Biglietto Inferno

When the guys of Nuova Era debuted with 'L'Ultimo Viaggio', they were seeing themselves as mere heirs of a glorious prog time passed: what they couldn't foresee by then was that they were actually pioneering an era of, as some label it, prog revival in Europe. Since this is the starting point, Nuova Era has not managed yet to achieve its own voice, that is, they are still very dependant on the peculiar sounds that their old predecessors created. Nuova Era articulates a prog with a hard rock leaning, infused with a melodic sensibility (like Alphataurus, Biglietto per l'Inferno, and to a lesser degree, Museo Rosenbach) and a sombre romanticism (Apoteosi, E. A. Poe). Their repertoire comprises plenty of excellent musical ideas, such as catchy melodies, well crafted textures on keyboards (the main factor), a tight confident rhythm section, interesting guitar and synth solos…

Forming back in 2010 at Irpinia, Italy, and spending a couple of years touring and eventually recording, Locus Amoenus released their debut album `Clessidra' (Hourglass) on September 28th 2013, and it keeps up the strong tradition of dynamic Italian progressive releases from recent years. However, what sets them instantly apart is that band work at the darker, noisier and dirtier end of RPI, more influenced by the likes of Biglietto per L'Inferno and the dark jazz of Delirium due to the heavy attacking presence of sax and flute. The musicians contrast soft and heavy, electric and acoustic passages with plenty of building, brooding atmosphere.

Inspired by George Orwell's bleak '1984' novel, "1984: L'Ultimo Uomo d'Europa" ("1984: The Last Man in Europe") explodes with dark symphonic atmospheres and wild energetic outbursts with a welcome dirty production by way of a battery of vintage keyboards, buzzsaw-like guitars and passionate ravishing vocals. Sounding very much like the second coming of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Il Balletto di Bronzo and Biglietto per l'Inferno with a dash of Cervello, it makes a huge musical statement in the same way that modern debut albums like 'La Crudelta di Aprile' by the youthful Unreal City and 'In Hoc Signo' by Ingranaggi Della Valle did in recent years, and it's the absolute standout R.P.I/Italian prog release of 2015, perhaps already a true modern classic by those lucky to have discovered it.

A cymbal goes off, some frantic bass drumming and then the tight heavy theme takes off. What immideatly catches the attention is the pumping, hard melody. Here is the same furios power that was all over the previous album "La Bibbia". But this time the tracks are more progressive, more carefully arranged. After the somewhat disappointing "La Bibbia" this time the band sounds much more self confident, and with better production…

J.E.T. is an Italian foursome who released a couple of albums in the early 70's of which the second is of particular interest to progsters. Their style is reminiscent of MUSEO ROSENBACH and IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO but more aggressive. After the release of their second album, some members joined ex-MUSEO ROSENBACK's Giancarlo Golzi and switched the name to The MATIA BAZAR, a more commercial rock outfit that is still alive today.