(Eclectic Prog / Progressive Rock) Arbatel - 2CD: "Gamadion" "Sumerios" - 2004-2008, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

#777Tracks Listing:
1. Catarsis
2. Necropolis
a) Aversion
b) Efugio
c) Paseo Por Necropolis
d) Subversion
e) Efugio Pt. 2
3. Nemesis
4. Xolotl
a) Asedio
b) El Lamento de Xolotl
c) La Cruz Detras De La Espada
d) Crepusculo De Un Pueblo
e) Cortejo Funebre
5. La Fuga
6. Gamadion
a) Preambulo A Una Masacre
b) Irrupcion Intempestiva
c) Caos Belico
d) La Ruta De La Desolacion
e) Hecatombe
7. Tu che sei (bonus track)
a) Falsi Paradisi
b) Salici
c) Conclusione
8. Xolotl (version cantada)
Total time: 01:00:32

Musicians:
- Raul Morones Munoz / Guitar
- Aldo Corvera Rivas / Drums
- Omar Morones Munoz / Bass
- Mario Morones Hernandez / Piano, organ, synthesizer

guests:
- Cristina Peralta / Vocals
- Paolo Bruno / Vocals
- Jose L. Benitez / Viola, violin

#777Tracks Listing:
1. Alabanza
2. Preludio (Nibiru)
3. Encuentro con Shamash
4. Marduk
5. Llanto de Tiamat
6. La Batalla (Fin de un mundo)
7. Base Espacial Ki
8. Creacion del obrero primitivo
9. Mortaja de humo (Destino Final)
Total time: 00:43:21

Musicians:
- Mario Morones Hernandez / keyboards
- Aldo Corvera Rivas / drums
- Omar Aljandro Morones Munoz / bass
- Raul Morones Munoz / guitar
- Rosario Maza Hernandez / vocals
- Antonio Chiu de la O / producer, artwork

ARBATEL is one of the potentially significant and important prog rock groups from Mexico, since, with a straight passion for this kind of music, they've

imposed themselves through numerous performances, two major releases, and a bit of influential activity as well. All the past and current musicians of

this ensemble have in fact placed their hometown, Zacatecas, on the prog rock map of the world, being allegedly the first fully-fledged prog band of that

city. Afterwards, ARBATEL has evolved, slowly and patiently, ending up to be well-appreciated by all Mexican proggers, and not only.
The history of this band, at the beginning and during its first major phase, could be considered typical. Young musicians Eduardo "Chino" Morones and

Samuel (?) discovered their soft spot for "unconventional", progressive rock, and decided to start a musical project. Samuel invited a promising drummer

called Aldo Corvera, while Chino brought his brother, synthesizer-passionate Mario Morones. The group took the name Retrospectiva and warmed up by doing

mainly classic prog covers, in local clubs, approaching pieces by Camel, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, but also by Balleto di Bronzo and Le Orme, which was

more than a hint of their major preference for Italian Symphonic Prog. It is in 1995 that the quartet started playing original music, and doubled the

number of concerts. A singer called Sheila completed the ensemble a year later. A participation in the hometown Cultural Festival was just the first big

gig of many others to come, weighting significantly.
The group experienced one of its most significant changes and setbacks when Shiela and Samuel left, desiring to focus on other projects. The remaining

trio changed the name of the band to Arbatel, based on Cornelius Agripa's book, introducing therefore a bit of "magic" into their musical ideas. They

immediately travelled through a rejuvenating period, with fresh compositions and much more ambitious projects, such as appearing in the Aguascalientes

Progressive Rock Festival , or organizing the "Zaca Prog" Festival, where international bands, all topped by PFM, will eventually appear. In 2003,

Arbatel suffered one more big change, as Chino left the Republic, and Omar Morones (bassist) and Raul Morones (guitar) built back a quartet. With this

stabile lineup, they finally recorded their debut in 2004, Gamadion, released independently at first, but reissued by Mylodon Records one year later.

In Zacatecas, Mexico around mid-90's was formed a new group called Retrospectiva by Eduardo "Chino" Morones, his brother and keyboardist Mario Morones,

drummer Aldo Corvera and a musician named Samuel.A year later a singer under the name Sheila completed the original line-up, but soon both Sheila and

Samuel quit and the reamaining trio changes its name to Arbatel.Many years and concerts later ''Chino'' also left the group and was replaced by Omar

Morones on bass and Raul Morones on guitars.This Arbatel quartet recorded and released the group's debut ''Gamadion'' in 2004, reissued a year later on

Mylodon and featuring a couple of guest singers and Jose Benitez on violin and viola.
This is complex Symphonic Rock with a high level of technique but most impressive is the fact that Arbatel sounded extremely close to dark Italian Prog

bands.Hints of IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO, MUSEO ROSENBACH and ALPHATAURUS are all over the place.Even more surprising, singers Cristina Peralta and Paolo

Bruno even sing in Italian for a moment!Musically the first half of the album is dominant, powerful, extremely rich and all instrumental Italian-flavored

Symphonic Rock with a Heavy Prog overdose, proposed mainly in long and multi-parted arrangements.The style of the band is based on energetic Hammond

organ, sharp moog synths and even mournful church organs, supported by attacking and powerful guitar moves and a solid rhythm section.A small dose of

melodies also appears among the endless but really adventurous interplays.The second part, although musically does not feature any really strong changes,

contains also some vocals split in Spanish and Italian.However the sound is a bit more flexible, like on the Prog/Fusion ''Tu che sei'', which has some

very nice violin drives in the vein of PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI of the ''Chocolate kings'' era or the long closer ''Xolotl'' (which appears at the start

of the album but this is its vocal version), which contains an interesting middle part with a jazzy aura.Highlights of the album are definitely the

vintage organ moves, the professional instrumental passages and the haunting, orchestral intros and outros on several tracks.

