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Artist: Marco Ferrigno |
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After three years in the making Marco Ferrigno has finally brought his Hanging Gardens opus out of the darkness and into the light. After his much-acclaimed Promised Land project, would Ferrigno manage to follow it with another masterstroke?, the answer is an overwhelming yes. Joining Ferrigno on this new project are former Blue Murder and The Firm bassist Tony Franklin, Marco Minnemann on drums and guest appearances from George Bellas and Javier Leal. The album opens up with ‘Temple Of Time’ a track that best be described as hard rock verging on the classical, with some splendid fret work by Ferrigno backed by the very proficient drumming of Minnemann, and some excellent bass sections from Franklin, these elements are a constant feature throughout the entire album. The album continues with ‘Night In Babylon’, which this time featuring guest guitarist George Bellas, who just happens to be one of Ferrigno’s main musical influences. The track twists and turns and has a very progressive feel to it. Another facet of the album is unveiled with the haunting melodies of ‘Tower Of Babel’, which takes a more gentle approach to the whole project on this particular track. This time Marco has enlisted the talents of Javier Leal to assist on this track. The same haunting feel is used to some extent on ‘Sacred City’, only this time Ferrigno introduces a little harder edged guitar sound in to the mix. If I had to name a favourite track off the album then it would have to be the almost spiritual ‘Meditteraneo’, with its varying tempo changes, drifting guitars and the ever-present rhythm section of Franklin and Minnermann. Another haunting melody comes in the form of the track entitled ‘Secret Garden’ and one that once again features guest musician Javier Leal. The album continues with ‘Varanus Komodensis’, a track that holds steady with that progressive edge to it and one that finds Franklin really come into his own with some excellent bass work. The album closes with ‘Closer To The World’, another track that features heavily Franklin’s bass and Minnemann’s drum skills, but equally the fine guitar work of Ferrigno as he dances around the fret board with great ease and dexterity. Anyone
who reads my reviews of so called “Musicians Albums” knows I can
love them or leave them, but with this one I find myself strangely drawn
to and this can only be a good thing as far as the album is concerned. |
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Tracklisting:
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