Litanie
Ozora
Yes, yes, yes! Another band that has got it right. Sing in your native tongue when making music makes the emotions shine through a lot brighter. OZORA has taken the hint and done just that. Maybe the success that MÅNESKIN had during and after Eurovision made that decision easier. But I can only say that it is/was the right one to make. As I had never heard of OZORA before I received “Litanie” to review, I looked them up. Not much to be found, but on their Bandcamp page they describe themselves as a band made up of 4 romantic and angry forty-year-olds, who with anger and irony slam their frailties in your face, with a stern look at man's madness. And I have to say, they are really succeeding on “Litanie”, their third studia album. The first two are “Perpendicolari” from 2017 and the 2021 release “Angelica”.
Back to “Litanie”, where OZORA showcases their love for Progressive Metal combined with Extreme parts. I am immediately impressed when opener “Sensei (Animale Vergine)” starts blasting through my headphones or speakers. The heavy riffing in combination with the Progressive elements make this song into an instant classic for me. And this is a theme that continues all through the album. These guys have the ability to make you listen, to give you direction and keep your interest high. The fact that they all are very good musicians who happen to be masters in writing good music doesn’t exactly hurt their cause. On the contrary, it makes “Litanie” an outstanding album by a very capable band. OZORA should be proud of themselves.
After extensively listening to “Litanie” I can only say that I am impressed with the OZORA and their musicality. Especially in the heavier department they are a force to be reckoned with. That is when the musical combination they have envisioned for themselves comes to fruition. That is when my hairs start to stand on end, when my brain takes extra notice, when I have no choice but to stop what I am doing and just listen. And it is not for me to say that the softer/quieter are any less musically, they are just not as impressive as the heavier parts. All together I can only conclude that OZORA has made an outstanding album with “Litanie”. This means only one thing; I have to find their first two releases, to see how good they are.
9 / 10
Almost Perfect
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Litanie" Track-listing:
1. Sensei (Animale Vergine)
2. Estraneo
3. Inedia
4. Quando mangio da solo a volte piango (Hangover)
5. Il Gigante e la Formica
6. Litanie
7. Torna da lei
8. Al d la (Inferno)
Ozora Lineup:
Davide Conti - Vocals
Paolo Marreddu - Guitar
Luca Imerito - Bass
Danilo Saccottelli - Drums
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