[Review] Alphataurus – 2084: Viaggio nel Nulla

It is a great honour for me to be able to listen to and review the new album by one of the historic Italian Progressive Rock bands, Alphataurus. Born in Milan and with several albums to their credit from the 1970s to the present day, I grew up with their music, which more than 50 years later continues to excite fans of Prog and beyond. The new album titled “2084: Viaggio nel Nulla” was released on October 04, 2024 via AMS Records and contains 6 long tracks including an epic over 10 minutes long. Opener “Pista 6” gently plunges us into the album’s sounds amidst fine guitar arpeggios and keyboard work over which a warm, expressive vocal enters. The intensity increases as the minutes go by, evolving the track into a refined Progressive Rock with refined sounds. The band skilfully brings classical sounds into a fresh and modern context, offering a solid and elaborate piece, rich in tempo changes and phrasing between guitar and keyboards. In a continuous alternation of vocal parts and intense instrumental parts, the track flows, involving the listener from beginning to end, where the guitar offers interesting solo parts. The title-track “Viaggio Nel Nulla” is the shortest in duration on the album, an energetic track incorporating elements of Rock and Progressive with a fresh, modern twist. It is an energetic and engaging track that alternates between more Progressive cues with good mixtures of guitar and keyboards and softer, more delicate passages. “Flashback (Apocalisse)” is a more elaborate track full of continuous tempo changes, interweaving more intricate passages with more Rock ones. The vocals are dynamic and incisive, while the continuous tempo changes allow the different facets that characterise the band’s sound to be explored. A very interesting track that brings Prog sounds into a fresh, modern and markedly original context. The album’s longest track “Wormhole” is an epic over 10 minutes long, opening with synth sounds and a frenetic, energetic and elaborate rhythm section. The vocals are incisive and the sounds more heavy, offering a gritty prog track that combines tradition with new trends, always with the unmistakable touch of these experienced and legendary musicians. The long dyrata is used to develop the theme, between symphonic openings and more elaborate passages, in the best Progressive Rock tradition. “Metà E Metà” is another fresh, modern prog track with fine guitar and keyboard breakdowns and an ever-evolving rhythmical section enriched by constant tempo changes. Very interesting is the development of the track’s central theme, original in both lyric and sound. Intense instrumental sections alternate with dynamic vocal parts, once again enhancing the band’s compositional and performing technique. The album ends with “E=mc2,” which opens with dreamy acoustic guitar arpeggios and a warm, expressive vocal. The most delicate track on the album, enriched by orchestrations, which leaves us wanting to listen to it again and again in the future. Another very interesting release from these legends of Italian Progressive Rock music. Long lasting tracks that enhance the compositional and performing technique of the artists involved, showing once again how Alphataurus is one of the most interesting bands of the Italian scene ever. A recommended listening to all Progressive Rock lovers with lyrics in Italian and that unmistakable touch that only Alphataurus can give to their sound.

Tracklist

01. Pista 6 (08:56)
02. Viaggio nel nulla (04:59)
03. Flashback (Apocalisse) (05:50)
04. Wormhole (10:15)
05. Meta e metà (06:36)
06. E=mc2 (05:04)

Lineup

Guido Wassermann / Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Synths, Backing Vocals
Andrea Guizzetti / Piano, Synths, Backing Vocals
Pietro Pellegrini / Organ, Hammond, Synths
Tony Alemanno / Bass
Diego Mariani / Drums, Backing Vocals
Franco Giaffreda / Lead Vocals, Classical Guitar, Flute

Alphataurus |Official Website|Bandcamp|Facebook Page|X (Twitter)|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube Channel|

AMS Records |Official Website|Bandcamp|Facebook Page|Instagram|YouTube Channel|

BTF Vinyl Magic |Official Website|Facebook Page|X (Twitter)|Instagram|YouTube Channel|

Author: Jacopo Vigezzi

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