Akron – La Signora Del Buio (1999)
Artist: Akron
Album: La Signora Del Buio
Genre: Rock Progressivo Italiano
Label: Black Widow Records
Year Of Release: 1999
Quality: FLAC (image+.cue)
Tracklist:
1. Akron (4:18)
2. Rock’n’follia (3:38)
3. Al confini del mondo (4:10)
4. Atratus Axe (2:19)
5. L’angelo giustiziere (2:49)
6. Preghiera di sasso (5:55)
7. Anthios (2:56)
8. La nave dei pazzi (4:00)
9. La signora del buio (4:46)
10. La notte prima della battaglia (4:09)
11. Anubi (0:50)
12. Afasath (1:28)
13. Elegia (2:29)
Personnel:
– Enio “Akron” Nicolini / bass, effects, music/lyrics
– Daniel Dixon / bass (2/3/8/10)
– Eugenio Mucci / vocals
– Alice Di Francesantonio / keyboards
– Lea Palmieri / drums
– Gabriele Di Monte/ Hammond L122 (1/4/7/11/12)
Akron is an Italian symphonic doom-prog band who released two albums on the Black Widow record label. The band is the project of Enio “Akron” Nicolini, who is also the bass player for the famous Italian heavy-doom band The Black. Here Enio was dabbling more in a symphonic vein, and while they are not a Jacula clone, they could be described as a band that would appeal to Jacula/Antonius Rex fans. While Jacula had heavy classical influence, here the basis is heavier, brooding symphonic prog-rock, and if I’m not mistaken I’d say there is just a little bit of a post-punk energy in these participants. The composition is a bit more youthful and carefree here than on the follow-up, sometimes clumsy, naïve, but always full of integrity. Akron does not “feel” as dark as Jacula/Rex. The themes are certainly dark and doomy, but here they feel more fictional whereas sometimes Jacula/Rex can get uncomfortably authentic for some listeners.
The Akron sound is ominous and ritualistic….the soundtrack to the walk up the path to a dark castle. What makes the Akron sound unique is the lack of guitar and the huge bass presence. While there is a little bit of electric guitar here and there, the lead instrument is Enio’s bass, and in some cases dual-bass assaults courtesy of Daniel Dixon. The other lead is the substantial keyboard presence, mostly synthesizers and Hammond, the duties shared by Alice di Francescantonio and Gabriele Di Monte. Doomy and some might say a bit cheesy at times, the synths, Hammond, and even simulated harpsichord weave a magical journey of mood and mystery. It forms a satisfying and sinister cloak of dark rock sound with the lead bass. Atop that we have the forceful and rough vocals of Eugenio Mucci who sometimes sounds like he was out all night drinking and smoking before the session, but he has passion, and is for the most part perfect in this role. Lea Palmieri handles the drums here and shines in the ritual thudding of toms. Slow and oppressive, she plays not unlike Albert Goodman on the first Antonius Rex album, or perhaps like Lori Barbero at half speed. The pieces drift along one to the next like a soundtrack sometimes, like storytelling music. The pace of the music is often slow and deliberate, as is the playing, but I think it would be a mistake to confuse this style for somehow less interesting than fast, complex music.
While the tracks can be quite heavy at times, the foggy keyboards and brooding bass guitars can also be played with a delightful minimalism, a sparseness that allows you to focus on each part and truly enjoy it. I love these moments of space between sounds, which feature vocal parts coming and going. The vocals can also be either quite rough, or gentle and lost sounding, mournful, sad, sometimes delirious. While the ingredients are kept simple and devoid of “flash” playing, what they do with their parts is often just unique and fascinating. There are a couple of instances where the guitar or keys are exploited for odd rhythmic sound as opposed to their traditional use. They almost choke some different sound from them in these moments. Enthusiasm for the material, great timing for effect, and an ability to find cool, dark, lovely sound seem to be strong assets of Akron. The music is dark and passionate, but overall the effect on me is one of peace and melancholy. This is very special music and I’ve only found a few albums that provide this kind of musical experience.
