Dante Saturnine
by Franco Cerchiari
Staff Writer
Reading the back of the insert shows an explanation for the word “Saturnine,” to be “… a gloomy or curly disposition,” or “… having a sardonic aspect… ” And a listen to the tracks heard here, on Dante’s follow up to 2008’s The Inner Circle, shows just that. To be sure, the nod to lovers of progressive hard rock intertwined with down tuned crunchy guitar chords can certainly be heard, as keyboards mesh deliciously with the vocals almost playing out at the same level of tone and emotion. But in such as way that there is a heavy feel to Saturnine. So the CD name, Saturnine does indeed fit the style of music, as there is an taste of the ominous, and, if one will, the browbeaten. But enthusiasts of the progressive should indeed make this part of their collection. To compare with such prog metal masters as Vanden Plas or Masterplan where the vocals soar above the music, Dante takes a different approach to the vocals, almost as if the voices are an instrument in and of themselves.
Friends since their school days, keyboardist Markus Maichel and guitarist Markus Berger came together to form Dante after meeting in 2005 at a Dream Theater concert. Naming such influences as ELP, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Neil Morse and of course Dream Theater, Dante released their debut shortly after forming in 2008. The hard rock of Porcupine Tree, the keyboards of ELP, the mind altering sounds of Pink Floyd and of course the progressive sounds of Dream Theater are manifest on each of these tracks.
The heavy, profound guitar riffs of “Last,” the morose soft piano of “Drifting,” the head nodding beat with the accompaniment of strings and the gorgeous vocal harmonies that lay into the CD highlight, the haunting “Maybe One Day.” The monster drum with an organ played to perfection by the gifted Markus Maichel makes the 7 minute instrumental “Modal Acousma,” one to pay close attention to. The fat bass guitar of “Never Return,” and the closing track, the 19 minute “Vanessa,” is episodic, grandiose and changes in temperament and mood frequently as the sounds of strings, keyboards, hard hitting drums, loud guitar power chords, solos and excellent use of the drums all come together extremely well.
The music is complex, with intricate songwriting obvious on more than one occasion. One can feel themselves being taken on a journey as the progressive sounds of Dante push the music towards the listener, and until one can feel themselves being taken over. The overall sound is perfect, loud when it needs to be, and subdued when called for. Using the full arsenal of synthesizers, guitars and voices available, (as heard on “Vanessa,”) the band takes full liberty of what is available to them.
As a side note, the art work is exceptional, not using massive amounts of color, but the dark texture of what seems to be a butterfly flying downward into the unknown – almost macabre – is brilliant it sets the mood for what is Saturnine. The boys of Dante have done it again, and thank God that ProgRock Records has allowed this band to once again bring their music to the prog rock world.
Genre: Progressive Metal
Musicians
Christian Eichlinger – drums
Markus Maichel – keyboards
Alexander Gohs – vocals
Markus Berger – guitars
Michael Neumeier – bass
Track Listing
All My Life
Drifting
Last
Maybe One Day
Modal Acousma
Never Return
Vanessa
Label: ProgRock Records
Hardrockhaven Rating – 8.5/10