A PIEDI NUDI

With the prog revival of the 90s taking off with bands like the Flower Kings, Spock's Beard, Anglagard and Anekdoten rekindling the spirit of the 70s that was more or less extinguished in the commercial musical leanings of the 1980s, the Italian prog scene was also getting a second wind even as classic 70s bands such as Le Orme and Banco del Mutuo Soccorso were still cranking out albums throughout it all (but also watering down their prog aspects to attempt to stay relevant). While not nearly as a prolific era as the golden years of the early 1970s, bands like Nuova Era, Eris Pluvia, Finisterre and Höstsonaten were reviving the classic symphonic prog romanticism that the Italian scene delivered so uniquely well making Italy one of the most successful nations to export prog during the 70s. One similar band to form in 1991 was the hard edged A PIEDI NUDI ( Italian for "barefoot") which emerged from Rovigo.

Notable for mixing the classic RPI style with heavier rock, A PIEDI NUDI offered one of the most hards rocking blends of Italian prog since bands like Procession and Il Rovescio Della Medaglia burst on to the 70s scene with their own style of early proto-metal infused Italian prog. While experiencing lineup changes over its three album run throughout the 90s, the first lineup that appeared on this self-titled debut featured Mirko Schiesaro (vocals), Nicola Gardinale (guitar, backing vocals), Cristian Chinaglia (keyboards), Simone Bighetti (bass, 12-string guitar), and Carlo Bighetti (drums, flute, backing vocals). This would be the only album for lead vocalist Schiesaro who would jump ship after this debut allowing drummer Carlo Bighetti to pick up the additional task as lead singer. This dramatic darker variety of RPI debut featured 12 epic tracks that stampeded past the one hour mark.

Although several classic Italian prog bands added the extra touches of harder rock ranging from Osanna to Il Bigletto Di Bronzo, A PIEDI NUDI upped the ante so to speak and didn't just copy and paste past glories but rather took the romantic symphonic prog prototype of classic RPI artists and infused it with the modernities of the 1990s. With raw and aggressive rhythmic drives, A PIEDI NUDI delivered a borderline metal hybrid that offered a touch of alternative metal chord crunching along with the occasional modern guitar soloing techniques. The heavy rock freneticism of the guitar, bass and drums is accompanied by the more traditional keyboard styles of the 70s along with Schiesaro's vocals evoking the passionate romanticism of the classic era. This mix is stark and utterly unique as far as i've ever heard. While there were hard rocking RPI bands in the 70s, those bands deemphasized the symphonic prog aspects during their hard rock phase and focused on a more complex style of proto-metal. APIEDI NUDI feels equally at home in either the pastoral lushness of classic RPI as it does the modern world of heavier alt rock / metal.

This is even made more stark during turbulent instrumental outbreaks that take the guitar, bass and drumming action into overdrive meanwhile the keyboards remain staunchly rooted in the past as do the vocals which are fashionably sung entirely in the Italian language. The band also added elements of the darker world of contemporary rock with touches of gothic rock and grungy guitar tones. To call this album surreal would be an understatement as it sounds like two distinctly different bands from different eras gathered for a moment of cross-pollination that nobody else seemed to think of. Somehow despite the contrasting passionate display of Italian 70s sensibilities in cahoots with the harder nihilistic style of guitar playing that made the alternative 90s so distinct, the band pulls it all off quite successfully with neither style dominating and both finding the perfect middle ground to let the other simply meld into the overall mix of things.

And best of all this album doesn't sound the least bit gimmicky. The composiitons themselves are captivating and suit both the hard rock heft of the instrumentation as well as the more sentimental vocal and keyboard contributions. Overall this is a fascinating clash of two disparate musical scenes and one that A PIEDI NUDI delivered with gusto. Despite all odds, the pastoral tender aspects of the band's sound craftily cavort with the adrenalized rock bluster. All in all A PIEDI NUDI filigreed a fusion all their own and despite losing Schiesaro as the lead vocalist after this eponymous debut, would continue this unique federation of disparate musical forces. Although this one doesn't seem to get a lot of love, i find it captivating and utterly exhilarating!

