft Machine. Gionatan Caradonna's staccato jabs of keyboards build an intensity, and especially Luca Cambi's pulsing basslines and Vladimer Sichinava's drumming metrical patterns that form anti-rhythmical shapes.

'Taste Of Colours - Part 1' is a genuine oddity that could be described as Jazz Metal. Latini's jazz singing is excellent, and the song is eclipsed by challenging rhythms. It segues to 'Taste Of Colours - Part 2' seamlessly, with a distorted guitar crunch. The song is augmented by some incredible singing, such as Latini holding a note "within my eyes" for a sustained time. The lead break soars beautifully over the layers of distortion, and it is balanced by keyboard ambiance; one of the best lead breaks on the album.

As we climb the tower the music becomes increasingly more bizarre, and 'Treasure Island' is out of the box. It begins with atmospheric waves crashing, creaking oars, wailing sailors, and whimsical pirate vocals. Layered over this is a synth and guitar melody with off kilter tempo changes. The pirate singing may be a bit over the top but this is a one off and gets its point across. The rasping "come with me yaha follow me" is pirate parody and the chorus saves it from complete farce, with a sing along melody. The music is all over the place and even sits on some trippy techno. The whispered "yoho and a bottle of rum" is clichéd, but this is prog at its boldest. The pirate sea voyage could be an allegory for searching for meaning in the sea of turmoil.

'So Close But Alone'is a sweet heartfelt ballad, with scintillating piano, gentle vocals from the soul, and a steady measured tempo. It builds with a jazz fusion feel, then gets into an extreme Bossa Nova and jazz scatting style. This is really a surprise after al the prog metal previous, but it verges into some cool soulful scat and jazz fusion piano and percussion meters. Finally it settles into a Spanish tango with acoustic vibrations. There is some beautiful playing here, and the mixture of genres is one of the most endearing things about the album as it encompasses so many emotions and moods. This even has a lounge music feel at the end, with a very relaxed jazz exploration, and scat ad libbing.

'Tkeshi' opens with crickets chirping and owls hooting in the stillness of a nocturnal forest. There are footsteps trudging and some crackling fire is heard, followed by acoustic guitar. This is very moody and feels as odd as some of the stripped back music of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Some African tribal chants begin, the primitive stick clashing is part of the primal mood, and the violins come in with a serrated and dissonant edge. A metal guitar repeats the fractured melody and then vocals emulate the melody. We are into the next track here.

'Chuta Chani' has a terrific metal riff that locks in, the singing is clear again and there is some dynamic organ later augmented by a synth solo, striking after the primal atmospheres previous. Caradonna is a revelation on keyboards, his work is exceptional here, and it has a grinding distorted guitar riffing beneath keeping things heavy. This is one of the proggiest tracks with all of the tight virtuoso playing and lengthy instrumental breaks. This is the Jordan Rudess moment, and then it moves back to the melody and singing. Once again an oddity on the album but one of the best tracks for all the reasons stated.

'The Tower - Part 1' begins with Dream Theater/Threshold riffs maintaining the complex time sig. The singing is easy on the ears coloured by shades of layered harmonies with the most infectious melody. The off kilter time sig is ambitious, and the music is dynamic, with both part 1 and 2 being a suite of songs that run together as a concept, presented in huge blasts of metal juxtaposed with ambient swathes of symphonic keyboards. There is certainly a heavy texture with chugging distorted guitars but the everpresent keyboards underneath are reminiscent of Riverside's style, along with the pristine vocals.

'The Tower - Part 2' has the same melody as previous part but is augmented by violins and a heavier percussion. The music gallops along and features another incredible extended keyboard solo. The lead guitar takes over with some fret melting arpeggios and high sustained string bends. Caradonna's keys trade places again and pulls off some awesome speed fingering, then more lead guitar finesse from Laguzzi; an excellent trade off between instruments in this section similar to Rudess and Petrucci of Dream Theater. When the vocals return with the measured melody of part one, it brings us back to the "dreams" motif and after we hear the final lyric "time to fly" it is evident this has been an incredible journey; a masterful track.