I’m in very subjective territory with Akron, in contrast to my usual habit of weighing my taste versus objective factors. I love music like this and I’m going to rate it accordingly even though many proggers will not dig this—-the same is true for my love for the Jacula sound. So you’ve had your caveat here, I’m a bit of a fanboy for Italian theatrical doom. These bands are not for everyone and they can be “campy” or pompous to many, but I’m not willing to downplay the rating based on what I believe Transatlantic or Crimson fans would think of my guilty pleasures. This music, which takes me to dark castles and introduces me to the inhabitants is great fun, even if it is a bit cheesy sometimes. Something strange happened as I absorbed the band’s two albums. At first I thought the more elaborate second album was the better one, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the first has more of the personality I enjoy. The sound, the production, the writing, and the playing all would seem to improve on the next album, and yet, this is the one I’m drawn to. Can’t explain that except to say I sometimes prefer the searching to the end game. Sometimes youthful indiscretions are more fun that musical advances or maturity. Not always of course, but sometimes.
If you are a fan of this kind of music, be sure to secure a copy of the Akron albums while they are still in print. The booklet is brief and contains only Italian lyrics and credits. The back panel of the booklet contains alternate “cover art” that is pretty cool, with another witchy lady.
Review by Finnforest
AKRON was a project created The Black’s bassist Enio Nicolini to satisfy his hunger for a more experimental sound than this presented by his main band,which belonged to the doom side of metal.For this reason he recruited among others Requiem’s (another doom metal act) singer Eugenio Mucci.The project was first presented with the track ”Il Mulino delle donne di pietra” on the Black Widow metal compilation ” …E tu vivrai nel terrore” in 1998.The next year AKRON release their debut ”La Signora del Buio” on the same label.
STYLE: Organ-driven Dark Prog with a mysterious atmosphere,theatrical elements and haunting vocals.The organ/synth waves of Enio “Akron” Nicolini and Fabio Barraco seem to come out from a horror movie soundtrack:dark,atmospheric,grandiose with a majestic symphonicism.Bass is very high in the mix to make the atmosphere even more obscure.The slow tempos help in this fact also.Vocals in Italian are half-sung,half-spoken with a dramatic and scary delivery.Not much of complexity in here (actually there is none),but the album ends to be one of the most unique listenings of the last 10 years due to the combination of organ- based music,choir-like vocals and doomy atmospheres.
SOUNDS LIKE/INFLUENCES: The first band that comes to mind is definitely Antonius Rex’es JACULA and their mystic early 70’s albums.Elements of GOBLIN,DEVIL DOLL and IL PAESE DEI BALOCCHI are also in the menu.AREKNAMES might be the closest modern reference,but they are much lighter and closer to Classic Prog sounds than AKRON.
PLUS: An ultra-personal sound is the biggest plus of this band.Organ and synths are well played to create some of the darkest soundscapes ever to be heard.Vocals won’t be anyone’s cup of my tea,but for me they are excellent and match perfectly to the overall sound. Production,while not being great,helps to the whole concept’s succesful approach.Nice and dominant bass work by Nicolini.
MINUS: The constantly slow-tempos tend to make the album somewhat monotonous throughout the listening.Some light doses of guitars might have helped.I do not like the sound of the drums,they sound more like war drums than an instrument.
WILL APPEAL TO:..anyone searching for a trully dark listening.Even pure doom metal fans will appreciate this album too,although ” “La Signora del Buio” has nothing to do with the term ”metal”.
CONCLUSION/RATING: “La Signora del Buio” could easily be labeled as a love or hate album.I am 100% sure that many progheads will find this effort too excessive,while others will love it to death.One thing is for sure: AKRON hails as a trully original band,whose album is certainly not for prog initiators…and yes,I found them far superior compared to JACULA…4 stars and strongly recommended for the open-minded.
Review by apps79