The second offer of this discret and unknown italian band, issued at same Mellow records in 1995 named Creazione is for sure better in every aspect like the previous one. Here the arrangements are more intricate more elaborated with nice alternating heavy prog sections with more mellower ones. Still very heavy and with an experimental aura on some tunes with horns added on few pieces, gives a quite intresting atmosphere overall. I was staying little longer then usual to this band, because on first couple of spins was a real acquiring taste their music, but in the end I begone to appreciated more and more. Some great moments here like on Memorie, Regina Del Torrente or Dea Delle Rocce, Signore Del Vento , heavy prog as must sound this style. Even has some minor flaws here and there, overall this is a great and unnoticed album. Some flute interfear in the heavy sections on Partenza giving a very '70's feel. In fact all the album sounds very 70 a combination of King Crimson with italian beauty alal Balletto di Bronzo.. Some more gentle mellower moments on this release and in combination with heavy prog sections the result is better in every way then on previous work. The voice is cleaner and more confided here. I really like this album after 5-6 listnings, definetly a grower, 3.5 rounded to 4 this time, strange cover art but goes hand in hand with the odd passages in some parts offered. A forgotten little album.

This italian band from the '90's A Piedi Nudi is their name is quite unknown and aswell has a very short career who lasted until 1999. First album self titled issued in 1994 at Mellow records is a heavy work indeed, combining elements from '70's heavy prog with their own twist. Some arrangements remind me a lot of King Crimson even Campo Di Marte in places. Fury guitar parts with keyboards added in the mix, overall is a pretty decent album but far from being something of a real intrest. Some decent vocal parts, but in some moments Mirko Schiesaro sounds very dull and unintresting. All pieces has same flavour heavy prog all the way, 3 stars is best I can give, really.

This third album from ''A Piedi Nudi'' is rather dark and heavy.

Their heavy side was already quite noticeable during their first two albums, and this one is quite a continuation of these efforts. This album shows some sort of a combination between doom (Sabbath) and Italian flavour. Still: the latter is rather scarce IMHHO.

This album might be mostly appreciated by metal lovers (to whom I don't belong) than Italian ISP lovers (to whom I do belong).

Actually, if it weren't for this dual effect, this band shouldn't really be of any interest. Heavy stuff with some subtle and light passages ("Le Amanti"). This is a fine demonstration of all their talent: vocal harmonies, skilled instrumentation, wild passages. KC is truly a source of inspiration as well.

The sound brings us back to the seventies, but the songwriting is not as quite spectacular to be honest. "Senza Ritorno" is quite boring to tell the truth. The scary "Reverendo" prolongs the heavy feel without too much of inspiration to tell the truth. Sub, subpar Sabbath. Combined with some Italian tone. This track is just decent; no more.

Here & there, there are some quite remarkable and delicate passages. This is best experienced during "Temporale" which is probably the best song out there.

I would classify this album more into the "heavy eclectic" genre (if it would be available). "L'Infidele" is quite clear about this feeling. The sweet closing part is somewhat out of place but so great! At the end of the day, the complexity of the music that can be found here deserves three stars. But don't expect anything close to the sweet ISP genre. Heavy it is, heavy it remains ("Amici D'Infanzia").

The long and closing "Eclissi" features a different shape: some Oriental influence, and more tranquil overall.

This relatively recent Italian band (the nineties) released three albums. This sophomore one is mostly inspired by the glorious seventies and is leaning for a big deal towards KC and ELP at times. This is particularly true during the long opener "Memorie".

This is a thirteen minutes epic dedicated to these great times (even if not very original). Another source of inspiration of the bans is the inevitable "Genesis" during "Partenza" (sweet flute reminds me of the great "Trespass").

Most songs are really a great trip back to the best years of progressive music (which are the seventies of course). Great mellotron and darkness are featured during the short "Dea Delle Rocce, Signore Del Vento". Vocals (as usual for most ISP) are quite delicate and performing.

This song is hesitating between sweet and tender vocal parts and wild instrumental passages. It is quite a great moment indeed!

ELP is again on the menu while "Nueva Vita" reaches your CD player. The whole can of course sound not too much personal (which is true). This album will please any ISP lover but due to the lack of originality, I rate it with three stars. A good album though.

You might know that I am an addicted ISP fan.

When I listened to this band, I had quite mixed feelings: great symphonic moments at times, combined with some devastating metal portions; the whole being topped with great vocal harmonies ("Colore Viola").

This band is not one of the most beloved ones on PA. But so are many of my beloved Italian flavours. The music displayed is often on the heavy side like during the title track; but this is not too outrageous as far as I am concerned: the pumping organ is quite alright and the psyche mood overall is rather encouraging, even if it sounds quite outdated (although this record was released in 94).

But this is a global feeling. Most of this album sounds as if it was taken out the early seventies (including production, unfortunately). There are really few songs with potential. Most are rather average ("Il Sabba" or "Il Castello").

