(Progressive Rock) Fiaba - La pelle nella luna - 2012, MP3, 320 kbps

The brainchild of drummer Bruno Rubino, FIABA are a Sicilian five-piece band (bass, drums, vocals and dual guitars) who mix prog metal with medieval folk. They've been compared to everything from FATES WARNING, MAGELLAN and RUSH to KING CRIMSON and Angelo Branduardi, although they don't quite measure up to any of them. Their appeal rests mainly on Rubino's complex drum play and a fantastically gifted vocalist in the person of Giuseppe Brancato. His dramatic/operatic style is a mixture of Alberto Piras (DEUX EX MACHINA) and Demetrio Stratos (AREA). The band has released three albums between 1994 and 2001.
Their latest effort - and perhaps their best - is "Lo Sgabello del Rospo", a rock opera in eight parts where Brancato's vocals constitute the most significant soloing parts. The music alone probably wouldn't stand well on its own but Brancato, with his chameleon-like vocalizations, tackles a variety of characters with great skill. He mostly tells a story (in Italian) over simple repeated melodies; when the rest of the band do pick up, they go into a linear series of metallic riffs à la IRON MADEN. You won't find any particularly memorable musical themes here, but an interesting 'one-man' prog metal opera performed by an incredible vocalist who will knock your socks off. The man really rocks.

Line-up / Musicians
- Giuseppe Brancato / lead vocals
- Carlo Bonfiglio / guitar
- Massimo Catena / guitar
- Bruno Rubino / drums, bass, acoustic guitar, choir