GRAN TORINO

"The Delphic Prophecy" is the third album by Gran Torino, an interesting prog band from Verona. It was released in 2020 on the French label Musea Records, seven years after their previous work Fate Of A Thousand Worlds (2013), with a renewed line up featuring the confirmed Alessio Pieri (keyboards), Gian Maria Roveda (drums) and Fabrizio Visentini (bass) with the prog veteran David Cremoni (guitars ? from, among others, Moongarden and Submarine Silence) who took the place of Leonardo Freggi. According to the band, the album was conceived as a sort of soundtrack for an imaginary journey through Ancient Greek mythology and the art cover by Pablo Elices tries to depict the musical content...

The dreamy opener "Ondine" starts softly by a piano solo pattern, then the electric guitar takes the lead evoking dangerous, soulless creatures wandering slowly under the moon... The title refers to the water nymphs that appeared in the Aegean Sea under the form of beautiful women but in the booklet there are no liner notes with a guideline to follow, so the plot of this imaginary peplum film is up to your imagination!

The mysterious "Faint Dimness" conjures up nocturnal landscapes and threatening shadows, then the disquieting "The Sibylline Oracle" evokes the feeling of an impending trick of the destiny. In the oracles the Sibyl predicts future events and here the priestess seems to prophesy disaster...

The suggestive "From Lust To Shame" flows steadily through martial rhythms and exotic flavours while the following "A Gentle Soul" is reflective and dreamy. "After The Cure" is a piece with some echoes of new wave and a dark, Gothic sound that seems chiselled by a smith...

Then the melancholic "Faded Elation" leads to title track and to the mysteries of the oracle of Delphi. "The Delphic Prophecy" is a wonderful track that every now and again recalls seventies atmospheres and black and white TV series... Then it's the turn of the nervous "Ancient Labyrinth" where we can follow the thread of Arianna or admire Dedalo's bold, clever plans to escape. "Ethereal Noise" closes the album with some nice soaring electric guitar parts and some hypnotic keyboard passages.

On the whole, a good album, especially recommended if you like bands such as L'Ombra della Sera...

Fate Of A Thousand Worlds is the second album by Gran Torino, an interesting prog band from Verona. It was released in 2013 on the French label Musea Records, two years after the promising debut grantorinoProg, with a renewed line up featuring Alessio Pieri (keyboards, piano), Gian Maria Roveda (drums), Fabrizio Visentini (bass) and Leonardo Freggi (guitars). According to the band's website, this is a conceptual work about a man who travels in space and in real time throughout the universe that is based on a short sci-fi story written by one of their friends, Paolo Gadioli, that you can find in the booklet and that's also mirrored in the beautiful art work created by Ed Unitsky. The music was conceived as a soundtrack to describe the adventures, emotions and torments of the protagonist...

The opener, "Child of the Stars", sets the atmosphere and introduces the protagonist, Velasquez, a kind of super-hero created by a superior race whose mission is to conquer the whole universe. His birth required a huge amount of energy that was obtained by destroying a planet... The music starts softly, then the rhythm gradually rises, calms down for a while and rises again, powerful and threatening...

Then comes the frenzied "Absolute Time". Here every now and again I'm reminded of bands such EL&P and Goblin... The merciless protagonist can travel through space and time and when he finds a planet inhabited by a superior race he can go back to an era when that civilization was not so evolute and can't resist to his powers...

"The Battle of Velasquez" is a dark, powerful track that could recall some passages from Darwin! by Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. It's a perfect score for the destructive actions of the protagonist who defeats powerful armies and ravages fortified cities. It leads to the following "Dead Suns" where you can hear the great poem of the extinguished suns and the last pulses of the worlds swept away by Velasquez...

The melancholic "The Fog of Time" describes the feeling of loneliness and deep sadness of the protagonist. Velasquez can't find anyone who can match him. They call him just the child of the stars, they fear him, they hate him... Next comes "Empty Soul" that tries to capture in music the strange feeling that the protagonist experiences by approaching a new planet: it's just like a deep emptiness in his soul. So, he begins to observe this new planet, to explore it from above...

