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Rating: Passing through the happy self-titled debut of 1999 and the half misstep (for many, it’s a masterpiece) of "Solo Un Grande Sasso," in 2004 "Il Suicidio del Samurai" appeared as a very good album that still held hope for this young band from Bergamo, composed of the Ferrari brothers (singer/guitarist Alberto and drummer Luca) and Roberta Sammarelli (bass).
Preceded by the single "Muori Delay", on March 16, 2007, Verdena released their fourth album: "Requiem." Compared to its predecessor, this new work, at first glance, seems to me more aggressive and less catchy. Not that it's a flaw, on the contrary... I believe it turned out to be a dirty and fascinating album. Right from the decadent cover, reminiscent of certain visual atmospheres of the Velvet Underground, we are faced with an attractive and mysterious record. And the content will not differ much from its surface.
Obviously, if you don't like this group, which is understandable for the most hardcore fans of hard rock and progressive, I don't recommend you to approach "Requiem" at all. We already know Verdena, they certainly can't start sounding like the Jimi Hendrix Experience from one day to the next.
"Marti In The Sky" begins the album with several gunshots: almost a call to attention. And indeed we are immediately dragged into the refined rawness of "Don Calisto". Among the most interesting pieces on the album worth noting are the electric wave of "Non Prendere L'Acme, Eugenio", the splendid semi-acoustic ballads "Angie" and "Trovami Un Modo Semplice Per Uscirne", and the long musical digressions of "Il Gulliver" and the concluding "Sotto Prescrizione Del Dott. Huxley". "Aha" and "Opanopono" are brief fragments featuring Luca on percussion and synthesizer, respectively.
After the success of "Il Suicidio del Samurai", Verdena did not veer towards something softer and more accessible, but rather increased the dose of electric guitars and revived the evocative melodies of "Solo Un Grande Sasso", to finally extract something worthwhile. Bullseye.
Tracklist:
1. Marti In The Sky
2. Don Calisto
3. Non Prendere L'Acme, Eugenio
4. Angie
5. Aha
6. Isacco Nucleare
7. Canos
8. Il Gulliver
9. Faro
10. Muori Delay
11. Trovami Un Modo Semplice Per Uscirne
12. Opanopono
13. Il Caos Strisciante
14. Was?
15. Sotto Prescrizione Del Dott. Huxley
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Other reviews
By Blackart
'Requiem is a well-crafted album, yet at the same time, it sounds raw, it’s a work that sweats rock!'
With this fourth album, Verdena reaches complete maturity, fully utilizing the teachings of the sacred monsters of rock.
By The Publisher
"'Requiem' is an aberration of such atrocious dimensions, as to trigger homophobic tendencies among the most gastro-sensitive."
"'Requiem,' or (intentionally!) the death of that little healthy and genuine that remained in our 'beautiful' country."
By 4urelio
With this album, they demonstrate significant growth and prove to be one of the best bands on the Italian scene.
Verdena manage to unravel what is inside our souls, describing our lives with violence, madness but also sweetness.
By ServoDiMiyamoto
"Requiem is a magnificent album, the pinnacle that Verdena can reach today."
"They are the future of Italian rock’n’roll. Why stay behind?"
By Dodo
This album, in our opinion, is the explosive product of Verdena’s latest experiences.
The lyrics are indeed wonderful: abstract just enough, effective, metaphoric, and as mentioned, ironic too.
