February 24, 2018

Deus Ex Machina ‎– De Republica (1995, CD, Italy)

Deus Ex Machina has hit the bulls-eye with their third album. De Republica is an absolutely brilliant masterpiece of Italian progressive rock, exquisitely manifesting all the elements of the band's sound that were even hinted at on their first two releases. Featuring driving, aggressive fusion mixed with wickedly complex rhythms, hints of avant-garde sounds, and Alberto Piras' unbelievable vocal skills, this album recalls the very best of Area while preserving a freshness and originality of its own. Anything that could have been criticized on previous albums has been significantly improved, perhaps not quite to perfection, but very close. The band presents an exceptionally balanced sound, showcasing not only Mauro Collina's heavy and virtuosic guitar technique, but also some blistering Minimoog leads and solid keyboard work from Luigi Ricciardiello, and some prominent violin contributions from Alessandro Bonetti. The drumming of newest member Loris Claudio Centopellitrotta is superb; busy and varied, it is unquestionably one of the main reasons this album works so well. Piras' vocals are amazing as always, revealing a range and power very few vocalists have ever possessed. Quite simply, this is one of the finest progressive rock albums of the 90s, and an absolutely essential release. RWalker