The Conqueror, a long-standing Italian prog band, celebrates their 20 years of activity with a beautiful live box set. The album, titled “L’altra verità,” contains a CD and a DVD and was recorded at Giardini Naxos on May 16, 2014, during the tour promoting the recent “Stems” (2014). The Conqueror are from Messina and have released five albums so far. After the raw debut of “Istinto,” the Messina group matured and managed to create a sound oriented towards classical symphonic music starting with the subsequent “Storie fuori dal tempo,” which inaugurated the collaboration with Ma.Ra.Cash Records. The group's sound is centered on the keyboard skills of the talented Simona Rigano, who also handles vocals. In the best tradition of Italian prog, perhaps the voice is the weak point of Conqueror: it is actually pleasant but becomes monotonous and lacks depth over time. Meanwhile, unfortunately, they lost flutist and saxophonist Sabrina Rigano, who added new shades to the sound, while drummer and historic founder Natale Russo remains at the helm. On guitar is one of the latest additions, Ture Pagano, who undoubtedly brought new freshness with his effective solos. Completing the lineup is bassist Peppe Papa.

The setlist gives ample room to the latest "Stems" while spanning the entire career of the Conqueror, dusting off even two tracks from their first album “Istinto” like “Pensieri fragili” and “La Strada del Graal.” “Un’altra verità” opens with the beautiful and enchanted “Gina” from “Stems”: a splendid song characterized by incisive “Floydian” guitar solos and sinuous yet unintrusive keyboards: a true gem for all fans of symphonic style Locanda delle Fate. The following “Di notte” also treads very close to the classic 70s Italian prog territories of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and PFM: the Conqueror prove to focus on melody and succeed with great class. The beginning of “False idee” is very reminiscent of the Pink Floyd. After “Un’altra realtà,” it’s the turn of another flagship of “Stems” like “Sigurtà,” very poetic and refined. In “Pensieri fragili,” it is possible to hear all the instrumental skill of the group, while “No photo” shines with oriental nuances. “La strada del Graal” is fairy-tale-like and delicate, soft and measured. In “Cormorani,” Simona Rigano showcases her skill on the piano. The closure is entrusted to the medley of “L’ora di parlare (end entropia),” one of the peaks of the entire album, with aggressive and rock sounds: a triumph of prog in grand style. The DVD includes one more track (“Echi di verità”) and also features interviews with the band members (Rigano, Russo, and Pagano), very interesting for understanding the genesis of the various albums.

The Conqueror confirm themselves as an excellent band that certainly deserves the attention of prog enthusiasts. If your bread and butter are Genesis, Camel, and the symphonic, don’t hesitate to buy their CDs.

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