The delicate, romantic "Arìda" is a piano solo track that describes the meeting between Velasquez and a beautiful woman called Arìda who lives on the mysterious planet. The heartless protagonist finally falls in love and the following "The Short Dream" describes in some way this complicate, unsettling romance...

"End of a Planet" breaks the dream, the rhythm rises suggesting an impending danger, something is going to happen. Suddenly Velasques has to go back in his spaceship, there's something wrong... As he gets on board the planet blows up and his love is lost forever... Here the music reminds me slightly of other two planets in a distant solar system, hidden behind the jewellery of a thousand stars and forests of coral...

The title track, "Fate of a Thousand Worlds", ends the album describing the dark thoughts of the protagonist, condemned to live alone in his immense spaceship, master of time, master of the universe... Master of nothing!

On the whole, this is an excellent instrumental album and the music is really worth listening to. Have a try, even if you don't like the storyline!

Gran Torino are an instrumental band hailing from Italy. They have a really interesting, almost psychedelic style, but they are definitely Rush-influenced in their guitar style and tone. Sometimes I have trouble connecting with instrumental albums, but I feel that I did pretty well with this one.

A hard-edged guitar tone combined with an atmospheric, key-driven ambiance is a tough thing to achieve at times, but these guys really seem comfortable in this type of composition. They utilize quite a bit of piano, but it is often a wackier style. In fact, I would venture to say that the piano leads the music while the guitars provide a background texture. The keys are certainly fast-paced, while the guitar is usually slow and soulful when it is in the spotlight.

I think the overall goal of this band on "Fate of a Thousand Worlds" is to transport the listener to another place. I feel that they have achieved that goal, as the sound is ethereal and filled with organs and synth. The tone is also very serious and somber, which has an especially strange effect considered the wackiness of some of the piano. But, it works somehow.

I think the essential tracks on this album are "Empty Soul" (the best), "The Battle of Velasquez", and the epic tracks "End of a Planet" and "Fate of a Thousand Worlds". The album becomes progressively more ethereal and otherworldly, and it closes with a psychedelic, dreamy, synthy journey. Indeed, this album seems to be very good at story-telling in its own way, and I'm very glad I chose to experience it. I can't say it is a modern masterpiece, but I will say that it is exceptionally good and definitely worth any prog fan's time.

3.5 really

Gran Torino from Verona - Italy really impressed me with their first release from 2011, now is time for their second offer issued not long ago in agust 2013.

Fate of a thousand worlds is the name of the seconf album and is another worthy release in progressive/jazz fusion world. The music this time , is to my ears little more towards fusion then on previous album very similar with Plant X, Derek Sherinian solo albums, LTE, well not bad at all, the musicins playing with an amazing ease, all album is instrumental. Lots of keybords melted with guitar passages, quirky drumming, tight rhythmic section, definetly a winner in my book. A good album that desearves attention, but I do feel that I like little bit more their first one more then Fate, here the passages are more edgy more crunchy, but not bad at all, nice instrumental jazz fusion album with some prog elements thgrown in for a good measure. Excellent art work made by one of the most talented artist around Ed Unitsky responsable for art work from The Flower Kings, The Tangent, Azazello, Anima MUndi, etc.

Italian group Gran Torino hails from Verona and started back in 2000 as a cover band, giving it a try to Hard/Heavy Rock classics produced by legends such as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.Over the years though they developed a more prog-inclined repertoire and with the formation of Cristiano Pallaoro on guitar, Alessio Pieri on keyboards, Gian Maria Roveda on drums and Fabrizio Visentini on bass they recorded their debut at Sotto il Mare Records and Gocce Musicali Recording, both placed in their hometown.Entitled ''GrantorinoProg'', the first album of the group was released on Galileo Records.