The heavy side is back again with "Aberla Tra Le Braccia", but this can hardly bear the prog flag. The music sounds too much old fashioned anyway. If it were recorded in the late sixties my opinion would have been different?

As such, this album is not worth more than three stars. Be aware though that this rating is on the upper edge for this Italian / metal combo. Even the long "Il Duelo" can't cope with the giants of the genre.

This album sounds as déjà vu by all means. Even if "La Cattura" is a superb, upbeat and heavy prog song: it is the best available as far as I am concerned on this album. It is a solid heavy song indeed. Full of maestria: being the beat, the great organ or the huge guitar. It is THE highlight for sure. The closing numbers are just fillings even if "Epilogo" shares passionate vocals with dark music. Three stars overall is my rating. This is quite a bizarre album.

The final album from this fine Italian band.

The final album also have an updated sound which actually sounds like the 1990s and not like the 1970s. That includes a plastic sounding synth sound which is not that great. But the guitar sounds and the vocals has been vastly improved from the previous two albums.

A Piedi Nudi is most definate in the dark corner of the Rock Progressivo Italiano scene. Dark and heavy. This is by far the most heavy album of their three albums and is bordering to and within the heavy prog genre.

The quality is good throughout without really impressing me. No great tracks here, but this is clearly their best album. The guitar sound and the excellent solos is alone worth the purchase of this album.

I hope A Piedi Nudi reforms again and gives us some more album. This band had great potential, but they were perhaps twenty years too late and ten years too early. Rock Progressivo Italiano fans of today would had lapped this band up like a cat laps up fresh cream. Let's hope they reform.

3.5 stars

Quite a nice change from the first album, I have to say.

A Piedi Nudi is back with their second album. This time with a more controlled RPI themed album. The band still have some volcano like break out of heavy prog and both their sound and music is most definate in the border area between RPI and heavy prog. But the vocals is this time much warmer and lyrical. There are even some pastoral melody bridges here. The sound is much more like the golden 1970s with bands like Biglietto Per Inferno as a good reference.

Unfortunate, this album is let down by the lack of some really great songs. The songs on this album is not bad. But neither is this an exciting album either. A few melody lines are great and that's really it. The sound and the band is better than on their debut album. But the band has yet to deliver any great songs which marks them out as a band worth keeping a close eye on.

Good but not great.

3 stars

Hmmmm......... An acquired taste indeed.

A Piedi Nudi debuted with this album. An album whose sound is very much on the darker end of the Rock Progressivo Italiano scene. There are enough chugging metal guitars to go around here and the vocals is leaning towards power metal too. The rest of the instrumentations is vintage Rock Progressivo Italiano though and that balances things out. Well, almost.

The music is a mix of heavy and melodic. There are some good to very good melody lines scattered around here. This being a debut album, I don't get the feeling neither the band or their music is the finished article. But this is still a good album from a good band. I am not overawed by this album though and I expect someting far better on their second album.

3 stars

I think it is telling that this is the fourth time that I have listened to this album today (admittedly, this also makes it the fourth time I have ever listened to it, so I cannot claim to be an expert on it) and yet what do I have stuck in my head? King crimson. Clearly, then, this is not an instantly attention-capturing soul-gripping album. Possibly, it could be a 'grower', but somehow I doubt it. Do not misinterpret this rather negative introduction to mean that I hated or even disliked this album, in fact there were moments of great beauty within it. This is, then, a slightly above average prog album, from a band with more than enough talent, and a decent amount of potential. The big problem here is that it is simply too chaotic, confused, and jumbled for its own good. At times, one might be tricked into believing that this is an intentional effect; for example, in the opening track 'memorie', perhaps it has been done to evoke a sense of the tangled mess that memories can become. But, even if this is the case, I feel its execution was unsuccessful. For one thing, the jumbled nature of the track detracts from the fact that, at over 12 minutes long, we are in prog epic territory here. Instead, one is given more a sense of multiple 30-second long tracks glued together. And this confusion runs through the album. Even in the style of instrumentation, there is something of a clash, with the guitarist half the time imagining himself to be in a metal band, whilst the keyboardist does his best impression of Keith Emerson. It doesn't fit. But there are moments. This isn't a band without talent, and there are, in virtually every song, moments where they do come together coherently, and manage to pack something of an emotional punch, making this an album not without some merit. The problem, then, is that one is ultimately left feeling that one has listened to a long series of little pieces of music by a collection of talented individuals, rather than an album by a great and cohesive prog band. Given more time playing together, maybe this will improve. Certainly, not a band to dismiss totally when it comes to whether to check out their other releases. As a result, I give this album 2.5/5, rounding up to 3.