Universal Totem Orchestra
Rituale Alieno

Italy's progressive scene is not dead! In fact, it lives on, though in today's market it might seem elite.

Among them stands out this band, which distinguishes itself from others not only for their excellent technique but also for the peculiarity of expanding their musical territories towards Zeuhl (listen to "Magma", "Dun", "Eskaton", "Ruins" and "Zao").

But what is "Zeuhl"? Zeuhl is an adjective in Kobaïan (the language written by Christian Vander, drummer and founder of the group Magma) and it is a sort of celestial music mainly called "music of the universal mind", invoking genres like Neoclassicism, Jazz-Fusion, and oppressive marches.

Finally, even here in Italy appears a Zeuhl band, naturally after Runaway Totem, who with this debut album from 1999 shatters the usual rock music landscapes! "Rituale Alieno" is a solid sonic brick to savour and appreciate slowly; it deserves a thorough listen but in the end, leaves you overwhelmed by its depth. There are 6 tracks that last for a beautiful 66 minutes: "Pane Astrale", "Saturno", "Il viaggio di Elric", "Ipernauta del tempo centrale", "Antichi Occhi Ciechi", and "Meccanica Superiore".

The Magma influence is remarkable, the music evolves continuously (listen to "Saturno", by the end of the song, you won't understand how it began), while "Pane Astrale", the most direct piece of the suite, features a really intense soprano voice ("Ann Torres Fraile") paired with a melancholic viola. The album's atmosphere reaches peaks of total chaos, psychedelia, and dispersion culminating in grotesque and thoroughly enjoyable moments.

Dark music, Metal, Progressive? Well! It’s hard to tell, but zeuhl remains a style still to be studied today. Universal Totem Orchestra made it! An excellent band and an excellent debut, now we await The Magus.

Highly recommended!