New Trolls
FS

I'm making my debut as a reviewer with this 1981 album by New Trolls.

In my opinion, it is the best album of the '80s by the Genoese group, in a united four-member lineup (Belleno, Belloni, De Scalzi, and Di Palo).

Giorgio Usai and especially Giorgio D'Adamo had left the group the previous year, the bassist would not be replaced; in the studio, Nico Di Palo and Ricky Belloni play in his place.

It's a concept album, with the central theme being represented by the train, the characters encountered, and the telling of their stories.

Musically, it's a truly valid album, and it couldn't be otherwise. Compared to the immediately preceding albums, it is more inspired, less song-focused with a decidedly more rock and progressive character.

The album starts with "Il Treno" sung by De Scalzi, which is certainly the most progressive moment of the album, featuring a guitar solo that explodes in its central part.

It continues with "La Signora senza anelli," with a riff that not so vaguely resembles "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones, the song seems to be sung in chorus by the group even though the voices that stand out the most are those of De Scalzi and Belloni.

The third track is Nico's moment, featuring one of his vocal performances and a guitar solo that brings "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zeppelin to mind.

The fourth track "Stelle nelle tue mani," again masterfully sung by Nico, is introduced by a splendid guitar arpeggio. At the chorus moment, it features a guitar solo that this time reminds one of Brian May's guitar.

"Gilda 1929," one of the most beautiful moments with Nico and Ricky Belloni on vocals, is also characterized by a splendid guitar solo (I believe by Belloni), perhaps the most evocative and nostalgic moment of the album.

"Quella luna dolce" is also nice, introduced by the sound of tracks and sung by De Scalzi and Belloni.

"Il Serpenta," sung by De Scalzi, was at the time the 45 of the album; I remember hearing it on Discoring, and it is probably the most immediate track.

After "La mia canzone" with filtered voice, perhaps the least interesting episode of the album, followed by the melancholic "Strano vagabondo" sung by Belleno in falsetto.

It's an album that should be listened to in its entirety and represents the group's best moment in the challenging '80s and definitely deserves a revival and a review on Debaser.it.