EMPIRE

In mid-90's Italian prog act Syndone disbanded due to musical disagreements with Nik Comoglio taking his own path.However two of the members, drummer Paolo Sburlati and keyboardist Edo Rogani decided to move on together forming their own project Empire along with female vocalist Rosanna De Luca.Their sole release ''Back to Knowledge'' was released in 1994 on the Milanese label Vinyl Magic.

You cant simply expect much out of a keyboard/drum duo but these guys created some trully interesting, rich and quite bombastic musicianship at moments with strong E.L.P. references and a sound close to ZAUBER or Beppe Crovell'a's TOWER.The style is somewhat defined by the heavy Classical Prog instrumental parts and the frenetic keyboard-driven Fusion grooves along with some commercial bits thown in.Actually, De Luca's voice, although being clear and crystalline as water, sounds like a pop artist tortured to sing in a complicated prog album, while the drum parts are often too mechanical.The musicianship on the other hand ranges from decent to great quality thanks to Rogani's brilliant performance, offering grandiose orchestral parts, organ workouts, full-blown synthesizer solos and dreamy soundscapes, where Symphonic Rock meets Classical meets Fusion and, no question, the massive instrumental parts of the album have more than plenty to offer with standout breaks, melodies and shifting moods, always under a grandiose symphonicism.Of course the pair of rather commercial vocal tracks have no place next to the more progressive compositions, but they will not spoil the magic of the rest of the album, hailed by Rogani's awesome keyboard moves, with closing track ''The empire goes on'' being simply a masterful symphonic instrumental experience.

Unfortunately Empire never went on actually, as ''Back to Knowledge'' was the only trace they left to the music public and all keyboard-freaks around the prog league should chase for this release, which is no less than a strong prog effort with a talented man delivering series of inspired and energetic keyboard performances...3.5 stars.

Empire is an obscure early '90's progressive rock band from Italy. They release so far a single album in 1994 at vinyl magic named Back to Knowledge. They taken their influences from legendary ELP, the keyboards are sometimes one at one with the british, but always keeping the sound modern, that save them from bing a total clone band. If the music is ok, in places some good moments , the voice of female singer Rosanna de Luca is not fantastic, I mean ok, she has a pleasent voice but far from something realy exciting. The music is good, like on The Conquest, great opening track with blistering keyboards arrangements, that shows the keyboard player know bussines. The druming is less consistent then on other band from thet period maybe because is a drum machine, where in some points sound realy anoying. So, overall a good release who desearve 3 stars, but no more then that, is far from being something spectacular, anyway an almost forgotten band in italian scene.If you like bands ELP, Monolith, Cairo, and those who are more in driven keyboards arrangements this is a good listen.

This is an Italian one shot band that featured the duo formation Syndone (drummer Sburlati and keyboard player Rogani) and female singer Rosanna De Luca. Most of the nine compositions sound fluen and modern with varied keyboards that contain obvious hints from Eddie Jobson and Keith Emerson. The vocals remind me of Annie Lennox. In the track Immortal we can enjoy a guest on guitar and the composition The Nite is based upon the famous classical piece Night On Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky in which the drums sound very powerful and the keyboard play is a tribute to Emerson/Jobson. Despite the poppy overtones in the songs with vocals, this CD is a pleasant effort for keyboard freaks. Rating: 2,5 stars.

First review of this album

www.progwalhalla.com