'Turned to Gold' begins with acoustics that gently play and the jazzier vocal style dominates. I like Latini when he is in this jazz mood and it works as such a diversion keeping this interesting. The experimentation of mixing genres is one of the most compelling things I have heard in a long time. When a band can produce songs on an album that do not all sound the same with the same rhythms and styles it can be a strangely absorbing experience. It really keeps the listener on their toes, and on the third listen of the album I found myself preparing for the odd jazz diversions and differing styles; such a pleasurable listening journey, differentiating the album from the plethora of prog metal albums being churned out that all sound the same. I think the album will delight listeners for these reasons but also is adventurous in that it may throw some of the more intense metalheads for a curveball.

'Dedalus Falling' is the final step up to the top and returns to metal elegance, the metronomic riff that opened the album returns. The lead guitar howls in ecstasy and some dazzling fret work follows. The gentle vocals enter, still with a lounge jazz feel. The chorus is infectious and memorable with some great lyrics bout "the tower leading to the sky". An instrumental break allows for more synth and fierce axe work from Laguzzi. This track fades out but has a ghost track that fades up after a cold silence, as if we are now on our way beack down the spiral staircase. The same melody as opened continues the cycle bringing this full circle, like moving around a tower in a lost state spiraling round and round, never ending.

Profusion have created some extraordinary songs on "RewoToweR", that has a myriad of diverse styles mixed into a bubbling cauldron of prog metal meets jazz fusion, Latino acoustics and beyond. I was not prepared for such a mixture of styles so it took me by surprise. Too often albums form a particular genre sit safely on one idea, especially metal where every song cranks out a blistering lead break or a power chord structure staying on one repetitive riff. Profusion have contrarily opted to explore a range of styles to bring across the concept of climbing up tower steps. It works because they never overdo any particular style but give each track just the right amount of musical flair. There is metal here as one would expect but it is not overpowering; there is a fair amount of beauty too with some relaxing passages of ambiance, and there is also some explosive lead guitar soloing and keyboard dexterity. The album encompasses all that I love about prog, and it is a perfect example of how to do it the right way without being overly excessive on any one idea; a marriage of melodic metal guitar riffing and symphonic keyboard washes wrapped in the gantry of an extraordinary conceptual framework.

Review by aapatsos
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Popular eclecticism or eclectic popularity?

This phrase captures in a nutshell Profusion's second release, six years after their very interesting debut. In the meantime they found, or rather further developed, this extra "popular" touch that has made their sound more accessible, maintaining their eclectic nature.

Rewotower is an amalgam of several aspects of progressive rock music, and "popular" eclectic prog, even if it sounds as an oxymoron, can broadly describe their approach. In here you can find progressive metal and heavy prog mixing freely with art rock, neo, latin and modern "happy" eclectic prog. The main references that come to mind, although I have not delved into any of these, are A.C.T., Beardfish and The Tangent.

The first thing that strikes you listening to this album is the dynamic vocals from the opener and the up-tempo positive feeling, boosted by the strong melodies and the heavy-edge riff/ neo prog keyboard combination. This pattern is followed in half of the tracks - Ghost House, Treasure Island, Chuta Chani, Tower (pt. 2) and Dedalus Falling - while the remainder flows in more melodic, slower-tempo rhythms. From the heavier side, sounds from Rush, Tiles and the more recent Haken, without excluding the influence from progressive metal, have impacted on the riffs of Profusion. The two styles interchange constantly providing this nice up-and-down variation.

Influences from Mediterranean, latin (The Mars Volta anyone?) and oriental music make their appearance half-way through the album and form the major part of So Close but Alone, Tkeshi and Chuta Chani (the latter clearly being one of the album's highlights). Great choice to put Dedalus Falling, which is probably the most memorable tune, as a closer to this excellent album, although its 11 minutes are interrupted by a 2-3 minute silent break.