The title of the album maybe sounds very simplistic and even cheesy, but the music in ''GrantorinoProg'' is exactly the opposite.This is fairly complex, highly rhythmic and intricate Heavy Prog with massive riffs, powerful grooves, tons of twists and big symphonic keyboards.Additionally the group shows a high respect to the Classic Prog era with the extended use of Hammond organ, delivering dynamic waves and long, irritating runs.The music is all instrumental, divided in ten rather short tracks, but the group manages to fill these 5 or 6 minutes with compressed, interesting ideas, ranging from tapping, extremely energetic rhythms, sudden shifting tempos in an quasi-Fusion enviroment and a discreet symphonic aura in the more grandiose synth passages, close to the sound of EXPLORERS CLUB.The whole amalgam is very close to Americans VISUAL CLIFF, eventually offering a balanced effort of memorable tunes, good technique and atmospheric textures.Even for fans of intricate Prog Metal there is something to like in here, as plenty of the guitar moves sound quite metallic and the keyboard work has a few in common with a mass of Symphonic Metal bands at moments.Gran Torino though never forget to deliver a nice melodic part here and there, thus satisfying the listener of less intricate and more melodious musical themes.

Definitely a group to follow.Gran Torino's debut offers an incredible instrumental flexibility, wrapped in a nice Heavy Prog package full of dramatic and atmospheric performances.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

Is this still possible in 2011?

Grinding my way through Italian Prog releases, I do come across the odd, real gem and GRAN TORINO is one of those. Contrary to stated influences, I find little resemblance to KANSAS, DP, or LZ - the latter two I am more in favor of. This release may be closer to a STEVE MORSE side project, or perhaps DJAM KARET on speed.

Heavy-Prog it may be, but the works are equally Symphonic and refreshing at this day and age. An all instrumental work from beginning to end. these guys deliver robust and spirited pieces with no filler material thrown in. There is a slight hint of Metal in places, but not enough to dominate.

Overall, it's an excellent debut album and if these guys were to further evolve and refine their skills, they'd be the darlings of the current Prog scene.

Easily a 4 plus and I am looking forward to further releases.

Unexpected great , well played and full of intresting moments this first album named grantorinoProg from 2011 of the italian band Gran Torino. Progressive/jazz fusion is what they offer, but a fine one all the way. Formed in 2000 in Verona they manage to come with first opus only in 2011. Musicaly speaking this release is almost in places spectacular to my ears, the musicianship is excellent, they play very easy on instruments, creating some great moments here. The opening track Sinapsi shows what potential this band has, with nice keyboards and overall atmosphere. Fox Box or Miridiani are another great pieces with a lot to offer with complex arrangements, nice breaks, tepo changes. All pieces are instrumental So, a very solid release that goes recommended for sure, the band exploring all the prog/jazz fusion realm and the resoult is quite enjoyble. Very nice cover art that goes hand in hand with the music. 4 stars easy.

Gran Torino come from Verona and their roots date back to 2000 when Cristiano Pallaoro (guitars), Alessio Pieri (keyboards, piano), Gian Maria Roveda (drums) and Fabrizio Visentini Visas (bass) started to play for fun as a cover band. In 2009 they began to work on a more ambitious project featuring only original compositions blending influences of bands such as PFM, Genesis, Spock's Beard or Kansas with a personal touch. In 2011 they finally released an interesting debut album on the Swiss independent label Galileo Records, 'grantorinoProg', featuring ten instrumental tracks and a nice art work by Mark Wilkinson. The band showcase here an excellent musicianship and the music flows away like a river on the rocks with a great interplay between keyboards and guitar and a pulsing rhythm section in the background.

Although all the tracks are completely instrumental the band provided some short liner notes for every track, just to give you an idea of what the music is about. The opener 'Sinapsi' is full of obscure energy and invites you to dream and vibrate to the rhythm of music... 'You sleep but you can hear it. You don't know what is it, but you know it is real...'. Some passages recall Goblin and are painted in disquieting deep red colours. The following 'Jack Montorio' tries to evoke a search for tranquillity that drives you far away from home and an emotional storm due to a broken relationship. On the powerful 'Rock Waters' the electric guitar comes alive while the music is in some way related to the images of the art cover. Next comes 'Joy' where the band mix Eastern flavoured harmonies with neoclassical influences inviting you to seize the day.

