From the press info: A trip towards knowledge, the discovery of reality as an illusion, the classical world meeting rock, a symphonic orchestra and a progressive band for a new, exciting rock opera with major international guests.

Ahh, pretentions, you gotta love 'em! Anyway, this Italian 'rock' opera is a collaboration between classical musician Giancarlo Trotta and progrocker Luca Contegiacomo, and they're backed up by a plethora of musicians, among them Randy Coven and the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra. They have obviously put a lot of effort in creating something unique. The lyrics are all sung in Italian and Latin, which is certainly different, the production is smooth, the musicianship flawless and the whole thing comes in a very pretty package. So this must be a good record then, right? Well, it's all a matter of taste I guess...

I'm not a big fan of goth or contemporary prog rock in the first place, but that's not what I'm struggling with when hearing this record. In this case I just wonder if this record has any place on a site dedicated to rock music, because with the exception of some very occasional loud guitar bits there is not a tune here that would sound out of place at (let's say) the Eurovision song contest. The whole thing sounds like something that JIM STEINMAN or ALAN PARSONS could have cooked up, with vocals by LUCIANO PAVAROTTI and LAURA PAUSINI. Not exactly names that make you want to throw the horns, right?

And then I haven't even mentioned the 'story' yet (if you can call it that). Look, i'm not illiterate. I love weird fiction, speculative fiction, metaphysical stuff, magical realism, Shakespeare even, and I'm well aware of the fact that predecessors like "Tommy", "Dimension: Hatross" and "Operation Mindcrime" weren't exactly literary classics either. But THIS? This is Rubbish!! A vague non-story that's way too low on narrative and way too heavy on terms like 'psychological dream-truth' and other new-age nonsense. In fact, the story is so unbelievably, mind-numbingly bad it doesn't even cut it as camp. Good thing this is not a literary site.

Two points for effort and musicianship, but I'm never listening to this again. Only reccommended for people who liked FREDDIE MERCURY's collabarations with MONTSARRAT CABBALÉ or CELINE DION's attempts at rockin' out. Now bring me some real Rock please?

- Van Hoften

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