| Musical Style: Metal Opera | Produced By: Enzo Donnarumma & Gary Wehrkamp |
| Record Label: Rockshots | Country Of Origin: Varies |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 13 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 63:31 |
Fresh off 2017’s Angelic Warlord album of the year award for its 95% reviewed Rockshots Records sophomore album In The Name Of The Son, Enzo & The Glory Ensemble follow up in the spring of 2020 with third full length offering In The Name Of The World Spirit (also Rockshots). Same formula as previously - a very good thing! - in that as its namesake implies, Enzo & The Glory Ensemble remains the brainchild of founding member Enzo Donnarumma. The Gragnano, Italy based multi-instrumentalist and baritone vocalist got his start in 2012 as part of Members Of God and its debut release Ten Talking Words, a work in which he developed his vision of ‘Christ speaking through metal’ that he went on to realize with Enzo & The Glory Ensemble.
The ‘Glory Ensemble Part’, of course, derives from how starting with 2015 Underground Symphony debut In The Name Of The Father, the project makes it a focal point to recruit a host of distinguished guest musicians to make appearance. In The Name Of The World Spirit proves no exception from featuring the likes of Marty Friedman, Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Mark Zonder (Fates Warning, Warlord), Gary Wehrkamp & Brian Ashland (Shadow Gallery), Nicholas Leptos (Warlord, Arrayan Path), Derek & Amulyn Corzine (Whisper From Heaven) and others. It would not be out of line as a result to suggest the album is an ‘all star project’ in the truest sense of the word!
Musically, In The Name Of The World Spirit maintains the ‘metal opera’ formula of its predecessors with a sound rooted in power and progressive metal but strongly derivative of classical music, symphonic and art rock and New Age music. You will also find a World & Ethnic slant, noting the return of the Weza Moza Gospel Choir from the Congo (making its initial appearance on In The Name Of The Son), in addition to a cinematic keyboard theatrical flair. Where In The Name Of The World Spirit breaks from the past is in occasional use of extreme vocals but tastefully so and not to a fault.
Lyrically, the project continues to draw heavily from scripture (noting an up to date interpretation to “Psalm 13”) but with an overall theme (as noted by the artist) based around an ‘invitation to dialogue and openness, certain that the Lord has answers for all men’.
Opening vocal cut “Nothingness (It’s Everyone’s Fate)” represents quintessential Enzo & the Glory Ensemble. Beautifully and richly orchestrated, the song propels its emotional length to the W.M. Gospel Choir while reveling in a deep melody buttressed by symphonic keyboards. Metal edged guitars make a more assertive statement for the muscular instrumental moments.
“The Bronze Age” leaves initial impression as a ballad with its classical guitar opening. When guitars crash in, however, it powers its length at a more forward tempo but heavier as its predecessor as Donnarumma trades off vocally with classic tenor vocalists Nicholas Leptos and Gary Wehrkamp. Again, the W.M. Gospel Choir carries the melody to the extent Shadow Gallery comes to mind. Lyric snippet:
Trusted you as the Lord of my land
Just of my people, by Your command
That protect us from danger and fear
Freeing us with unarmed victories
My heart, my barren land
Sowed by a stranger hand
My fears you don’t prevent
Which others are you with?
“Try To Put In Pit The Fear” sustains the elevated leanings but in a rollicking, up-tempo sense, noting the fleet as it gets refrain. Yet, interspersed throughout is a calmer medieval flair with the use of flute and other classical instrumentation, although the song does not forsake its metal inclining in terms of the brash instrumental interlude.
“To Every Chest” represents an intricately done orchestral ballad. Piano, classical and acoustic guitar in addition to clean guitar (courtesy of Marty Friedman) weave a luxurious web, as Enzo forms a lush duet with Clara People. Once more, the W.M. Gospel Choir smoothly holds the diverse pieces together in providing the exquisite foundation. Lyric snippet:
Living insights of you
Will be addressed
To every chest
Only your face my muse
The same I use
To cheer and support
Memory teaching me
Giving life free
Helping to see
Your far reflex is enough for me to color all the world
O vow to You my soul today
The ballad sentiments carry over to the start of “Just In My Heart To Blame”, but after a minute it picks up pace as another upbeat hard rocker. It takes a melodic slant, with chanting choirs and inspiring refrain as Donnarumma shines with both a classical guitar solo and his richly tinctured vocal timbre.
