Zucchero's breakthrough album, which convincingly blends black music and pop with songs rich in interesting arrangements and a groove.
The first step towards what will be his best album.

Tacklist:
1. Blue's Introduction 60/100
2. Con Le Mani 74/100
3. Pippo ... read more

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's second album is a great prog album, a concept album about evolution from a Darwinian perspective.
A work that has nothing to envy of the great English bands of the same period. Only the imperfect production is a small downside.

The album has some interesting ideas, but it fails to attract your attention like the previous ones.
It seems that they are looking for their way after the departure of Isaac Wood.

It's hard to review this album: on one hand it's the Metallica album you didn't want, on the other hand, trying to listen to it without thinking that it's a Metallica album, it's a decent hard/rock/blues album. Probably if it had come out with another moniker, and without knowing who was playing, the evaluation would change, as well as some cuts to the less successful songs.

Another step towards more experimental and jazzy atmospheres compared to the previous "Making Movies". The first 2 songs are worth buying the album.

This album represents the stylistic evolution of the band that from the pop-rock of the first records began to insert influences of jazz, blues, country and folk.
The length of the songs increased considerably and the arrangements became more refined and complex.
Side A and the first song of side B of a very high level, then the album slowly drops and becomes less interesting... but those first 4 songs are enough to define this a great album.

A Change of Seasons, as a song, is a pearl, full of changes of atmosphere connected to each other with intelligence, and the alternation of sung and instrumental sections is appreciable and will become the trademark of the band's long suites.
A negative note is the production: the drums sound with the classic "pot-effect", and the voice is a bit too far back in the mix.
Nice covers at times, but they are a side dish that can also be forgotten: the essence is all in the track that ... read more

A declaration of love to the 70s and 80s and the music the French duo grew up with.
A record made to be listened to rather than danced to. For me a great record

Softer album than the previous one both in terms of composition, with a more defined song form, and production, cleaner.
Not all the songs are successful, especially in the second part of the album.
Ultimately, even if I preferred the previous one, this is absolutely a good album.

In this album the sound is cleaner and more precise and does more justice to the songs of this excellent album.
The songs remain anchored to the thrash/death metal soul of the band even if they begin the first deviations and experiments of their sound with hardcore, punk and industrial insertions.
The initial triptych is of a very high level and the remaining songs are still of an excellent level.

The songs always have some good riffs but nothing sticks in your head or particularly hits you. If we then add the mediocre voice, the lack of vocal lines that remain impressed or are singable and the barely sufficient production the vote explains itself. Too bad, it could be better because the ideas are there too.
In addition, unlike many, I find the cover of Purple Haze senseless.

1. Intro 20/100
2 . Absorbed ... read more

The band continues in the wake of the debut album but here the production work of the album is more elaborate than the previous one, although it is the work of the always Rick Rubin.
The band has the ability to move between heavy breakdowns and genuinely melodic moments without anything seeming forced.
The tracklist is pressing and does not give a moment of respite, without there ever being the desire to skip a track.

An album that is worth listening to but that ultimately doesn't particularly impress me.

Nevermore's second album is the first that sounds like a Nevermore album (the first is too derivative and sounds like something else).
The Politics of Ecstasy is a solid album, the songs are enjoyable even if they slow down a bit in the second half of the album.
Some songs are good, none can be called a masterpiece.

1. The Seven Tongues of God - 85/100
2. This Sacrament - 84/100
3. Next in Line - 78/100
4. Passenger - 75/100
5. The Politics of Ecstasy - 76/100
6. Lost - ... read more

Damage Done clearly comes from the combination of The Mind’s I, Projector. However, while in the previous albums each song was recognizable, here the songs do not stand out and all seem a bit similar and the first deja-vu can be glimpsed in the songwriting.
Good but not excellent.

Judas Priest confirm themselves among the leading exponents of heavy metal also adapting to the times by winking at speed metal.
In addition, the production manages to surpass that of Screaming For Vengeance: powerful, full, defined, clear... a wall of sound that hits you directly, but in which you can distinguish and appreciate every single nuance.

The mix of hard-rock, British folk, traditional classical instruments make "Aqualung" the most musically varied and balanced album of the band's production.

The album is full of good ideas and interesting compositional solutions, but only in the last track does it manage to put it all together.
An album that once finished leaves nothing in your head.

A mix of mix of math-rock, post-punk, progressive, hard-rock and jazz that is only partially successful: although they don't invent anything new, black midi mix all their influences creating something new and interesting. The album is only half successful, however, and there are no songs that can get into your head and be memorable.

Album that in style does not differ from the first album, maybe just a little heavy.
However for me a step forward towards what will be their peak.