'Raven Sad' is an Italian progressive rock formation who, after a period of inactivity in the 2010s, released their fourth studio recording 'The leaf and the wing', 'Samuele Santanna', the guitarist and songwriter of the group having relaunched his project in 2018, their last album 'Layers Of Stratosphere' already dating from 2011. It is therefore only 10 long years after that the Italian combo with a new line-up offers us 8 compositions, most of them being long developments which leave a good place for the instrumental parts, in a psychedelic style, 'Samuele Santanna' having the same feeling as a certain 'David Gilmour'.
After the short instrumental 'Legend # 1' which introduces the album with a slow tempo and with a first guitar solo 'Floydien', 'The sadness of the raven', of almost 10 minutes, quietly unfolds a beautiful melody supported by the soft voice of 'Gabriele Marconcini' and by some piano chords alternating with instrumental parts in which we are rocked by the electric guitar of 'Samuele Santanna', then 'City Lights And Desert Dark' continues in this delicate atmosphere which can remind in some places 'Barclay James Harvest' and which also presents in the middle of the title welcome changes of tempo and intensity, the guitar solo which follows being a pure delight as well as the final falling in a few piano and guitar notes accompanied by the whispered song of 'Gabriele Marconcini'. With the long 'Colorbox' development that follows, the Italians offer us progressive rock mixing various influences in which we can recognize formations like 'Marillion',' IQ ',' Genesis' or even 'Saga', walking through a sound maze made of different sections in which it is good to get lost, then the second part of the album continues in this progressive style which requires to linger there to draw all the richness with three other long tracks which are 'Approaching The Chaos', entirely instrumental, 'Ride the tempest' which takes us on an absolutely delicious new journey and 'Absolution Trial' which offers remarkable variations of intensity and beautiful instrumental parts, the album ending with the musical theme of 'Legend' which reminds me of some instrumental sections d 'Airbag'.
In summary, The Italians of 'Raven Sad' are releasing a very good progressive rock album that gets better as you listen to it and 'The leaf and the wing' is recommended for audiences who like long developments progressive in a refined style with real instrumental sections... | |
