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Secret Alliance: Solar Warden
HSecret Alliance - Solar Warden Album Art Work

Secret Alliance: Solar Warden

Heavy Prog Guitar Rock
4.0/5.0

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Punishment 18 Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 29.01.2020 | Released: 31.01.2020

Secret Alliance is the project of Italian guitarist Gianluca Galli, possibly mostly known in his own country for his bands Mantra, Time Machine and Silver Horses. To help bring his songs to life Solar Warden, Galli recruited some top international players including drummer Ricardo Confessori (Angra, Shaman), fretless bass player Tony Frankin (Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Whitesnake, Kate Bush, et al), Chick Corea guitarist Frank Gambale, and Italian guitar virtuoso Alex Masi. Vocals are provided by Silver Horses singer Andrea Ranfagni.

Gianluca Galli - Click For Larger Image

Gianluca Galli

Musically speaking, and perhaps self-evident, Galli has built his songs around his guitar work. His riffs are rich and thick, creating a wall of sound; his leads abundant and soaring. These things are wrapped in arrangements of heavy rock with prog, and possibly some blues, nuances. Throughout you'll hear some creative rhtythms, tempos, and time signatures, with Confessori assisting with his drum magic. Vocalist Ranfagni has a clear and assertive presence without going screamo. Rather his voice has some passion, even some of that blues vibe as within Walking Man, We're All In, or Dark Side wherein, to these ears, Galli was going after some blues nuances. Moreover, Ranfagni does a superb job of picking up and raising the harmony and melody of the songs. Otherwise, Galli's guitar would crush both.

After these things, the formula for Galli's heavy prog guitar rock has already been explained above. Riffs and more riffs, with spry guitar lines and leads rising above them. Such is the case within The Wardens, A New Tomorrow, Superheroes, or No Faith. Sometimes Galli can mix things up as with the quirky synths within Last Day. Then there's the acoustic closing song Abun D'Bashmayo, a version of the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic.

Essentially, with Secret Alliance and Solar Warden, talented guitarist Gianluca Galli has created a platform for his own performance. If like your guitar rock heavy and somewhat proggy, you will enjoy this album. Album art works is very cool as well.


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The Bottom Line

Essentially, with Secret Alliance and Solar Warden, talented guitarist Gianluca Galli has created a platform for his own performance. If like your guitar heavy and somewhat proggy, you will enjoy this album.

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