Band: Presence

CD Title: “Evil Rose”

Label: Black Widow Records

Release Date: 2008

It’s great when a band has been around for a while and continues to produce music that is interesting and even challenging. Such is the case with Italy’s Presence. They’ve been around since the early nineties producing a heavier progressive rock with dark and moody overtones. And I’m happy to report they’re back with their seventh official release entitled Evil Rose.

This time around Presence consists of Sophya Baccini (vocals), Sergio Casamassima (electric & bass guitars), Enrico Iglio (keyboards) with special guest Valerio Silenzi (drums) to round out the rhythm section. I guess many would categorize the music of Presence as kind of a gothic, symphonic progressive rock. They’re certainly grand and majestic when they choose to be and then almost chamber prog the next moment although their music tends to favor the more aggressive melodic side of things. A good many of the discs nine-tracks are on the longish side with the multi-part epic title track “Evil Rose” coming in at 18:35. As I mentioned at the beginning, the general tone is dark and moody, with many haunting passages that are heightened by Sophya Baccini’s operatic-like vocals. She clearly sets the tone and guides the listener through the multi-faceted compositions. When I said the music could be grand, there are many moments where orchestrated keyboard strings and choirs present a panoramic epic sweep that sends shivers up the spine. But then just as easily the band will turn-on-a-dime and become quite aggressive with guitars and acoustic piano. It’s all very dramatic and quite pleasing to the ear. Presence has chosen to do a couple covers this time around; Queen’s “The Prophet Song” (9:00) and Rainbow’s “Gates of Babylon” (7:10) and on both tracks they’ve put their own distinctive musical stamp. Having said all that about the keyboards make no mistake those guitars play a major part of the band’s sound and style. They’re very much on display on “Subterreans” (6:09) along with some very ELP-ish sounding Hammond organ. And that’s just a small sample of what you’ll hear; overall there is a tremendous variety of musical sounds both hard, soft and lots in-between on Evil Rose.

Fans of Presence won’t take much persuading to pick up Evil Rose, but I’d encourage all of you newbie’s, who enjoy the harder-edged side of progressive rock, that still emphasizes the symphonic to look into the band. This disc especially has a lot of great music for everyone’s taste and you shouldn’t be disappointed.