ANACONDIA

Anacondia began life in 1995 on the initiative of keyboardist Andrea Canonico and singer Gabriele Ramilli but it wasn't until 2000 that the band could find a durable line up featuring, along with the founder members, also Antonio Emanuele Sergi (drums, percussion), Walter Marocchi (guitars) and Vincenzo Valerio (bass). After two demo EPs (Genesi instabile, 2003 and Due mondi, 2005 - later collected on the self-released CD Due mondi, 2006) and a good live activity, in 2015 the band finally released what can be considered their first real official full length album on the independent label Lizard Records. It's entitled L'orizzonte degli eventi (Event Horizon) and features the collaboration of the guest Nicoletta Bartola (sax, flute, backing vocals) who contributed to enrich the sound. It's a nice mix of prog, metal, psychedelia, classical and a touch of folk and in my opinion it's a great step forward for the band, especially if compared with the previous, still immature, demos. The title of the album refers to a phenomenon that is usually associated with black holes, a boundary in space-time beyond which events cannot affect an outside observer. Anyway, here the term event horizon is used in a metaphorical way and marks the limit between dreams and reality, ideals and conformism. But perhaps the art cover by Massimo Valerio probably describes the lyrical content of this work better than my words...

The opener "Eroi di solitudine" (Heroes of solitude) starts by heavy electric guitar riffs and sudden flushes of energy. The music and lyrics describe the desperate wish to escape from the nothingness of a society that is compared to a vain, empty pageant of masks where falsity and myths of plastic rule. Despite its length this is a straightforward piece where the band just try to express rage without hate claiming their right to be different from the mainstream...

The following track "Nel silenzio" (In the silence) is shorter but, in my opinion, more complex and refined. At the start the atmosphere is almost hypnotic, tense. Then tension melts in a dreamy section with the flute in the forefront... Here the music and lyrics depict a kind of nobody's land between wake and sleep where strange sensations and false images gather around you and silence begins to paint your soul in vivid colours as a soundless orchestra begins to play for you...

"Ideale o verità" (Ideal or truth) starts calmly and conjures up confused images hanging in the air, between dream and reality. It's a delicate ballad that deals with the need to have an ideal, a dream to follow to get on and on. Dreams and hopes can make you blind but without them you risk to get lost anyway... Next comes the melodic "Come un fiume in piena" (As a raging river) that celebrates the thaumaturgic, overwhelming power of a music that can shake you from the inside and that you can't stop.

"Un foglio bianco" (A blank paper) is an excellent track that combines delicate classical music patterns and heavier passages. The music and lyrics describe the atmosphere of an important moment in your life when you have to make up your mind and make a choice but where you are uncertain about what to do. Life can be like a blank sheet that you have to fill with your own words, a white page that you have to paint with your own imagination and sometimes you really have to try hard to reach your goal...

The long, complex "Gerico" (Jericho) is a dramatic epic whose title refers to the battle of Jericho as told in the holy bible... So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword. (Joshua 6:20-21). However, here the episode of the fall of Jericho is just a metaphor: in fact, the music and lyrics of this piece tell of an imaginary battle against falsity and human vanity drawing strong images and evocative musical passages.

The ethereal closer "Il colore dell'aria" (The colour of the air) starts softly and the atmosphere is dreamy and melancholic. The music and lyrics evoke the dance of the wind and the singing of the leaves, an inner void that is difficult to understand and dark shadows that the river swept away. But at last you can hear a friendly voice and see the light of hope showing the way...

On the whole, a very nice album that is really worth listening to.

Promising hard rock with touches of metal, symphonic, neo, RPI

Anacondia is a 5-piece band from Milan born in 1995 who claim influences ranging from the English and Italian '70s giants to Iron Maiden to new-wave bands. After releasing two prior EPs the band put them together into one full-length album available for free on their website.

"Due Mondi" is a difficult genre placement which encompasses elements of heavy neo, symphonic-metal and heavy-prog along with some nods to the RPI, mostly via the expressive Italian vocals and occasional delicate intricacies of the title track and scattered moments. Mostly however "Due Mondi" is about the heavy rocking sound of big guitar and crazy-eyed keyboard runs which occasionally sound like a combination of Dream Theater and Iron Maiden but with a lighter touch than both. Walter Marocchi is a talented guitarist who employs a range of styles in his other band ventures, here he mostly rocks out. But in the short title track you can hear him deliver a delicate and lovely acoustic treatment to what sounds like a lullaby. In my other favorite "Nuvole di Polvere" he lays out some beautifully smooth electric leads especially in the songs waning moments. Vocalist Gabriele Ramilli is another main ingredient as he possesses a good range and a very dexterous ability to express a wide range of mood. Dramatic and powerful he convincingly carries the expectations placed on Italian prog vocalists. Again in "Nuvole" you hear the examples of the band's potential with good arrangements of backing vocals and the light/heavy mix. The rhythm section easily navigates the waters between the light and heavy segments and the transitions are generally natural sounding. Keyboardist Andrea Canonico is quite talented as well but chooses a more flashy-synthy sound and style---there are moments when I'd like to give him a double scotch and a Valium, then unplug the synth and sit him at the grand piano. Both Canonico and Marocchi shred on occasion and these are always the album's weakest moments, on the flip side they are at their best when they slow down and play thoughtfully and with intentions geared toward the track's atmosphere. (Sorry for the coaching guys!) The first minute of "Grida" with the effects-laden guitar skyburst is a great example of the kind of atmosphere the band can generate. The tracks from the second EP are a bit stronger and likely indicate the band's improvement on the songwriting front.

My hope is that the band ditches the glossy metallic sheen of their sound and attempts to make an earthier RPI flavored album next time out. Without question they have the tools at their disposal to make a fantastic album if they pushed the songwriting and sound choices a bit more to that side. For now this is an interesting hybrid that should please metal/heavy-prog fans and some modern RPI fans as well. Tracks from the first EP are generally 2 stars, the second EP 3 stars. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for the overall collection. You can hear the entire album for free right on their website linked to our PA artist page. Enjoy!

Mediocre band coming from Italy which has very little in common with the traditional italian symphonic rock sound as we know it.ANACONDIA's story dates back in 1995,when they were formed by keyboardist Andera Canonico and vocalist Gabrielle Ramilli.However the band suffered severe problems with the other spots,as constantly drummers,guitarists and bassists came and left.Things seem to turn around in 2000 when ANACONDIA finally had a stable line-up and started gigging again.They also recorded and pressed their first demo ''Genesi instabile'' as a private release in 2001.

The album is centered around Canonico's synths and piano and presents a strong heavy prog style filled with breaks and grooves.Guitars are quite heavy and resemble more to prog metal bands like DREAM THEATER or SHADOW GALLERY in their more melodic lines,but not so inspired.Keyboards are having a symphonic leaning and Canonico made a good job on this section.Ramilli's voice is very expressive and sensitive with a wide range,prooving why he has been a stable member of the band since their beginnings.The album unfortunately has not much in common with the grandiose 70's italian scene,except maybe some moments dominated by romantic vocal arrangements and atmospheric keys,but the whole result is a mass of common-sounding tunes without diversity and variety.If you are a fan of good rhythms and grooves this might appeal to your tastes.A possible decent addition only for fans of neo-prog and prog metal in the vein of ENCHANT.