Kingcrow
Phlegethon

Holding hands, on the shoreline, in a restless atmosphere, spotting stormy clouds on the horizon while listening to the sea without concern: a sweet contrast between calmness and uncontrollable fury. I'm not talking, dear friends, about a plot excerpt from the latest popular holiday comedy movie of the season, but merely translating into words what ''Phlegethon'' -the fourth work of the local progsters Kingcrow- manifests to the eyes (the cover is delightful and explanatory) and ears of the lucky ones who choose to trust this recommendation.

After the successful concept album ''Timetropia'' released in 2006, expectations were high -at least for me- for the new release by the combo led by brothers Diego and Thundra Cafolla (guitar and drums, respectively). When it comes to prog-metal, what's essential isn't the search for and evolution of unexperimented elements, but the ability to blend various musical influences and nuances which -inevitably- surface to produce quality songs that aren't merely technical displays.

Well, Kingcrow knows how to do all that remarkably well. As demonstrated in the past, they are a Progressive band, but defining them as such alone would be highly reductive. Let's clarify: in fact, out of the 12 tracks present here, only a couple follow certain unequivocal patterns associated with the aforementioned genre: the multifaceted and complex suite ''Numb Incipit, Climax & Coda'' (with Pain Of Salvation peeking in from afar) and the instrumental ''Timeshift Box'' with clear Dream Theater influences on the main riff. All the rest is strongly anchored to various suggestions; from the vigorous ''Lovocaine'' reminiscent of Tool, passing through ''A New Life'', a track that bridges with the hard rock atmospheres of Insider (2003); or the touching ''Washing Out Memories'' which offers moments of exquisite sweetness worthy of the best Porcupine Tree (the ones from "In Absentia" and "Fear Of..." to be clear), leading to the folk melodies of ''Island'' and ''Lullaby For An Innocent''. However, the tracks that elevate the album to Olympus are primarily the single ''Evasion'' with its electronic start and well-devised refrain, ''Fading Out pt III'' for its pleasant hybrid with rhythms bordering flamenco, and especially the title track, the pinnacle and compositional manifesto of the album; its dark and whispered attack preludes a fantastic and unmatched funk break before returning to dramatic shores and concluding our efforts, just as it all originated in the intro ''The Slide'': the sound of sea waves. The sea, now it’s clear, is seen as a bearer either of deep inner suffering or boundless euphoria.

All the members of this brilliant ensemble (let us remember the not yet mentioned Ivan Nastasi on the second guitar, Cristian Della Polla on keyboards, and Francesco D'Errico on bass) seem to give their best without overreaching, but a note of merit certainly goes to the new singer Diego Marchesi, delivering an outstanding performance with his Geoff Tate-like timbre.

I've often heard, almost as a preconceived notion, assertions that Italian metal leaves much to be desired. Well, by purchasing ''Phlegethon'', you will realize for yourselves how daring this statement is in certain cases and discover one of the most unjustly overlooked prog bands you've ever known.

To ignore them further would be a crime.