Rewotower is definitely one of the best albums of 2012 and could spin a few times without me noticing, as it is extremely pleasant to listen to. The nice balance of catchy riffs-refrains/short tracks and challenging music is potentially the most valuable asset of this album. Progressive music can certainly become more popular through such releases; which is something that a few might find annoying...

Review by andrea
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Hailing from Colle Val d'Elsa, a small town in the province of Siena, Profusion began life as a trio in 2001 under the name Mardi Gras Experience, influenced by the American prog scene of the nineties and by bands such as Planet X and Spock's Beard. In 2002 they changed their name into the current one combining the words "Progressive" and "Fusion" and four years later they self-released an interesting debut album entitled One Piece Puzzle. After a good live activity on the local scene and some personnel changes, in 2012 Profusion released their second full length work, RewoToweR, on the independent label ProgRock Records with a renewed line up featuring along with founding members Vladimer Lado Sichinava (drums) and Gionatan Caradonna (keyboards) also Luca Cambi (bass), Thomas Laguzzi (guitars) and Luca Latini (vocals) plus some guests such as Simon Hosford (guitar), Titta Nesti (vocals), Andrea Beninati (cello, percussion) and Andrea Libero Cito (violin). The overall sound on this album is rich and full of energy, the songwriting is good and mixes different influences ranging from metal to world music. According to the band, their music is a spiral of genres, tones and rhythms, melted and tangled together that tries to convey an original message dealing with musical flexibility and research while the album is conceived as a path that guides the listener into a tower and where each song reveals a new plan, a new step that allows you to reach the top. An ambitious project indeed, anyway there's no real storyline and the meaning of this conceptual work remains a bit foggy and open to various interpretations and sensibilities...

The nervous opener "Ghost House" conjures up in music and lyrics a nightmarish mansion on a hill overlooking an American town. It was built long time ago by a mysterious man coming out of the blue who, since then, has always been locked in, like a ghost. Rumours, imagination, fantasy, fear, rage... Eventually the town's folk try to break in the house to see what's hidden in its dark rooms but what they find there is nothing but a surreal vision of their own lives under the light of the moon. Here the atmosphere reminds me of some stories by H.P. Lovecraft or Stephen King such a The Dreams In The Witch House or Salem's Lot...

Next comes "The Taste Of Colours" that is divided into two parts and tells of the personal crisis of man who has lost his identity. It starts softly, with piano a vocals. The protagonist of this piece seems condemned to live all his life in black and white but when he's alone he's still able to see the colours that shine inside his soul and he can break through the dull sense of apathy that's hanging all over him, diving in the inner light his of self consciousness to paint a secret place where to live in peace and harmony...

On the following "Treasure Island" the borders between dream and reality are blurred while the lyrics quote Robert Louis Stevenson and evoke a ghostly sea song and fifteen drunken men dancing on a dead man's chest with a bottle of rum. A man is sailing across an unknown ocean of hopes and doubts, he can't find the right course and he feels like a damned fool at the mercy of the waves, deeply falling into nonsense... Then comes "So Close But Alone", a piece that starts just by piano and vocals before veering to exotic islands and spiced atmospheres built upon Latin rhythms and flamenco sketches while the lyrics evoke the painful memories of a betrayed love...

The short instrumental "Tkeshi" features a strong ethnic flavour. The title is a Georgian word that means "Into The Woods" and introduces the following "Chuta Chani", a wonderful traditional Caucasian lullaby from Georgia re-elaborated and transformed into something unusual and new with sudden bursts of energy and even tarantella passages. After all, the drummer Vladimer Lado Sichinava was born in Tbilisi and he's proud of his roots: just take the time to compare Profusion's version with the one by Lela Tsurtsumia...

