Review Summary: Symphony of rebirth
I've always had a soft spot for catchy melody. I grew up listening to pop hits from the late '70s and '80s, a period when artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, A-ha or Alphaville were buzzing on radio and television shows. This taste for good cheese has remained until today. Even though I'm more focused on extreme metal these days, a tuneful song gets me every time.
Briefly contextualizing, Turilli / Lione Rhapsody were formed in late 2018 by former Rhapsody of Fire members Luca Turilli and Fabio Lione, who completed the lineup with ex-band mates Alex Holzwarth, Patrice Guers, and Dominique Leurquin. Immediately after its formation, the band started a crowdfunding campaign to fund the debut album, which would be released six months later. Therefore, band and album took shape in a very short period of time, something that could only happen due to great familiarity of processes between musicians, who knew each other quite well.
To be honest, the first singles didn't grab me immediately, I found the sound somewhat sterile and artificial. The videos aesthetics and the Hollywood-esque over the top artwork didn't help either. In this sense, I was waiting for
Zero Gravity (Rebirth And Evolution) with some suspicion and low expectations.
Unexpectedly, when I reheard "Phoenix Rising" and "D.N.A. (Demon and Angel)", the first songs of the album, and curiously also the singles I had heard before, the impression was radically different. I found both songs enjoyable and entertaining. I don't have any logical explanation for what happened. Maybe because I just focused on music (without listening through video), I don't know, but the experience was different, for the better.
These first two songs are a good introduction to the album, featuring the traditional symphonic style of the band, in a direct and familiar way. Both have catchy signatures, the main difference being the participation of Elize Ryd, from Amaranthe, in "D.N.A. (Demon and Angel)", who adds a touch of charm to the song, namely to the empathic chorus, which gets stuck in our head. "Zero Gravity" drifts towards a more broadway-esque neoclassical approach, creating a pleasing contrast to previous songs and the one that follows, "Fast Radio Burst", which is one of the album's heaviest and most vibrant moments, sometimes reminiscent of Dream Theater. We are now halfway through
Zero Gravity (Rebirth And Evolution) reaching "Decoding the Multiverse", whose highlight is unquestionably the Queen-esque section, being a pleasant tribute to the greatest voice rock ever had. "Origins" is a brief, but interesting, neoclassical note, presenting an attractive set of vocal harmonies, which, while not original, is always pleasing. So far, the album has shown the cohesiveness and diversity needed to keep the listener interested. If following songs like "Multidimensional" or "I Am" retain a more direct approach, the romantic "Amata immortale" and "Arcanum (Da Vinci's Enigma)" enhance the operatic and orchestral side of the band, being the most ambitious musical pieces of
Zero Gravity (Rebirth And Evolution). The album ends with Josh Groban's cover "Ocean", which, while not adding artistic value, closes it in a smooth and unpretentious way.
Luca Turilli says
Zero Gravity (Rebirth And Evolution) is "the perfect album of transition from the power/speed metal of the past to a new generation of modern symphonic metal offering us new exciting artistic stimulations, wider perspectives and future possibilities". I'll leave the interpretation of these words to semiotics experts. I apologize, but now I'm busy enjoying a good Italian cheese and a nice glass of red wine.
Buon appetito!
