Label: Imports
Release date: July 17, 2015
Production: Goblin
Album length: 42:41
Genre: Symphonic progressive rock
Cult Italian symphonic prog rockers Goblin, who made their name with the prog masterpiece »Roller« (1976) and the soundtracks to the horror flicks »Profondo Rosso« (1975) and »Suspiria« (1977), are back with a new album, »Four of a Kind«. That’s bound to be quite a surprise for everyone who had quietly written them off after all the ups and downs, shaky line-ups and splits into various bands going by the name Goblin. There are currently no fewer than four Goblin factions: the “main” Goblin led by guitarist Massimo Morante, Goblin Rebirth, Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin, and Cherry Five.
This year the two most active versions are the “main” Goblin led by Morante and keyboardist Maurizio Guarini, who surprised everyone with new music in the form of »Four of a Kind«, and Goblin Rebirth, where bassist Fabio Pignatelli and drummer Agostino Marangolo call the shots (both are also members of Morante’s Goblin). The latter recently recorded the album »Goblin Rebirth«, which was announced and recorded two years ago but only saw the light of day this year.
2015 is obviously going to be marked by both new Goblin releases, which will make anyone who’s nostalgic for quality Italian symphonic prog rock with a darker, ambient edge very happy. On »Four of a Kind«, Goblin prove at every turn that they haven’t lost their love for dark, creepy atmospheres, which run through symphonically structured instrumental compositions with classic rhythmic finesse, all of it catnip for fans of the Italian prog tradition.
Often overlooked these days, the band, best known for the horror soundtracks they made under the baton of cult Italian director Dario Argento, decided for the first time since 2006’s »Back to the Goblin 2005« to record a record that draws on the brilliant symphonic prog tradition of »Roller«, rather than serving as a film accompaniment like most of their output. Of the line-up that recorded »Roller«, only keyboard wizard Claudio Simonetti is missing on »Four of a Kind«, so it’s hardly surprising to hear plenty of sonic kinship between the two albums.
The gates of hell swing wide open right on the cataclysmic »Uneven Times«, where furious guitar barrages, thick bass lines and mysterious-sounding mini moog passages rule. Certain sonic stretches, where guitar phrases and keyboard curtains dramatically melt into each other, are a bit reminiscent of King Crimson, which was also typical of Goblin back in the seventies. The sense of substance is boosted even more by a witty saxophone improvisation courtesy of guest Antonio Marangolo. The creepy atmosphere carries on with the phantasmagoric »In The Name of Goblin«, where guitar master Morante especially shines with melancholic variations, while the mysterious and wicked mood is driven mainly by Guarini’s branching keyboard textures.
»Mousse Roll« is an even more colorful and unusual experiment, where individual keyboard effects, while weaving a scary atmosphere, recall weeping or mournful vocal harmonies, even though the whole album is instrumental. »Bon Ton« features somewhat more electronic-tinged synth textures and furious bass lines, which together with cleverly timed drum transitions create jazz fusion-based rhythmic combinations, while the epic guitar passages are a real treat for all prog gourmets and fans of guitar heroes. »Kingdom«, dominated by mournful synth sounds and an intensely melancholic offering of guitar variations, has an almost iconic motif that sounds tailor-made for some horror movie. »Dark Blue(s)«, as its title already announces, features a voluptuous blues guitar improvisation and massive layers of Hammond organ, with Morante’s soloing this time around reminding us quite a bit of David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) or Andy Latimer (Camel).
»Love & Hate« once again brings classic King Crimson to mind, with mellotron curtains, mathematically timed tempo changes and individual guitar variations playing an important role in creating that feeling, while some pastoral passages are a bit reminiscent of classic Genesis. After a dark intro, a purely ethereal-romantic-nostalgic atmosphere takes over, and nirvana is guaranteed for all prog dreamers. The closing triumph is the phenomenal »008«, which has all those ominous Goblin ingredients that earned the Italian masters of darkness their cult status back in the seventies. In a mysterious, tense mood that makes it easy to picture the living dead rising from their graves and heading out on a “night hunt”, combative guitar passages, broken rhythms and witty keyboard harmonies slowly build, along with a string of highly interesting solo detours.
»Four of a Kind« is a classic Goblin album that keeps the magnificent »Roller« legacy alive and carries it forward, so you can safely rank it right now among the highlights of their long and turbulent career. We had to wait a full eight years for a new Goblin release, and the overly long wait paid off more than enough. Anyone who missed the grandeur of the old prog school across our western border among this year’s new releases will be pleasantly surprised and thoroughly satisfied. After all these years, Goblin remain uncompromising grave diggers and sworn subjects of the goblin king and goblin queen.
author: Peter Podbrežnik
rating: 9.0 / 10
Track list:
1. Uneven Times (7:32)
2. In the Name of Goblin (4:48)
3. Mousse Roll (5:07)
4. Bon Ton (4:38)
5. Kingdom (5:37)
6. Dark Blue(s) (5:05)
7. Love & Hate (5:30)
8. 008 (5:24)
Line-up:
Massimo Morante – electric and acoustic guitar, bouzouki
Fabio Pignatelli – bass guitar, keyboards
Maurizio Guarini – keyboards
Agostino Marangolo – drums, keyboards
GUEST MUSICIAN:
Antonio Marangolo – saxophone (1)
