Presence - The Sleeper Awakes


Year of Release: 2004
Label: Black Widow
Catalog Number: BWRCD 069-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 94:00:00

After ten years, the Italian prog label rereleases The Sleeper Awakes, originally published in 1994 by the company, Black Widow. This time the album is remastered and has a bonus CD with live performances from 1994 through 2002.

This band is particular for one reason especially: they are one of the first dark prog bands around. They mix some influences like Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Genesis and Goblin, giving to the music a dark mood and that touch of horror atmosphere that makes their sound very cool.

The album has a very interesting concept: it is based on the story of an enticer that makes a pact with Lucifer, but he finds out a way to fool Lucifer, so Lucifer asks God help, to suggest to him what he should do. God will give him the solution.

As for the music, Sofia Baccini's voice is simply excellent and she shows us her vocal range with all high peaks that reaches, while the guitars are played in a superb manner. Plus there is the string section by the orchestra from The San Carlo Theater in Naples that adds that something to the dark ambience of the album.

The second disc contains some live tracks recorded at different times and spaces, and includes a cover version of the Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir."


Tracklisting:
Disc One - The Sleeper Awakes: Enticer / The Other Weight Of Sense / Stranger Again / Veer / The King Could Die Issueless / The Sleeper Awakes / So Dangerous / gauntlet / Endless Unceasing Lie / The Scorge Of Being

Disc Two ? Live: Makumba / The Shadowing / Kashmir / Hellish / On Travel / Shinin' Uneasy / The Swear

Musicians:
Sofia Baccini ? vocals and background vocals
Enrico Iglio ? keyboards
Sergio Casamassima ? guitars
Sergio Quagliarella ? drums
Emiliano De Luca - bass

Discography:
Makumba
The Sleeper Awakes (1994/2004)
Black Opera (1996)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin IT

Added: February 23rd 2004
Reviewer: Davide Guidone
Score:
Artist website: www.presence.it
Hits: 2016
Language: english

  

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