(Rock Progressivo Italiano) [CD] Il Segno del Comando - Il Volto Verde - 2013, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Il Segno del Comando biography
With connections to dark Italian progressive bands IANVA, HELDEN RUNE and MALBORA, Genova's 'IL SEGNO DEL COMANDO' (The Sign of Command) take their name from a 1970's novel by Giussepe D'Agata and Italian TV series of the same title that dealt with occult matters, reincarnation and the supernatural. Formed in 1995 by musicians in the above mentioned projects, Mercy and Diego Banchero, the pair aimed away from the Neo-prog style popular with Italian progressive bands of the time and instead wished to compose less immediate music that evoked sadness, anxiety and fear. The project came to the attention of Genova's own Black Widow Records, and with the addition of extra musicians, the 1997 debut self titled album was recorded in two weeks on a shoestring budget. It went on to receive very positive reviews, none more satisfying than by author D'Agata himself, calling at the perfect soundtrack to his novel. Appearances on Black Widow compilations would follow, as well as an equally complex and evocative second work, 'Der Golem', in 2002.

The music is full of classical gothic atmosphere, spooky overwhelming arrangements, cinematic drama and eerie nightmare soundscapes that crawl under your skin. Complex lyrics based around a fascination of gothic literature and esoteric texts are a highlight, frequently contrasting the normality of everyday life with the mystery of the paranormal. The music is very organ driven, with plenty of use of Mellotron and analogue synths for an authentic vintage sound. The piano is frequently classical and theatrical based, bringing an important characteristic that many of the defining Italian bands featured. Folky acoustic guitar passages are reflective and thoughtful, while the grand electric solos can echo ANTONTIO BARTOCCETTI and even CAMEL, heavy, but never enough to have the band confused for being a metal act. Lead vocalist Mercy has a deep, crooning, and intimidating delivery. Add in some psychedelic passages, modern electronic elements and a general wild, uninhibited and experimental approach to make the band truly stand out.

Diego Banchero in his own words: 'IL SEGNO DEL COMANDO' is not a band of purists that exists for the purpose of composing, arranging and playing as they did in the seventies, despite reusing strictly vintage instrumentation. The main reasons that keep us alive are experimentation and research, not only strictly musical, and not only in the past.

With two albums on the Black Widow record label, IL SEGNO DEL COMANDO are for fans of the dark side of the Italian progressive scene such as GOBLIN, ABIOGENESI, JACULA and ANTONIUS REX, the darker moments on classic Italian albums by BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSI and BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO, as well as the works of international bands such as MY DYING BRIDE and MORTE MACABRE.

[Bio by Michael H (Aussie-Byrd-Brother)]
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8267

Il Segno del Comando began life in Genoa in 1995 as a studio project with the aim of reproducing the sound and the atmospheres of bands from the seventies such as Goblin, Il Balletto di Bronzo or Jacula. In 1996 an eponymous album was released on the independent label Black Widow Records, inspired by the novel of the same name by Italian writer Giuseppe D'Agata. In 2001 the band released e second album, Der Golem, inspired by a novel by Austrian writer Gustav Meyrink. In 2013, after a long hiatus and with a renewed line up featuring founder member and main composer Diego Banchero (bass, keyboards, Theremin) along with Giorgio Cesare Neri (guitars), Maethelyiah (lead and backing vocals), Fernando Cherchi (drums, percussions), Maurizio Pustianaz (keyboards, piano, organ), Roberto Lucanato (guitars) and Davide Bruzzi (giutars), the band released another concept album inspired by a novel by Gustav Meyrink, Il volto verde (The Green Face). Many prestigious guests contributed to enrich the sound, among others Claudio Simonetti from Goblin, Gianni Leone from Il Balletto di Bronzo, Martin Grice from Delirium, Vinz Aquarian from Il Ballo delle Castagne or Sophya Baccini. The result is excellent and the music and lyrics perfectly fit the concept although I fear that is almost impossible to completely appreciate this complex work without having read the book that inspired it.
The Green Face was written in 1916 and is set in a surreal Amsterdam post World War I. It is is pervaded by a strong sense of mysticism and spirituality... "I want to see a fresh, unknown world, I want a new sense of wonder such as must strike an infant if he were to become a grown man overnight... I want to be a full-stop rather than eternally a comma in the punctuation of time... ".

