ASGARD

"Arkana"
(WMMS, 1992)

Tracks:
1. A Gathering of Fairies
2. Wulfstan
3. Olaf Stonehand
4. The Mirror of the King
5. The Queen of Ice
6. The Squirrel
7. The Breath of a Veiled Goddess
8. The Lords of the Mountain

Line Up:
Kikko Grosso: first voice, chorus
Alberto Ambrosi: keys, flute, chorus
Max Michieletto: electric and acoustic guitars
Chris Bianchi d'Espinosa: bass, acoustic guitar, chorus
Marco Ferrero: drums, percussion

For this their third disk, Asgard has a new baterista in its lines, although little before its incorporation that same square was occupied by Thomas Schauffler, finishing this as member of the original formation of another Italian band, Garden Wall. The style of the band continues being the same one, but it is noticed in the melodies and the arrangements a bigger dose of sophistication and energy, as well as a bigger one and but flowing understanding among the musicians; also, the sound production this better one taken care, giving a work as a result but neat and I mature. Kikko Grosso's voice also sounds but weatherbeaten. 

The first track, "A Gathering of Fairies", it exhibits a well secured alternation of acoustic and electric sections, with a bottom that sounds thrown toward the Celtic thing. The one that comes later, "Wulfstan", is but aggressive and pompous. The same thing happens to the suite of 13 titled minutes "Olaf Stonehand", this time enriched with overwhelming Gothic elements, specially outstanding in their introductory reason (repeated by way of reprise in their conclusion). The other two suites of the disk also deserve to be specifically tried here. "The Mirror of the King" exhibits a character unfathomably introspective through their almost 17 minutes of duration - special mention to the recurrent duetos of acoustic guitars on behalf of Michieletto and Bianchi that remind us enough to the Genesis of the “Trespass”. on the other hand, "The Lords of the Mountain" is with determination but metallic, as announcing the slope that will prevail in its following disk (“Imago Mundi”) - a really spectacular closing. 

The other tracks are: "The Queen of Ice", flagrantly marillionoid, attractive although not so special as the other of this disk; "The Squirrel", a picturesque dueto of acoustic guitars with an ethereal bottom of keyboards and subtle percussions; for I finish, "The Breath of to Veiled Goddess", a beautiful exhibition of classic piano, with a climatic intermission of majestic harmonies romantic tendency corals. 

In summary, a disk that doesn't have loses, and that in my opinion it should be like one of the maximum jewels of the revival progressive European of the 90s. 

Cesar Inca
cesarinca@americatelnet.com.pe