The Italian Prog-Metal group AURA are long distance runners that are true to the infamously laid back Mediterranean pace. Although 2015 marks their 19th year in music business, "Noise" is their second LP.

"Noise" follows up their debut album "A Different View From The Same Side" released in 2008. Throughout the nineties and early 2000'S the band also released four demos ("Promo 97", "1998 Cold", "Wait" and "N Life"). As each of their releases marks a step further into the more progressive side of Metal, "Noise" aims at being their "progest" release to date.

AURA's sound is eclectic. They toggle effortlessly between epic "in your face" walls of sound and a more warm, grungy tone. Founding member and band leader Giovanni Trotta's voice is both huge and touching. His vocal harmonies often serve as a fifth instrument of the band. Having said that, it seems no effort at all was put on his side to sing without a strong Italian accent, which is sometimes alienating.

In spite of AURA's eclecticness or maybe because of it, "Noise" loses focus in some points. The band's try to encapsulate the messages in their songs (only two out of ten click at more than 6 minutes) falls short somewhere between all the ballad-tempo interludes, indulgent but sometimes redundant solos and a few places where "eclectic" becomes "indecisive".

All things considered, "Noise" isn't a bad album. It has its moments, and leaves you wishing it had more of them.