The opener "Echi dall'ignoto" (Echoes from the Unknown) is a short instrumental, provided by the guest Federico Pedichini a.k.a. Freddy Delirio from Death SS, that sets the atmosphere. It leads to the nervous, hypnotic "La bottega delle meraviglie" (The Hall of Riddles) that describes a visit to a very strange shop where the borders between reality and dream are blurred. Here the protagonist of the novel, Fortunatus Hauberrisser meets for the first time the strange, haunting character with the green face portrayed in the beautiful art work by Danilo Capua... "It was smooth, with a black strip of cloth tied over its forehead, and yet it was deeply furrowed, like the sea, that can have waves but not wrinkle on its surface. The eyes were like chasms and yet they were the eyes of a human being and not empty sockets. The skin was a greenish olive colour and looked as if it were made of bronze, such as the races of ancient times may have had of whom it is said they were like dark-green gold..."

The dark, Gothic "Chidher il Verde" (Chidher the Green) focuses on the peculiar character with the green face, vaguely based upon the legendary figure of The Wandering Jew. He's been on earth ever since the moon has been circling the heavens and is the one who can show you the way leading to a hidden spirituality... "Prophecy or circularity, claustrophobia, psychic undertow / You are just one step from the gallows / It's the turn of madness to rule over men...".

The following "Trenodia delle dolci parole" (Threnody of the sweet words) features the beautiful vocals of the guest Sophya Baccini and draws a strong sense of loss and impending tragedy. It leads to the short, disquieting instrumental "Il rituale" (The ritual) and to the esoteric, threatening "La congrega delle Zee Dyk" (The Zee Dyk club) where the spectral vocals of another guest, David Krieg, contribute to draw a mystical delirium where the dangerous ritual of a cathartic, spiritual rebirth is consumed with deathly consequences.

"Il manoscritto" (The manuscript) is another track full of dark mysticism and visionary strength. There are some strong classical influences that could recall the Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and a constant flowing of raw energy waves. The protagonist discovers an ancient manuscript that helps him to go through some esoteric experiences... "The weapons of Death are: dream, daze and sleep / From one awakening to another, I live to find a new beginning...".

The excellent instrumental "L'evocazione di Eva" (Eva's evocation) features the guests Claudio Simonetti (organ, Moog and Mellotron) and Martin Grice (flute sax). Along with the following "Retrospettiva di un amore" (Retrospective of a love) it depicts a love where spirituality prevails upon materialism. A strange magic binds the protagonist and his sweetheart, the strange prophecy of a perfect love that is stronger than Death...

"Usibepu" was inspired by the character of the powerful necromancer and shaman of the same name, a violent and merciless Zulu warrior who wanted to possess Eva, the protagonist's fiancée... "Serving under the banner of greediness / I attend to the resurrection / I think again of the caste determination that prevented me from having you / Making even mockery of my magic...".

The dazzling instrumental "L'apocalisse" (The Apocalypse) features the guest Gianni Leone (keyboards, organ, vocals) and describes with sudden vortexes of notes a storm so violent to conjure up the imagine of the end of the world. It leads to the final curtain of "Epilogo" (Epilogue), featuring narrative vocals and an obscure omen... "The walls of Jericho have crumbled / He's back from the Kingdom of Dead...".

On the whole, an excellent, challenging work but beware! It takes many spins to be completely appreciated and, of course, you have to read the book!

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8267

- Diego Banchero / electric bass, fretless bass, keyboards, theremin
- Fernando Cherchi / drums, percussions
- Roberto Lucanato / guitars
- Davide Bruzzi / guitars
- Maethelyiah / lead and backing vocals
With:
- Maurizio Pustianaz, Giorgio Cesare Neri, Claudio Simonetti, Gianni Leone, Freddy Delirio, Martin Grice, Paul Nash, Sophya Baccini, Vinz Aquarian, David Krieg, Alessio Panni