Artist: Giuntini Project
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 1999
Rating: 3.5/5
After the release of the debut “Giuntini Project I” (1994), Aldo Giuntini (he took his name from an Italian classical composer who lived in the last century and is counted among the representatives of Futurism) decided in 1995 to carry on. Tony Martin, the singer of Black Sabbath, whose epic run had just come to an end back then, really liked the demo recordings, and the two musicians joined forces.
And boy, does it deliver! Of all the similar efforts out there, Giuntini Project may be the one that gets us closest to the Black Sabbath classics “T.Y.R.”, “Headless Cross” or “The Eternal Idol”. It’s obvious that with Martin on the mic, it’s hard to screw things up, unless you have Iommi’s ego and get an itch for experiments like “Forbidden” (1995). Martin’s presence is more than obvious on the record. His influence shapes not only the look and feel of “Giuntini Project II”, it also explains the stylistic resemblance between the Black Sabbath classics and this album (e.g. Saved By Love carries a Heaven And Hell-style “mid tempo beat” with a Dying For Love-style chorus). His strong, undeniable influence extends to the songwriting of the late, if you’ll allow me, “romantic gothic” Black Sabbath. Martin belts it out next to Giuntini at full force, his vocals pompously melodic, clean and capable of sudden explosive variations across different registers. The songs are varied, adorned by the “barroco” classicism of the Italian guitar hero, who doesn’t just show off virtuoso soloing chops but also has an outstanding feel for building a riff, bringing in just the right dose of adrenaline-fueled bombast, helped along by the enviably sharp and tightly wound production of his riffing! The songs are polished and extremely listenable! And there’s no need to worry that it’s all just a pretty mask, which is so often the habit of “Italian superficiality”, or the result of Italian instant gratification in everything. Nope! Giuntini is convincing on the outside as well as in his inner core.
The album’s moods swing from pure classical approaches (especially the excellent instrumentals Spiteful Ghosts and Baghdad, which is spiced up with oriental scales) to a devilishly sharpened hard rock edge with an obscure touch (e.g. Cyberchrist), alternating with different shades of melody that at times bring the album close to classic Black Sabbath, Rainbow or Misha Calvin. Aldo Giuntini proves that Italian hard rock can also produce great albums with real steel balls, for which the experienced guitarist and producer Dario Mollo deserves major credit.
This album has finally been reissued! With the release of the third part (Giuntini Project III), Frontiers Records decided on this very nice gesture, which will thrill all true “connoisseurs” of rock rarities. “Giuntini Project II” has until now been a true mega rarity, released only independently, and this excellent album has long been so hard to get!
Line-up
Tony Martin – vocals
Aldo Giuntini – guitar
Dario Patti – keyboards
Fulvio Gaslini – bass guitar
Ezio Secomandi – drums
Production
Kit Woolven & Dario Mollo
Track list
1. Sacrifice
2. Dead Ringer
3. Letters From The Dead
4. Superstitious
5. Resurrection Day
6. House Of The Spirits
7. Spiteful Ghosts
8. Cyberchrist
9. Shadowlands
10. Saved By Love
11. Too Much Too Late
12. Baghdad
13. The Evil That You Do
14. Reactor
15. Satan Rising
Album length: 60:47
