| Musical Style: Power/Progressive Metal | Produced By: Francesco Romeggini |
| Record Label: Rockshots Records | Country Of Origin: Italy |
| Year Released: 2019 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 9 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 52:09 |
If you want a female fronted power to progressive metal band with symphonic edges, Montecarlo, Italy based S91 should absolutely be on your radar. With its moniker short for Psalm 91, S91 debuted in 2011 with the independent full length offering Volonta Legata, a 75% Angelic Warlord graded work that featured the vocalist by committee approach of Maria Londino, Sefora Bonaccorsi and Tania Petrone. For its Underground Symphony 2016 sophomore effort Behold The Mankind, S91 tightened up its lineup by handing the lead vocal reins to Maria Londino, whom per the 85% Angelic Warlord review ‘brings a melodic, light and soaring style that fits nicely with the music at hand’. Further separating Behold The Mankind from Volonta Legata is how it is concept related in detailing the history of mankind based upon Christian theology.
On its spring of 2019 third album Along The Sacred Path, S91 returns with a new label, Rockshots Records, but with the same roster in that joining Maria Londino are holdovers Francesco Romeggini, keyboardist Francesco Londino, bassist Giacomo Manfredi and drummer Giacomo Mezzetti. It is also a conceptual work in maintaining the narrative from Behold The Mankind by tracing the history of Christianity but ‘through the life of some key figures (of European origin) that are not always considered positive by everyone’ (per its press material). The main goal of the album (again, the groups press material) ‘is to show how the Gospel message has spread in its original form, becoming the fabric of modern Western society’ while ‘(paying) tribute to the great nation of Europe’. S91 feels ‘more than ever (Europe) needs to recognize and rediscover its founding values if it wants to survive these dark times and continue to be a beacon of civilization for the whole world’.
That first figure in question is “Constantine The Great”, whom forms the basis of a stark hard rocker opening to a two-minute instrumental build up in which plunging bass gives way to searing guitars. Vocal trade offs carry the song moving forward, as raspy male vocals of a guttural kind contrast with the recognizable crystalline form of Maria Londino. As with previous efforts, instrumental sound remains a S91 calling card as things break at the mid-point for another run of brisk lead guitar. Lyric snippet:
In this sign I’ll conquer
Draw it on the armor of your soldiers!
I will deliver the enemy into your hands!
I’ll put my law into your mind!
My name! You’ll write it on the labarum!
“Saint Patrick” slightly tempers when placed alongside. The song begins to several seconds of power metal riffing prior to flowing into its first verse, which interestingly finds an element of distortion added vocally. Refrain, however, smoothly evens out as keyboards allow a marked effect, with an aggressive aspect briefly appearing for the passage to ensue to feature added harsh male vocals. Lyric snippet:
My journey is a lifelong journey!
I was a shepherd, but I’m fishing for men now!
No one will hurt me, Your hand is upon me!
These pagan lands will worship You!
Oh my Lord, thanks my Lord, thanks for sending me
As albums shortest at three and a half minutes, “Pope Gregory I” comes across in the form of a tranquil ballad. It odes a good job lending a fitting medieval effect, as classical keyboards, angelic choir vocals and orchestration carry the exquisite way. Lyric snippet:
Where are you Rome?
Where is your glory?
All who pass your way clap their hands at you
Is this the city that was called the perfect beauty
The joy of the whole earth, the eternal city?
S91 leaves little doubt as to its progressive abilities on “Olaf II Haraldsson”. There is a great deal going on here despite the five-minute length, with a piano and keyboard laced instrumental first five minute, powering mid-tempo verses reverberating to guitars, and refrain opening to coarsely shouted male vocals. Further separating it is the seventies influenced breakdown two minutes in with complementary Hammond B3 and Gregorian style vocals over aggressive bass to carry the final powerful verses. Lyric snippet:
I will bring the truth, I will spread Your word
I will bring the light into this reign
Honor to the Eternal King of Norway!
The one who made us know the Lord!
The one who has created our nation!