"The Tower" is a complex track divided into two parts that tells about a man obsessed by the dream of building a tower to reach the sky. Every night his sleep is haunted by sounds of iron work and images of incomplete shapes and incomplete walls. Eventually that tower will be buried and from the top of its ruins he will start to fly... A nice track that in some way reminds me of some atmospheres from Stephen King's Dark Tower saga

"Turned To Gold" is a romantic, melodic ballad that tells in music and words of the cathartic effects of a new relationship with someone that seems to understand you and complete your soul... It leads to the closer "Dedalus", a long, complex track about the mysterious architect who planned to build the metaphorical, labyrinthine tower that marks this strange concept album: a living building where he's imprisoned for the eternity, a building that irepreents in the meantime the wonderful fruit his creative work and his damnation. In the end a reprise of the first track closes the circle inviting you to listen to the album again, reflecting about time and dreams, hopes and old fears... You can listen to the complete album on bandcamp: have a try!

Latest members reviews

5 stars Rewotower is a great album and a revelation for 2012. The incorporation of so many diverse and disparate musical styles come together quite well at the hands of these seasoned musicians. There's always the chance when you pull from such diverse sources that the compositions can sound disjointe ... (read more)

Report this review (#760924) | Posted by mariusduka | Thursday, May 31, 2012 | Review Permanlink

3 stars This second albun from the Italian band PROFUSION "Rewotower" is very different in relationship to their previous albun "One Piece Puzzle". While in "One Piece..." the sound is more "framed" in the eclectic prog style, this second ( in my point of view ) reveal a more heavy prog approach, altho ... (read more)

Report this review (#751859) | Posted by maryes | Friday, May 11, 2012 | Review Permanlink

4 stars NOT A PROG-METAL BAND ! With it's complex and unusual integration of a myriad of musical styles, exceptional musicianship and immaculate production, RewoToweR ( a palindrome of Tower ) by Italian band Profusion positively took me unawares. Fresh and exciting from the explosive opener, Ghost Hou ... (read more)

Report this review (#750321) | Posted by Vibrationbaby | Monday, May 7, 2012 | Review Permanlink

4 stars The music of the Italian band Profusion can be characterized as melodic heavy prog rock with light vocals, featured by frequent use of odd time signatures, mostly 5/4 and 7/4, catchy choruses and a wide range of influences from different musical styles. Rewotower is their second album, being the ... (read more)

Report this review (#743779) | Posted by someone_else | Tuesday, April 24, 2012 | Review Permanlink

5 stars When you hear an album for the first time and you have certain that this CD will be a candidate to one of the albums of the year the vibrations are more than good and also if you keep listening every day, becoming almost an addiction, not only is vibration issue is a matter that PROFUSION have creat ... (read more)

Report this review (#660539) | Posted by Man0waR | Friday, March 16, 2012 | Review Permanlink

3 stars After seeing this album reach such accolades, I just had to hear it. ProgRock records have always been a bit of a mixed bag in my eyes and I was simply curious if they'd upped their game with the new revamp to "therecordlabel". When thinking of the greats of Ecletic Prog such as Crimson and V ... (read more)

Report this review (#649902) | Posted by ProgolateCookie | Wednesday, March 7, 2012 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Listening to this album I found myself surprised in noticing how a unknown italian band, with no huge production support, has been able to produce such a good and talented work. Their first album "One Piece Puzzle", even if rich of good ideas, was a little lenghty and it's evident a no well planne ... (read more)

Report this review (#628973) | Posted by nuc | Thursday, February 9, 2012 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The Review is based on a promo copy. The beginning of 2012 sees Profusion release their sophomore creation. Band was formed in 2002 and presented debut album "One Piece Puzzle" in 2006. It means band had 6 years to write and record "RewoToweR", and we can see the time has been used very ef ... (read more)

Report this review (#607324) | Posted by Thandrus | Wednesday, January 11, 2012 | Review Permanlink

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