'Miridiana' is another excellent track full of colours. A mysterious woman paints her face with red eastern dust and looks towards the horizon while ancient maps resurface in her mind... 'Fox Box' is frenzied, claustrophobic. You can run and jump like a fox in a box but you can't break through because the only freedom is in your mind. For this track the band shot a video set in the Roman Theatre of Verona.

'Five' is a nice short acoustic track that leads to the aggressive 'Radio Vox' where the electric guitar is the protagonist. The following 'Eco' recalls Goblin once again with its suggestive atmosphere and its dark organ rides backed by the rhythm section. The long final track, 'Zorro', starts calmly, the mood is dreamy, nocturnal... 'A mask hides your face, a sword defends your feelings. Harmony takes away the mask, melody defeats the sword, and you fly on the wings of your instrument...'.

Well, all in all I think that this is a very good album where the musicians managed to express all their great passion for the music they love without sounding too retro.

This is the debut for heavy proggers GRAN TORINO from Italy. I felt like Andy did as he mentioned in his review that seeing the word "prog" in the album's title made him a little worried. I think I rolled my eyes. Not to worry though as this is a good all-instrumental album.

"Sinapsi" is a fairly bombastic tune with lots of organ. "Jack Montorio" has this repeated guitar line as drums and background synths help out. A change 3 1/2 minutes in as we get some bombast. "Rock Waters" is drum and organ led to start then the guitar arrives before a minute. It picks up after 3 1/2 minutes and synths come in a minute later. "Joy" has lots of tempo changes. It's okay. "Miridiana" sounds great to open and the organ joins in as well. Good track.

"Fox Box" is uptempo at times and I like the guitar. It's hit and miss though. "Five" is a good one and I like the way it builds. "Radio Vox" is led by the guitar before 2 1/2 minutes. "Eco" is kind of spacey to start. Keyboards lead before a minute then a heavy rhythm joins in. Nice. Piano after 3 minutes. "Zorro" becomes fuller before 1 1/2 minutes with guitar. Piano is back leading a minute later then guitar again as it continues to play out.

A low 3 stars but certainly an album I can see a lot of Heavy Prog fans enjoying.

I have to say whenever I see the physical word 'prog' in a band's name, album title, or song title I start to get a little worried. So when I first spun Italian newbies Gran Torino's debut grantorinoProg, you can imagine my trepidation. Any band who acknowledges the fact that their music is 'prog' in such a flamboyant manner is bound to be a little on the pretentious side. And such is the case with Gran Torino's debut. Now don't get me wrong, the band's combination of the classic Hammond and other keyboard noodling with guitar riffs and solos makes for a wonderful and very well crafted heavy prog album, but the general atmosphere of 'hey guys, we're a prog band!' is a bit disquieting. Unnecessary time changes, typical 'prog' instrumental flourishes ' la Rush and Led Zeppelin, a general air of virtuosity and other very typical prog qualities are present on the album and, while of course this is in no way a bad thing, make the album generally fall into the dome of mediocrity.

The Italian quartet's sound can best be described as a Led Zepellinian hard rock mixed with a Rush-inspired progressive outlook with an Atomic Rooster and Deep Purple based melody section. Now of course the whole thing is instrumental, so you can expect plenty of room for the four guys to noodle around their instruments in interesting ways. The instrumental voicings understandably aren't gracefully Baroque or musically intense, but the harmony between the blocky Hammond riffs, guitar lines, bass beats, and drumming make for a nice vintage twang. While when the keyboardist switches from Hammond to whatever else he uses isn't the greatest sound the band could conjure up, the guys are no strangers of whipping out a nice instrumental jam session.

Admittedly the album isn't the most breathtaking progressive offering to date, the boys from Gran Torino have produced a high quality and overall well-presented album to the progressive community. The compositions are tight and well-formed, with the copious amounts of wiggle room apparent in the obvious jam-like feel that permeates the album. The musicianship and timing could be improved in places, but overall the balance of virtuosity and keeping the compositions compositions is well-performed. The 40-something minute album can seem to drag on a bit with the rather repetitive structures of the songs (or lack thereof), but overall this album is a good release from the great Galileo Records. 3 stars.