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Review:
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Beautiful Beatrice Palumbo, a bona fide, classically
trained opera diva, and guitarist/composer Federico Salerno
created the concept behind Deva, to forge a unique union
between classical music and progressive metal, which would
appeal to fans of artists as diverse as Nightwish (metal),
Dream Theatre (prog), and Katherine Jenkins (female opera).
The multifaceted songs swirl between soft and heavy, light
and shade, with their influences coming from other bands
that also have a classical element in their music. At their
most gentle, Renaissance springs to mind, especially with
the lovely Myriam Stallone’s John Camp like grunting bass,
together with a touch of Kate Bush, while at their heaviest
bands like Therion and Epica are reference points, but with
more emphasis on the four musicians rather than orchestral
bombast.
Their more prog moments recall a heavier Yes, Focus
and Genesis, with excellent soloing from Federico and synthesist
Marco Castiglione, but thankfully no noodling. They also
remind me at times of Streams of Passion, Edenbridge and
in particular Diablo Swing Orchestra, but without the craziness
and Beatrice’s voice is a lot softer and easier on the ear
than Annlouice’s, who can get a bit shrill. They are not
as heavy and technical as Dream Theatre, but that is the
beauty of female fronted metal, the triumph of melody over
muscle. It is unfair to pick out faves, all the songs have
so much to commend them, but I will mention the sublime
chorus of ‘Your Voice’, the Renaissance-esque opening and
awesome climax of ‘Out in Fog’, the dreamy delicate ‘Fading
From Here’ that gradually grows in power, I love it when
a band gets into a groove and takes flight, and the incredible
four part ‘Karma’ suite that is simply breathtaking. That
the musicianship is top drawer is a given, I must also mention
Thomas D’Alba’s skilled drumming, and the production by
the band is equally impressive, everything superbly recorded
and mixed with crystal clarity. There is so much packed
into each song that this is a real grower, every listen
revealing a fresh nuance. If you love your prog then I risk
being trampled underfoot in the rush to get to
http://www.self.it/ita/details.php?nb=8019991871577
to grab a copy, but I also recommend that everyone should
head to their Myspace http://www.myspace.com/87695158
to experience Deva for themselves. 9 out of 10.
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