The one who made us firm in the faith
“Godfrey Of Bouillon” takes an up-tempo heading. With fitting double bass leading the way, the song presents in the form of a duet to include guest lead vocalist Egidio Casati, who aligns with the aggressive setting in terms of his scratchy delivery. Romeggini’s killer lead guitar carries the first instrumental break and doom-ish riffs the second. Lyric snippet:
I’ll commit everything I have and leave tonight for Jerusalem
For too long infidel hands grabbed the Holy Sepulcher
I will have to face hunger and war, dirty intrigues and betrayal and so
We finally come to the Holy Land
If this is Your will we’ll do it
We put under siege the Eternal Walls
“Joan Of Arc” is classy melodic metal that gradually builds impetus its distance. It begins its first minute moody and melancholic to lightly done guitars and distant vocal melodies only to pick up impetus in a heavier direction as guitars take a more assertive stance. Two and a half minutes in, however, guitars transition to a metal driven role, particularly during the instrumental moments to feature added accomplished soloing. It would not be out of line to suggest a light progressiveness also imbues this one. Lyric snippet:
They laugh at me, they said I’m mad
Unreal voices, unreal faith
Real is my pity, real is my pain
And the sorrow, of my country
The Lord chose, the young pride to shame, the cowardice
The foolish things, to shame the wise
Second ballad “Martin Luther” approaches from a melodic hard rock standpoint. Reticent front to back, piano carries the songs first and second calm and moving verses until impetus picks up for the guitars that step forward to brace the more precociously moving refrain. Passage to ensue features Gregorian vocals underlined by a shouted voice, which I presume represents that of Martin Luther himself! Lyric snippet:
On top of this tower in the solitude, I reflect on Your word
For centuries we have had it in front of us, be we were blind
Rapacious and murderous gangs, is this your gospel?
Furious dogs marching with raised fists
Liars going for bloodshed, stop this blasphemy
Princes and nobles, down this riot in blood!
S91 further plays up its progressive side on the albums two closing epics, “John Williams” at eight minutes and “Dietrich Bonhoeffer” at eleven. I identify with “John Williams” as progressive but on the symphonic side with a dark power metal slant not unlike Symphony X. Quite a bit of detail reveals in the process, with opening verses passing from tranquil piano to those heavier with a distorted vocal edge. Further variety as the song passes to its second half, playing up a full on metal sound as added harsh male vocals lend to what amounts unnerving musical moments of a keyed up variety. More guitar pyrotechnics as “John Williams” transitions through its abundant instrumental interludes. Lyric snippet:
Worlds divided by the sea
Mysterious people in the islands
I want to bring them progress
I want to bring them Christ
I also want to project their village from the Western selfishness
Erromango is my last destination some other islanders who need help
I identify with “Dietrich Bonhoeffer” as a musical extension to “John Williams”, albeit not quite consistently heavy in that mixed with decided power to progressive metal junctures are those paying tribute to melodic hard rock and even ballad-ish AOR. In terms of categorization, it is not quite metal but not rock either- it falls in between to the extent a progressive hard rock heading best applies. Similar to “John Williams”, it is home to its share of instrumental sentiments - Fomegginin and Frank Londino both shine from a guitar and keyboard standpoint, respectively - in addition to also using raw male vocals to build upon the emotional happenings. Shadow Gallery might be a good indicator in terms of what is going on here. Lyric snippet:
Give me the strength not to deny You
I will not be the one to triumph but You
When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die
This is the end, for me the beginning of life
Not to speak is to speak
Not to act is to act
Not to fight is to let the evil win
Along The Sacred Path comes in a quality digi-pak with a professionally done mini booklet home to easy to ready lyrics and linter notes. Yes, I prefer jewel cases but when a digi-pak is done correctly - and such is the case here - I take no issue. As is often the case with European bands, production is up to standard in terms of detailed mix and mastering to allow all needed ingredients proper place in the mix.
It would not be out of line to suggest Along The Sacred Path is the best S91 album to date, at least my opinion. It sees the group continuing to improve - noting the 85% graded Behold The Mankind - but also progressive musically. Note how I placed al label of ‘progressive metal’ on previous S91 albums but not this time in that it has expanded its sound to also place every bit much emphasis on power to melodic metal and even some melodic rock and AOR-ish hints. Consider, for instance, how track times have reduced from the six to seven minute range to that around four to five, with the exception the pair of epics at the end. If you enjoy previous efforts from S91 or are into female fronted acts within the power/progressive genres, then I encourage giving Along The Sacred Path strong consideration.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Constantine The Great” (5:40), “Saint Patrick” (5:24), “Pope Gregory I” (3:38), “Olaf II Haraldsson” (5:02), “Godfrey Of Bouillon (5:02), “Joan Of Arc” (4:42), “Martin Luther” (4:39), “John Williams” (8:18), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (10:50)
Musicians
Maria Londino - Lead Vocals
Francesco Romeggini - Guitars, Lead & Backing Vocals
Francesco Londino - Keyboards
Giacomo Manfredi - Bass
Giacomo Mezzetti - Drums, Lead & Backing Vocals
Guest Musicains
Egidio Casati - Lead Vocals
