Thousand One Core
Forbidden Desire

THE REVIEW

Amidst the cold winter fog of 2005, a small gem named “Forbidden Desire” appears on the music market, a tasty EP emblematic of the efforts put forth by the Livorno quintet Thousand One Core.

Destined to precede by a few months the anticipated release of the first full-length by the Tuscan band, this mini-album captures an ensemble possessing excellent instrumental technique and great harmony among its individual members: the performance approach is industrious and allows the young group to test their capabilities and fully verify their talent before taking the big leap towards the publication of the future LP.

The sound offering of Thousand One Core stands out for its originality, and within this demo-tape, certain stylistic leaps that exponentially raise the band's profile can be easily highlighted.
The ensemble has the unique ability to create evocative harmonies, reinforcing their neoclassical predisposition with an effective effort from the rhythm section formed by the duo Jacopo Zoppi (bass) – Maurizio Bambara (drums). This latter element especially contributes to the creation of a particularly expressive and varied sound, leaving noticeable traces on the skins of a very heavy musical heritage that seems to sink its roots in the devastating drumming of Donald Tardy (Obituary) and Vinnie Paul Abbott (Pantera).

On the sonic canvas shaped with good technique by the young keyboardist Fabio Gatti, interesting guitar evolutions are effectively outlined, crafted with class by axeman Paolo Picone: it is in his figure that we find the emotional leader of the group, the fundamental pivot around which spins the whirlwind of emotions generously dispensed by Thousand One Core. In the band's artistic proposal, pleasant dark reminiscences can be found, in line with the elaborate and elegant style of acts such as The Damned and Sisters Of Mercy, cleverly intertwined with purely rock developments typical of the second and definitive incarnation of The Cult.
The opener “Love Your Murder” demonstrates a considerable commercial appeal, focusing on the immediacy of the scores without sacrificing its dark soul to sordid market needs. The melodies of “Lost The Hopes Nothing Remains But The End” lead us to examine the deeper and contemplative side of the group, creating a moment of pure inner reflection.

The quintet immediately stands out thanks to very personal and introspective lyrics: tracks such as “Dark Wings Of Rain” and “Infection” are a shining example. The poetic approach to songwriting further enhances this young ensemble's offering, enriching its intentions. Bringing the dance to a close is the convincing choral performance offered in “Affogando In Una Lacrima”, a song in which the ensemble led by Paolo Picone fearlessly tackles singing in their native language, giving birth to an excellent episode of dark ballad where the restless spirit of great episodes of the past like “Re del Silenzio” and “Apapaia” hovers, both products of the experiments conducted by Litfiba in the mid-'80s with the masterpiece album “17 Re”.

The announced line-up change that will see the appreciated and charismatic singer Lavinia Caprini replace the dark tones and shamanic screaming of Alessandro Pancani (akin to the style of Ian Astbury, singer of the aforementioned The Cult) should give rise to vocal lines more suited to the stylistic evolutions of Thousand One Core, a band firmly determined to continue at high speed on the artistic tracks laid out in this EP, amplifying to the maximum the impact of their unstoppable melodies.
(Enrico Rosticci)