Ten years ago Giancarlo Trotta and Luca Contegiacomo have
come from backgrounds between Metal and Classical Music from the Southern
Italian state, Salerno. They created this project called Magni Animi Viri and
released a Classical Metal Opera entitled Heroes
Temporis. It received positive critical reception from Italy and abroad the
world. Now in 2016, the duo have returned re-release the album again in an
English edition with two international stars both in the Symphonic and
Progressive Metal community.
Featuring Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob, Star
One), and Amanda Somerville (Trillum, After Forever, Avantasia). And with Clive
Riche doing the narration. Alongside the three, there is the Bulgarian Symphony
Orchestra, John Macaluso on Drums, the late bassist Randy Coven, and guitarist
Marco Sgogli (Creation’s End, James LaBrie, Project Damage Control, Jordan
Rudess) who takes over the great Franco Mussida of PFM.
With the release of the album, it also features to go into a
charitable aim to help donate a ward for dedication to autism children for a
clinic in Italy in which to finance an opening of a "game-and-diagnosis" at the MerClin ward in Campagna, province of Salmero. Now onto the story. It's about a Man’s journey
towards understanding redemption through the attention that the reality that
he’s living in, is nothing more but a dream. And the music itself, being a fan
of both Symphonic and bits of Prog Metal thrown in, it is for me, an epic
spiritual journey to find out who you really are.
From the moment I put the CD on, I was taken to an open door
to a world of peace and hope that all heroes will be joined as one. And the
music itself nails it perfectly. I have to admit I got a little teary eyed from
the music that Trotta and Contegiacomo brought here in their arranging and
composition format of the story and orchestral metal that blend well.
For me, I’ve been a huge Amanda Somerville fan since hearing
her work in her orientated project entitled Trillium back in 2012 with the
release of Alloy that I bought from
The Laser’s Edge website. And I was just completely blown away of her vocal
arrangements in the melodic format and for me, she can sing very well.
Both she and Russell handle the duets as if working together
as a team. The evidence is there on songs including the Thrash turned ascending
Symphonic yet beautiful Thoughts. I
love how the guitar goes through these various section between power riffs,
leads, and rhythm as drums lend a mid-fast tempo beat before choirs kick in the
door open and I get a feeling it will become a fan favorite and yet a
sing-along song classic.
The acoustic ¾ waltz time signature to dance to with an emotional
strong and powerful lush on Moon Peace while
Intus + Until captures your heart
with an embracing moment as Somerville’s vocal arrangements that resembles the
styles of Within Temptation’s early days from the Mother Earth sessions and not to mention Trillium’s Alloy which I could imagine it could
have been used as a bonus track.
Both Temporis and Heroes captures the styles of Luca
Turilli’s Rhapsody’s Ascending to
Infinity. I love the classical boundaries thrown in between classical
guitar, harpsichord, and the Sinfionetta’s by giving Russell’s voice which
carries a resemblance to Alessandro Conti. It’s not that he brings passion
through his vocals, but at times calmer and ascending positions on his vocals that
had my eyebrows go up.
This is my tenth time listening to Heroes Temporis (World Edition). It’s a strong, powerful, and
poignant album from start to finish. And I have to give this project a huge
amount of credit for helping donating on autism awareness for children and
music itself is a healing process. If you love Symphonic, Power, and
Progressive Metal from the realms of Within Temptation, Ayreon, Nightwish,
Dotma, and of course, Luca Turilli, then delve into Magni Animi Viri’s Heroes Temporis.
Here is the website on what they are doing: http://www.heroestemporis.org/index.php/en/
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