The Italian Power / Symphonic Metal band SIPARIO POWER METAL ACT has just released their first album "Oblivion (Black Thorns)", after positive feedbacks which revolved around their two first EP. The Italian band uses an original way to write the songs; in fact the whole album is inspired by the book "Primavera di Aithea" (2009), which gives more personality and made this opus a concept album.

Turning to the music, in fact the band's influences are very wide, you can listen to passages that can reminds you of SONATA ARCTICA or AVANTASIA... So the band's style is immense and can be found in the Power Metal sphere with excellence. The use of synthesizers to create atmospheres and melancholic moods but melodic at the same time, is a strong fact in most of the songs on this album. Keyboardist Daniele Tari is a mastermind, his playing is ubiquitous on every track. Another great feature consists of the existence of two female voices in the persons of Meg and Mari, two souls that blend wonderfully. The pieces are generally divided between songs full of energy and attack as "Oblivion" and "Shadows", and the others with a little less tempo but more atmosphere as "Vanishing Prairie", a song that operates more the singing side... The riffs on guitars are rather a neglected element in my opinion on the entire album, despite excellent riffs on the song "Bones" for example. Solos are technically mastered exists on several pieces. Only downside is that the production is very passive and lacks a bit of work on the mix of drums and guitars.

Conceptually and musically, this album is a success. Fans of mysteries and stories of fantasy will find this journey mysteriously beautiful.