The final chapter of the Rome saga has arrived. Composer and keyboardist Vincenzo Ricca has gathered another stupendous legion of guest centurions, led by Steve Hackett, Tony Levin, Dave Jackson, Billy Sherwood , Bernardo Lanzetti, Paolo Ricca, and Franck Carducci. “Six” wastes little time or preamble by unleashing a barrage of bass catapults that seem hellbent on crushing any kind of fortress of reluctance or indifference. Imperial pipe organs swirl with pomp and circumstance, marauding mellotrons showing no quarter; the Sherwood drum formations punching deep gashes in the defences along the way. Lanzetti’s instantly recognizable voice shatters all illusions on “We Wandered “, a theatrical expanse if ever one encountered one, lathered with full on symphonics belting the road ahead, allied with military snares, grovelling bass and nimble keyboard work.
Enough teasing, no more fooling around, let’s show what imperialist really means here with a colosseum-sized “1229 Years”, a 28 minute + extravaganza, guided by flute, sax and piano standards extolling the rich virtues of Roman history. Between Steve’s rampaging glide on his golden guitars, a burping bass furrow from Levin, and variable drum arrow artillery in tow, Vincenzo decorates the battle plan with considerable heroism on a variety of ivories. Yes, it’s perpetually grandiose, overwhelming the listener with insatiable melodic content, and endless sonic adventurism. The flute-led mid-section groove is insanely fascinating, I daresay seductive, having the audacity of Hackett doing some satanic Santana-isms that raise the hair on the unsuspecting body. Ricca’s synthesizers then decide to embrace the six-stringed flurry with a loving parallel run, Jackson causing quite the brassy sheen, and the drums pounding like it was 117 AD, when Rome’s Pax Romana was at its absolute apogee, a time of peace, prosperity and thriving arts and science. For such a massive track, the flow never gets bogged down with repetitive ennui, the balance between bluster and bucolic contemplation maintained with painstaking creativity, eventually forging into ripping bass/organ movements where the slippery guitar waltzes with the mighty mellotron, an eargasmic delight, worthy of a well-deserved crown of laurels. Hackett seems to be in his element here, asked only to play what he does best, blistering emotional soloing of the highest order. Certainly, a killer blockbuster piece that will erase any hint of our daily stress, symphonic prog at its finest! Jackson takes over for a final cavalcade, mellotrons galore, Carducci having a moment on his 12-string acoustic for good measure and synths putting this slab of Carrara marble in its rightful and eternal foundation. WOW !
With control over a vast Empire, the vocals and choir work on “Far From Home” reference the massive distances, both soldiers and administrators having to toil in distant lands, yearning for returning home to the boot, and regain their families. The atmosphere is both anthemic and sorrowful. It’s time for the trip back to the seven hills, where glory awaits them all. “Ad Gloriam Romae” expresses an almost urban feel, hustling and bustling with romping bass, busy drum interventions and the lavish festivities being prepared for the returning heroes. I have read that Billy Sherwood had garnered previous kudos for his percussive work, but here, it’s literally off the charts brilliant, crisp, deadly and assured.
The title track is a bass etude (never many of those), sounds like Tony doing the magic. And it’s stunning yet brief. If you have ever been to the Eternal City, the remnant of the once-famous Empire is to be found everywhere you turn, unmissable and unforgettable. “Over 2,000 Fountains “ reminds us that this civilization was water-based, building thermal baths, aqueducts, viaducts and fountains wherever they found water, openly or underground, as can be visited still today throughout the lands where they had passed.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Vincenzo Ricca to have had the impulse to tackle such a huge project and doing it with such memorable patience, resolve and incredible creativity. As such, the six albums are surely the most comprehensive concept ever put together in progressive rock, I look very much forward to the day when all six albums will come in one delightful package, that will be an auto-buy for this prog legionnaire!
5 Senatorial Caesars