Goblin 4
Four Of A Kind

The name of the Goblin is legendary and known worldwide. Although they can be defined as a "progressive" group, in reality, Goblin managed to reach the most diverse audiences, from metalheads to gothic-rock enthusiasts, mainly thanks to the incredible synergy achieved through the soundtracks of Dario Argento's films. It is not an exaggeration to say that movies like Profondo Rosso or Suspiria would somehow feel "incomplete" without the musical score by Goblin. Currently, Goblin has split into two factions: on one side, the historical keyboardist Claudio Simonetti with his project Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin continues, admittedly a bit wearily, to offer tributes and homages to his career, as seen in the recent celebratory version for the 40th anniversary of Profondo Rosso. But even the other members of the group, who have amended the old name to Goblin 4, had, perhaps not very creatively, the same idea in 2015 and released “Four Of A Kind,” an album conceived to celebrate once again the 40th anniversary of Profondo Rosso.

Now a new version is being released by Black Widow of Genoa in a luxurious edition with a bonus track, which also includes four cards representing the four members of Goblin 4. The new incarnation indeed includes all the old musicians except, of course, Simonetti: thus, we find the historical bassist Fabio Pignatelli, the legendary drummer Agostino Marangolo, Massimo Morante on guitar, and Maurizio Guarini on keyboards, and in one track, Agostino Marangolo on sax. Four Of A Kind is, fortunately, in the typical Goblin style without any metal or otherwise distasteful contamination. From the initial "Uneven Times," we are projected into the dark, dark-prog and horror atmospheres that have been their fortune. The next track, "In The Name Of Goblin," echoes, thanks to Massimo Morante's guitar arpeggios and Guarini's keyboards, the settings of Profondo Rosso. Another highlight of the album is "Kingdom," where Guarini's sumptuous, gothic, and regal keyboards create a dark and brooding atmosphere that becomes increasingly powerful thanks to Fabio Pignatelli's pulsating bass. The bonus track in this new edition presents us with a live version of the track "Goblin" from the legendary Roller of 1976. Goblin fans will find plenty to sink their teeth into and will not be disappointed by Four Of A Kind, which, overall, proves to be a respectable album.