Review by Marco Mariani (proofread by Teresa Hopkins)
Artist: WINTERAGE
Album: THE HARMONIC PASSAGE
Label: Nadir Music
Release Date: February 2, 2015
Tracklist:
01. Ouverture in Do Minore
02. The Harmonic Passage
03. The Flame Shall Not Fade
04. Wirewings
05. Son Of Winter
06. La Caccia di Tórini
07. Golden Worm
08. Victory March
09. La Grotta di Cristallo
10. Crown To The Crowds
11. Panserbjørne
12. The Endless Well
13. Awakening
“Music is something that doesn’t take place here and now, but that is somewhere else and in another moment…it’s a glance cast beyond the closed door…”
In 2008 WINTERAGE, an Italian symphonic power metal band, was born from the idea of two professional musicians: violinist Gabriele Boschi and keyboardist Dario Gisotti. Together with guitarist Riccardo Gisotti, the band immediately began writing their own compositions in a power metal style with classical and traditional music influences. 2010 brought the entrance of two new members, drummer Davide Bartoli and bassist Matteo Raganini, led to the start of local live activity, which obtained a good response from the audience. With the arrival of singer Daniele Barbarossa and new self-published songs, the single ‘Forest of Consciousness’ was released in 2012 as part of the soundtrack of an independent horror film. In 2013, the band prepared for the launch of their first LP, with profitable live activity that sees them in several gigs, including those with bands ELVENKING and DARK MOOR. The band began recording their debut album in 2014 for the Nadir Music label, collaborating with a real symphonic orchestra that will provide an impressive and enriched sound.
The full session of WINTERAGE, recently released by Nadir Music, shows a truly remarkable and marvelous work that includes and combines the brilliant technique of more than 50 young professional musicians. Using their energy and talent they create this new album in collaboration with a real symphonic orchestra, which enhances a powerful sound in a journey between classical music and power metal.
Although the audience could find some similarities in the genre with other bands that are part of this soundscape, such as RHAPSODY OF THE FIRE and ELVENKING, the valuable element of the album is that every single sound has its own authenticity. Traveling across the album, we can find some example that explain the potential of this new band. Starting from the first song, ‘Ouverture in Do Minore’, we begin the journey through the magical portal (see the album’s cover) to the world of WINTERAGE. This portal guides us to the mystical sound inspired by The Lord of the Rings and the story of Merlin throughout the album to the final track, ‘Awakening’, in which there are some multiple movements of classical music that are easily recognizable, conforming and recalling a safe sound but still innovating it. In the song ‘Son of Winter’, the listeners discover the female voice of Silvia Traverso, a truly amazing and interesting singer that arouses a sense of completeness in a symphonic opera, which is usually needed to extend the ideal image of this genre. She will surely be included in the world of female metal singers.
The musical knowledge and instrumental techniques of the musicians make all these compositions very pleasant to listen to. The thing I want to highlight is that all these souls are destined to create music, since as professional musicians they devote themselves into constantly improving it. So it seems right to me to mention all the members who worked on the creation of this excellent project (see full listing below). In the future I will go to one of their concerts since I’m curious to hear them in a live performance. If they keep up with all the promises settled in this album, WINTERAGE will be recognized and we will hear about this new promising band very soon.
Rating: 8/10
WINTERAGE is:
Daniele Barbarossa – Vocals
Riccardo Gisotti – Electric Guitar, Bouzouki
Matteo Raganini – Electric Bass
Davide Bartoli – Drums
Gaita Gallega, Gabriele Boschi – Violins, Orchestral and Choral arrangements, Orchestration
Dario Gisotti – Keyboards, Uillean Pipes, Tin & Low Whistles
Additional musicians on this album:
Silvia Traverso – Vocals on ‘Son of Winter’ and backing vocals.
ORCHESTRA:
Conductor: Alessandro Sartini
I Violins: Gabriele Boschi*, Alice Nappi, Francesco Bagnasco, Alex Leonte
II Violins: Rodolfo Siccardi, Pietro Genova, Gaia Carola Gennaro
Violas: Luigi Magnozzi, Ruben Franceschi
Cellos: Laura Monti*, Melissa Del Lucchese, Simone Cricenti
Double-bass: Giulio Tanasini
Flute & Piccolo: Elisabetta Boschi
Oboe: Mirko Foschi
Clarinets: Lorenzo Tedone
Bassoon: Luigi Tedone
Trumpets: Pietro Sciutto*, Margherita Sciutto, Adriano Marchelli (also Tuba)
French Horns: Alberto Repetto*, Daniele Bicego
Trombones: Ìan Veronese*, Antonio Carvelli, Alessandro Botteghi
Timpanos & Percussions: Tommaso Sansonetti
Orchestral Harp: Angelica Costantini
Classical Guitar: Fabio De Lorenzo
Harpsichord: Davide Mingozzi
CHORUS, OPERA CHORUS:
Sopranos: Silvia Traverso, Benedetta Torre, Francesca Torre, Luana Lauro
Tenor: Raffaele Feo
Bass: Daniele Nicola
POWER CHORUS:
Daniele Barbarossa*, Francesco Ciapica, Fausto Ciapica
Scream: Emanuele Biggi
Child Voice: Francesca Fiorentini
* Soloists
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 