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Rating: The Italic soil finally gives birth to a band trying to offer more than the usual cloning of melodies and suggestions from celebrated groups beyond the Alps!
While fully embracing the so-called neo-classical metal genre, they are clearly superior to Italian competitors, thanks to an energy and conviction scarcely found in other productions of the genre, in addition to the usual monstrous technical baggage which, however, would do little on its own.
The 'Secret Sphere' position themselves halfway between the harder Malmsteen and the early Dream Theater, with Savatage-like baroque injections making the sound more robust and compelling. The hard and fast heavy rock tracks of Oblivion and The Brave highlight the potential of the band, which also knows how to vary their musical offer in the substantial instrumental Emotions or the frenetic Paganini's Nightmare, one hundred percent Malmsteen-like, but who knows how many times he dreamed of writing a piece like this!
Aldo Lonobile's "transformist" guitar effortlessly shifts from an arpeggiated riffing à la Metal Church, well supported by a solid and gritty lineup and a voice, Roberto Messina's, which, although a bit standardized, performs well in its role of a well-mannered shouter.
Fans of the genre are warned: if you want the best today in Italian neo-classical, you absolutely must pass through Secret Sphere.
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By emanuele
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