ROSE ROVINE E AMANTI

"Demian"

Cold Spring - 2009

CD

Rose Rovine e Amanti return after their competent debut on Cold Spring "Rituale Romanum", an album that showed an interesting variety of influences and an appreciable attempt at parting from the stereotyped neofolk matter. This new CD, on the contrary, gets rid of all the previous elements, going back to a very simple acoustic approach. Unfortunately, this choice doesn't seem to give justice to Damiano Mercuri's band: while the first songs ("Il Gatto Osserva", "Rose Rovine e Amanti") are modest ballads, and the title-track works pretty good with its epic and martial rhythm, the rest is a downward spiral, from the clumsy electric guitar inserts on "Paura Del Demonio" and "From Desperation To Victory", to the embarassing "The End Of This World" (starts like an Italian Medieval story-telling, to then suddenly shift to English neofolk) and "Mille Serpi" (out of tune and almost hilarious). "Demian" is then closed by "Noi Ritorneremo", that would save the whole with professionally played piano and violin, at least, were it not for Damiano's voice spoiling it with a definitely out of place rocking attitude, and "Ave Maria", a decent homage to Christianity.

Summing up, this is a disappointing follow up to the interesting and enjoyable "Rituale Romanum", lacking its genuine and potentially innovative charge. Seems like Rose Rovine e Amanti were trying to follow a new direction, without exactly knowing themselves which one. Sorry, Damiano, next time maybe.

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.roserovineamanti.com

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/roserovineamanti

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