Cinematic metal piece “I’ll Add More” lushly flows its distance majestic and ethereal to a female vocal duet between the
soprano style of Amylyn Corzine and opera form of Clauda Coticelli, with Donnarumma’s lower register added in between. Friedman decorates the final two minutes with his classical influenced soloing. Lyric snippet:
Like a noble staying humble
What a pride revives my heart like nothing else
To be worth the Blood of God
And no more to feel as flawed
And rest any desire to change myself
In desperate ways
Blood becomes fertile
Also my death will be life for all
“My Pillory” separates as classic Euro power metal: brash guitars, heightened low end, double bass onslaughts (noting the work of Mr. Jack) and all the symphonic keyboards you could ask (courtesy of Alessandrio Battini), Yes, it is straightforward, direct and we have heart it many times before but good all the same- Theocracy fans rejoice!
Sweeping ballad “Last Weep” begins to sitar prior to drifting ahead acoustically, as Shadow Gallery members Brian Ashland and Gary Wehrkamp comprise a dignified duet. It gradually builds into inspiring melodic hard rock form, with layered vocal melodies and every bit conspicuous refrain.
Eight-minute “Psalm 13 (Tell Me)” basks in progressive time signatures. Beginning to accapella vocals prior to turning orchestral and then after two and a half minutes cutting loose in taking a hard rock direction. Extreme vocals later lend a courser edge before things return to a sweeping orchestral form and then back to hard rocking. Ten vocalists also build upon the ‘metal opera’ platform. Lyric snippet:
How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Forever?
How long wilt thou, wilt thou hide my face,
Wilt thou hide thy face from me?
How long must I fight with my thoughts,
And day after day having pain in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me, answer, my God
Light my eyes or I will die
“Echo” also brings its share of diversity, albeit at the more truncated four minutes. Calmer moments with lighter vocals and pensive keyboards trade off with those of an aggressive nature as metal guitars and manifold choirs hold sway. Perhaps it is the vocal presence of Brian Ashland, but Shadow Gallery comes to mind in terms of the momentous environs.
Back to power metal with “One Reason”, as guitars cut in at once (and rank with albums most conspicuous) alongside choir vocals to make an up-tempo statement the songs span. A cinematic landscape also prevails, found in sweeping keyboards and manifold vocalists (very creative and with a dramatic essence).
Album reaches its emotional crescendo with “The Silence Speaks For Us”. Song drifts majority of its length laid back, referencing a foundation of flute, orchestral keyboards and classical guitar, to a stately transition between various male and female vocalists (too numerous to mention but flattering). Grand transition is reached for the massive choirs to carry the epic refrain ensued by metal guitars bringing things to their close. Lyric snippet:
Many warm united hands
I start to see all the expanse
I would not come thee alone
‘Cause the silence speaks for us
But our breath the horizon nears
A step forward, join, no fears
And the night is still so long
But the silence speaks for me
Speaks for you, speaks for us
In The Name Of The World Spirit adds up to the third quality work from Enzo & The Glory Ensemble. Similar to those previous, it takes an ‘all star’ approach with a plethora of talented guest performers but within a similar ‘metal opera’ framework. Yes, a bit of diversity musically - power, progressive, symphonic, New Age, World & Ethnic - with the upshot (based upon my experience) the album growing with you from repeat listen. Of course, the wonderful Weza Moza Gospel Choir plays an every bit crucial role in building upon the albums astute theme. If a fan of the first two Enzo & The Glory Ensemble albums or into any form of music presented, make In The Name Of The World Spirit a necessary purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Precariousness” (1:17), “Nothingness (I’ts Everyone’s Fate)” (5:37), “The Bronze Age” (4:50), “Try To Put In The Pit Of Fear” (4:33), “To Every Chest” (5:00), “Just In My Heart The Blame” (5:10), “I’ll Add More” (5:59), “My Pillory” (5:00), “Last Weep” (4:44), “Psalm 13 (Tell Me) (7:58), “Echo” (3:44), “One Reason” (4:55), “The Silence Speaks For Us” (4:44)
Musicians
Enzo Donnarumma - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Duduk, Flute, Dejebe, Batas, Berkete, Ewe, Kalimba, Ngoni, Marimba, Sitar, Zourna & Qumbek
Kobi Farhi - Lead Vocals
Derek Corzine - Lead Vocals
Maria Londino - Lead Vocals
Claudia Coticelli - Lead Vocals
Ralf Scheepers - Lead Vocals
David Brown - Lead Vocals
Clara People - Lead Vocals
Amulyn Corzine - Lead Vocals
Nicholas Leptos - Lead Vocals
Brian Ashland - Lead Vocals
Gary Wehrkamp - Lead Vocals
Weza Moza Gospel Choir - Vocals
Mary Friedman - Guitars
Francesco Romeggini - Guitars
Philip Bynoe - Bass
Alex Battini - Keyboards
Mr. Jack - Drums, Lead Vocals
Mark Zonder - Drums
