Aquefrigide
Un Caso Isolato

I discovered them on Halloween night in Palestrina, it was a memorable concert!

Or should I say "I discovered him"! Yes, because actually I'm talking about a "one man band", in the style of Nine Inch Nails, and the genius behind the name "Aquefrigide" (that's exactly how it's spelled, it's not that I don't know Italian!) is bre beskyt dyrene (what does that mean? Who knows!).

The performance was electrifying, believe me! After that night, I searched for their album (or "his", whatever, don't be a pain!) everywhere. Then I realized I needed to go to a record store. Still, I couldn't find it even if I wanted to pay for it (strange, isn't it?), and so I even sent emails to the guy, who never replied (oh well, he's a bit of a jerk, what's the problem?). After such a long wait and many twists and turns, I finally got it! I have the album, and I'm listening to it nonstop! It has truly bewitched me!

"Aquefrigide" is the most interesting thing I've heard recently, and perhaps the only novelty on the Italian scene (along with the great Fiale, whom I've recommended many times but none of you have gone to listen to! Bastards!). It's alternative rock, but while it evokes more famous Italian acts like Marlene Kuntz, it distinguishes itself with strong Industrial influences (yes, Nine Inch Nails, the more industrial Marilyn Manson… but especially Ministry and Throbbing Gristle) and the use of electronic drums (Don't worry, it sounds great!). Of course, it also occasionally recalls the greats of grunge, especially in the slower, more atmospheric tracks, but most of the album is dominated by a much more metal fury. From time to time, refined psychedelic nuances emerge in the arrangements which, together with polyrhythms and mind-blowing effects, transform solid two or three chord riffs into something exciting. And let's face it, the guy sings incredibly well! Very versatile voice, particularly expressive in screams.

This album isn't something you can just talk about: you have to listen to it! What I've written almost downplays this work. To make it clearer, it might help to tell you that among the "band's" influences are CCCP, Ruins, Einsturzende Neubauten, Monte Cazazza, Tool, Isis, William S. Burroughs. Go get it, it's definitely worth it!

A small critique (well, just one!): the lyrics often (veeeeeery often!) fall into the most gratuitous vulgarity. Those who know me know I'm certainly not a demure maiden (in fact, I utter 96% of the world's swearing!), but here sometimes it's just too much! And I must say that some parts of the lyrics are uniquely naive, sometimes embarrassingly so. However, there are also pieces with refined songwriting, worthy of the best Afterhours and Marlene Kuntz (yes, refined in that sense! We're not talking about De André here!). To be fair, it must be said that this type of lyrics is the same as our beloved American bands, only it's more noticeable in Italian when a song repeats "shit" forty times.

This album deserves the highest praise because the music is excellent, the lyrics are quite good, and the interpretation is superb. Moreover, "Aquefrigide" blazes a possible new trail for the Italian rock scene, we'll see what happens next…