Goblin
Il fantastico viaggio del "bagarozzo" Mark

LA RECENSIONE

Year 1978. Italian Prog began to lose ground. It was the time of punk and new wave. In that same year, Area released an album with a rather explicit title: "Gli Dèi se ne vanno, Gli arrabbiati restano" (The Gods depart, the angry remain). The "Gods" back then could be interpreted as the champions of progressive and experimental rock. The "angry" ones, on the other hand, were the "unyielding" protestors who, shortly thereafter, would give life to new eras of underground music.

Yet, even in late '78, there were those who had something to say in the prog domain: the Goblin.
When the name Goblin is mentioned, unfortunately, people tend to spout the usual clichés. Everyone, basically, remembers Simonetti and company's band as the creator of the soundtrack for "Profondo Rosso". According to the ignorant Italian crowd, which blissfully ignores the gems from its own country, the group has never shone for excessive originality.
Few, instead, know that part of their discography unlinked from the celluloid format and, specifically, from Dario Argento's films.

Already with "Roller", in 1976, the Goblin had decided to go their own way.
"Il Fantastico Viaggio del Bagarozzo Mark" was an attempt to repeat that experiment, adding vocal and spoken parts.
The album in question is a concept that, through very fairy-tale-like metaphors, narrates the world of drugs and "lysergic" trips. The tracks follow the band's classic style with the addition of lively hard rock.
It feels like being suspended in a magical world listening to these songs. 
"Mark Il Bagarozzo", "Le Cascate di Viridiana", and "Notte", trust me, are jewels of that Italian dark-sound which is envied by half the world.
Explosive and overwhelming is the final track "E Suono il Rock".
A last appeal to all users: even if you're not prog-maniacs (and I certainly am not), I believe you'll be captivated by the sound and the voice of the most famous goblins of the peninsula. Look for it!