Pavic
Taste Some Liberty

Is there a musical entity capable of encapsulating within its essence the springtime sky of A.O.R., the sensual summer warmth of '80s hard rock, the autumnal riffing of Deep Purple, and the torrential energy contained in the icy Scandinavian rock movement? Pavic, the new legends of Italian hard and heavy, are here to fully earn such an epithet, bolstered by the unstoppable power of their debut album "Taste Some Liberty". The band's moniker is inextricably linked to the name of axe-man Marko Pavic, an exceptional guitarist native of Belgrade (but residing in Italy for years), graduated from the University of Music in Rome and a student of great figures like Umberto Fiorentino, Massimo Morioni, and Massimiliano Rosati. Endowed with crystalline talent and a truly unique ability to craft solos of explosive emotional intensity, this extraordinary musician has decided to put his expertise to the service of an ensemble capable of channeling his extraordinary stylistic evolutions into the searing tracks of pure hard rock.

The combo led by guitar hero Marko Pavic and the surprising singer Chris Catena relies on the valuable support offered by the rhythm section formed by Aleks Ferrara (bass) and Daniel Flores (drums, already at work with Mind's Eye and Xsavior), perfectly complemented by the evocative keyboard evolutions of Lorenzo Antonelli.
Formal elegance, unstoppable surges of energy, sinuous and engaging riffs: this is the recipe that makes their debut album "Taste Some Liberty" a truly unique product in the European landscape; published by Anteo Records and distributed in Italy by Masterpiece and in Germany by Point Music, this LP was recorded in 2005 at the "I Fenomeni" studio in Rome by Fabrizio Frezza and mastered by Dragan Tanaskovic at the Bohus Studio in Kungalv, Sweden.
By best coordinating the quintet's potential, Marko Pavic skillfully weaves deep and elaborate guitar passages, delighting us with the outstanding ensemble performance delivered in the excellent opening duo composed of the granitic "Restless Soul" and the seductive melodies of "Summer Of '98".
Our hero pays homage to the sharp and intense style of Mickey Moody (historic axe of Whitesnake), drawing inspiration also from the wild riffing of Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest) and the geometric solos generated by the underrated Warren De Martini (Ratt).

The influence of the White Snake is perceptible throughout the duration of the album, but the style of Pavic proves sufficiently personal to stand as a reference band for the European scene in the years to come, picking up the baton right from the hands of David Coverdale.
The beautiful ballad "Once" gently introduces a heavy version of the Supertramp classic "Logical Song", while the small masterpiece "Desperate Cry" soars to the empyrean thanks to the brilliant voice-guitar phrasing excellently supported by the groove generated by the mighty rhythm section.
A very careful and refined use of keyboards by the brilliant Lorenzo Antonelli harks back to the work of John Lord in "Come An’ Get It" (1981) by Whitesnake, indicating that we are finally facing a worthy heir of the great Ruggero Zanolini (Vanadium).
Pavic's compositional talent emerges forcefully also in "Convicted", "Night Life" and "Fear", tracks that confirm the group's melodic attitude, properly introducing the splendid ballad "Sail With Me", a concentrate of heavenly harmonies that seal the delivery to posterity of this masterpiece album.

The multifaceted roots of this band also delve into the delicate A.O.R. of acts such as Journey, Toto, and Survivor, allowing ample space even for classic metal reminiscences typical of Dokken’s "Under Lock And Key" (1985) and pyrotechnic technicalities in full Van Halen style.
The epilogue of this excellent product is entrusted to the exhilarating cover of Rainbow's "Death Alley Driver", a song that ideally closes a decidedly memorable work.
Chris Catena's vocals prove effective in expertly emphasizing the incisive touch of Marko Pavic, soaring on the wings of original and sparkling riffs.
In the end, "Taste Some Liberty" embodies the peak of melodic hard rock production achieved in our country in the last 15 years, entering the select number of masterpieces which also includes "Pizza Connection" (1989) by Miss Daisy, "Due" (1989) by Elektradrive, and "Seventheaven" (1989) by Vanadium.

Thanks to the presence of particularly relevant collaborations, such as those of illustrious international guests like virtuoso axe-man Kee Marcello (Europe and K2), keyboardists Vitalij Kuprij (Artension, Ring Of Fire) and Vivien Lalu, as well as the renowned bass player Tony Franklin (Blue Murder, Whitesnake, and Jimmy Page), Pavic's debut album represents, even at the level of human resource management, a unique occurrence in the history of Italian hard rock. 
"Taste Some Liberty" should be considered without any reservation as the most valid response from our country to the Scandinavian hard rock wave and the reborn street movement across the ocean: thanks to a debut recording of titanic proportions, Pavic stand as candidates to be elected "rock band for all seasons".

(Enrico Rosticci)