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Scala Mercalli: 12th Level
Scala Mercalli - 12th Level - [AB Records]

2006-12-16

Let's just get this out of the way: the main reason you might not like this Italian speed/power metal band is if you dislike their vocalist. Bartolacci Christian has an 80's area power metal voice, meaning a shrill, high voice that does not always stick to the tune, its very Agent Steel style, but if you can't manage such a high pitched voice, you may want to avoid this one.

Musically this moves from impressive to a bit too confused, the band members can play their instruments, no doubt about it, and the album is very well produced, still, at times its overly complex, owing a lot to such prog speed bands as Watchtower, and old school fans tend to find that unattractive as well.

There are plenty of brilliant riffs and leads here, and some solid drumming too, but I have to admit that I did found Christian's voice a bit too much at times, its not just his high pitched delivery, I also felt he can't land the tune at times, which drove me mad in some bits.

This isn’t a bad record, the band has some good tunes in here, as I said, they can play real well, but they have to simplify the music a bit and start working on the vocal side, it doesn’t sit in very well.

Alon Miasnikov



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