Sometimes when people are trying to convince me that Italian Prog is not a legitimate subgenre, one of the bits of nonsense they use is that RPI never

influenced bands outside of Italy. First, I wouldn't necessarily agree with the premise that influencing others is a requirement for a rock sound

grouping, but if it is, Arbatel is one example of a Mexican band clearly influenced by Italian progressive rock. Latin America seems to be a part of the

world who have embraced RPI with great enthusiasm, and in Arbatel you can hear the influence pretty easily. Back in their early days they cut their teeth

with covers of Orme and Balletto di Bronzo. Their debut "Gamadion" was initially released by the band and picked up later by Mylodon Records, currently

it is distributed by Black Widow Records.
"Gamadion" is a turbulent and passionate progressive rock, nothing dry about it. The best non-musical image I can think of to describe it would be that

of a thunder cloud, though the music itself is not dark in a negative emotional way. It is a mix of unsettled and uplifting passage built from bold

keyboard presentation and fairly crunchy, distorted electric guitars. The lead playing is beautiful, soaring and fluid, quite expressive. Composition

features good dynamics and variables. "Xolotl" is a standout track which opens with church bells and a gothic pipe organ to a militaristic snare drum,

the organ soon doubled to the lead guitar and later some lovely piano enters. The title tracks is very dramatic, it utilizes a Hitler speech as the set-

up for a musical look at the horrors of war. Bullets and bombs sound effects fill bombastic, intense riffing and feedback sections, brilliantly placing

the listener into the hell and confusion of violence, simply one of the best musical interpretations you'll hear of such a horrid subject. "Tu che sei"

is another favorite because it so reminds me of Italian prog, featuring traditional prog-folk melody with dreamy vocals, violin, and piano. At the end is

a bonus version of Xolotl with lovely female vocals. I realized while listening that parts of the melody resemble the verse melody of Neil Young's "Like

a Hurricane" and certainly Arbatel are delivering that level of excitement with this music.
This is a very good debut album showing amazing potential and featuring some real highpoints. While it falls just a hair short of the 4-star mark for me,

I do recommend this album to any prog fan. It is a must-listen for fans of RPI who wish to hear the influences of Italian prog rock moving overseas and

what it sounds like, in this case, in Mexico. The influence is there in sound and arrangements, but also I believe in mood, in spirit. A very enjoyable

debut, I can't wait to hear more from this band in the future.

Very nice debut from this Mexican band!
First of all I want to thank my friend Anael for letting me know about this Mexican band who he personally knows, since he designed the cover art for

this album.
So Arbatel is a band from the province of Zacatecas, who began playing since the 90s, playing prog rock covers from bands such as Pink Floyd or King

Crimson. During the years their musical skills were better so they started composing their own material, fortunately it was in the 2004 year, when they

could release their debut album entitled "Gamadion", which I am reviewing right away.
Gamadion features 8 tracks and a total time of almost one hour, it kicks off with "Catarsis", which begins with a bombastic sound and then it slows down

a bit, the use of the keyboards is very prominent making a symphonic sound and in moments reminding me to some older bands, such as Japanese trio Ars

Nova, very nice instrumental music.
The second track has the name of "Necropolis", and here what predominates is the electric guitar sound, making the song a bit catchy and melodic, the

bombastic thing does not appear here, drums are pretty good and some synth sound as a background fills the cup. After a couple of minutes the song makes

a short stop, just in order to give a new direction to the song one minute later, with some keyboard sound ala Goblin, and nice guitar interplay.
"Nemesis" returns to the symphonic and bombastic sound clearly led by keyboards, with a very nice structure, several keyboard waves, some guitar riffs

and nice drums.
"Xolotl" is something completely different and you will notice it since the very beginning, since they evoke some traditional folk Mexican sounds, after

some seconds the sound of church bells begin, along with some funeral drums, this same line is followed through some 4 minutes while some guitar sound

appears, and then those drums begin to fade out, later a short break and the bombastic thing appears, but it changes again and slows down again, in some

moments it reminds me to A Saucerful of Secrets, due to the organ sound. The song is progressing and building up a great structure.
"La Fuga" is the shortest track, and as you can imagine by the name, it is a keyboard oriented track indeed, nice piece.
The next is the title track "Gamadion", the first moments takes you to the past, since you will listen to some kind of General orders, reminding me to

the Nazi and wars. After a couple of minutes the song really begins with a fast and adventurous sound, again led by keyboards and again reminding me to

Ars Nova, in some moments. Some minutes later while the music is playing, we will hear some war noises, such as guns, bombs or screams, so in moments the

song provokes an scary and hypnotizing feeling, a great song.
"Tu Che Sei", as you can see the Italian culture was also part of Arbatel's inspiration, this is the first track that features vocals, which with due

respect, are not really good, on the other hand, the music may be not that complex, but it does sound like some classical Italian prog music, excellent

melodic song.
To finish the album we have another version of "Xolotl" but this time with vocals, and actually it sounds really good, the vocals are provided by a

female singer, with a very nice voice reaching some high notes.
So I am happy with this debut album, I would love to see Arbatel on stage one day, and I trust the band will follow the same good path in the future, I

am sure they can improve some things.