* * * NEW REISSUE ON JEWELCASE CD FORMAT * * *
A band based in Rome – although their singer Jimmy Spitaleri was from Sicily, Metamorfosi have released with “Inferno” one of those album that any Italian prog fan should have. The group was formed in 1969 when Spitaleri joined the musicians of I Frammenti, a group specialized in the ‘beat masses’ typical of those years.
Their first album, “…e fu il sesto giorno”, contains seven songs, the main elements of the band’s music are already there, with the almost operatic voice of Jimmy Spitaleri in great evidence and the nice classical influenced playing of keyboards player Enrico Olivieri on a strong rhythm section, but the album is still fragmented and not particularly imaginative, and some ’60s influences can still be heard.
The second album, “Inferno”, is their masterpiece, with two long suites (there are 16 titles on the cover but these are only the small pieces forming the “Inferno” suite) and the majestic voice of Spitaleri perfectly mixed with Olivieri’s keyboards to form a highly original and exciting result. Tracks like Caronte are among the best of the Italian prog! (italianprog.com)
