Double reissue for La Maschera Di Cera: AMS Records is pleased to release the popular Progressive band’s first two albums, the 2002 debut “La Maschera di Cera” and the 2003 sequel “Il grande labirinto.” Two masterpieces of new Italian Prog that were loved by fans and critics worldwide.
At the turn of the 1990s and 2000s, there was a veritable renaissance of Italian Progressive Rock, with numerous formations recovering the more esoteric and visionary sounds of the golden years of Rock. Among the main names in this line-up of groups was La Maschera di Cera, which united members of Finisterre (Fabio Zuffanti, Agostino Macor, Marco Cavani), the voice of Alessandro Corvaglia (already with Zuffanti in the rock opera Merlin) and Andrea Monetti (Alhambra, Ku, Embryo). Their eponymous debut in 2002 won unanimous acclaim and was hailed as the best Italian prog album since the legendary debut of Alphataurus: four long, magnetic tracks, including and magnetic tracks including the long title track, which would occupy an entire hypothetical front side of a vinyl record. Acoustic guitars and an incessant carpet of vintage keyboards dominate the scene, but there is no lack of hard-prog fringes and long instrumental interludes, still capable of arousing strong emotions.
The following year it was the turn of “Il Grande Labirinto” (The Great Labyrinth): in the wake of the debut, the second LP emphasised the dramatic tones, bringing the sound closer to the dark and twisted sound of Van Der Graaf Generator. In this sense, the mighty suite Il viaggio nell’oceano capovolto presented itself as a modernised version, but not without magic and mystery, of Plague of Lighthouse Keeper. AMS republishes these two masterpieces of the new Italian Progressive music in a papersleeve CD edition with bonus tracks, four for the former and two for the latter.
Purchase “La Maschera di Cera” on Bandcamp: https://lamascheradicera.bandcamp.com/album/la-maschera-di-cera
“La Maschera di Cera” is a record that sounds like magic: it brings you back in time, in the glorious season of 70s Italian Prog.
The season of the best symphonic, dark and, at times, hard prog acts such as Biglietto per l’Inferno, Balletto di Bronzo e Museo Rosenbach.
The debut album of the Genoese band has everything in the right place: large Mellotron carpets, mighty Moog, classical openings alternating with dark moments, a strong and passionate voice, plus solid and ever-changing rhythms.
Four compositions, four concepts for an album inspired by a journey between hell and heaven. Let yourself slip into this journey… and never return.
Tracklist MDC 2002:
1 La Maschera di Cera
2 Del mio mondo che crolla
3 Del mio abisso e del vuoto
4 Del mio volo
Bonus tracks:
5.La tua gente (edit)
6.Del mio mondo che crolla (demo)
7.Del mio abisso e del vuoto (demo)
8.Del mio volo (alternate version)
Purchase “Il Grande Labirinto” on Bandcamp: https://lamascheradicera.bandcamp.com/album/il-grande-labirinto
Just one year after the debut album, “Il Grande Labirinto” develops the sound of “La Maschera di Cera” in an even more effective way. The sumptuous atmospheres of the best 70s Italian Prog are now more intimate and personal.
La Maschera di Cera‘s second album creates a world of sounds made up of highly instrumental and melodic compositions. The outstanding 37 minutes-suite “Il viaggio nell’oceano capovolto” is a true manifesto of a band capable of withstanding to the great classics of the past.
Tracklist MDC 2003:
1.Il viaggio nell’oceano capovolto (Parte I)
2.Il Grande Labirinto
3.Il canto dell’inverno
4.Ai confini del mondo
5.Il viaggio nell’oceano capovolto (Parte II)
Bonus tracks:
6.La consunzione (single edit)
7.Il Grande Labirinto (alternate)