The Spanish band ATILA is one of the most interesting 70s bands from the Iberian Peninsula. The new lineup, with the two founding members Benet Nogué on keyboards and Juan Punyet on drums, are joined on guitar by Tony Castarnelas. More than 40 years after their previous release, they return on Ausut 05, 2024 with a new album entitled “Encarnació” released via 5 Lunas Producciones and containing 6 long tracks including a 2-part suite at the opening. A number of artists from the Spanish music scene, both modern and from the past, participate as guests on the album. Atmospheric sounds characterise the opener “Encarnació Part A” before the two-part suite that immediately immerses us in the album’s sounds. With the entry of solid, elaborate drumming and viscous keyboards at times, the band develops a distinctly Prog track in which the textures are complex and refined. A succession of guitar phrasing and keyboards succeed in bringing the atmosphere of early 70s Prog music into a modern and personal context. The song’s long duration is exploited to develop the central theme, enriched by tempo changes and solo interventions by keyboards and guitar, ending with a more experimental section in the finale. Linking to the previous one with atmospheric sounds and the intertwining of guitar and keyboard melodies, “Encarnació Part B,” evolves the theme of this suite. With a more linear structure in the part, developed on engaging guitar work and riffs and a more Prog imprinting. The vocalist interprets the lyrics strictly in Spanish with a diamond voice, alternating the sung parts with Symphonic Prog openings. Interesting is the alternation of different artists on vocals, each bringing their own style to the sound. The tempo changes follow one another as do the intense singing parts and instrumental sections, showing and enhancing the compositional and performing technique of the artists involved. “Dansa Del Dátil Daurat” opens with a background of vocals recorded by a crowd, then slowly develops the track with rhythmic drumming and intertwining guitar arpeggios and keyboards. Long instrumental textures enhance and highlight the keyboards, protagonists of solo inserts of absolute value. Spanish sounds permeate the melodies in the central part with guitar and keyboards duetting and alternating in the solo interventions, making the track rich in ideas and pleasant cues from start to finish. Returning to more elaborate sounds and complex textures, “Retorn” sees keyboards as the protagonists of the melodies, with a rhythm section enriched by continuous tempo changes. The guitar and keyboards continue to offer phrasing and interweaving with technique and quality, with forays into Fusion thanks to virtuoso solos and technical passages. A more complex passage on the album but very well composed and executed, showing another facet of the band’s sound. Guitar arpeggios and a softer rhythm section open “Estranya Mágia,” which instead explores the band’s more Symphonic Prog sounds. The sounds are more dilated, also incorporating warm and expressive vocal parts here with phrasing between different singers. The intensity increases as the song progresses, inserting electric guitar cues and instrumental sections that accompany us until the finale. The tracklist ends with “Volada,” a sweet track with a dreamy atmosphere where piano notes intertwine with keyboard orchestrations and solo synth inserts in the finale. A passionate and pathos-laden finale that leaves us with absolutely positive feelings. Having grown up with the Progressive sounds of the 70s, it is always a pleasure and an honour for me to be able to write a review of new albums by bands from the past. ATILA are back with a good album, with guest artists contributing to the sound, offering a work that combines the tradition of the genre with more modern sounds. A good listen for lovers of Progressive Rock sounds, with a tracklist that alternates between sung and instrumental tracks, with keyboards and guitar taking centre stage and drumming that is always solid and elaborate.
Tracklist
01. Encarnació Part A(6:07)
02. Encarnació Part B (11:59)
03. Dansa Del Dátil Daurat (8:57)
04. Retorn (8:28)
05. Estranya Mágia (9:27)
06. Volada (4:30)
Lineup
Benet Nogué / Organ, Mellotron, Piano, Moog, Vocals, Composer
Juan Punyet / Drums, Percussion
Tony Castarnelas / Guitars
With:
Victor Mateos «Willy» – Keyboards
Juanma Rodríguez (Sherish) – Keyboards
José Ramón Torres «Jr» (Storm) – Bass
Andrés Olaegui (Guadalquivir) – Guitar
Mike Starry (Omni) – Guitar
César Ortiz (Lethargus) – Vocals
Txell Rebel (Haunted Gods) – Vocals
