ANGELFIRE

Wicked Minds-"Witchflower"-2006 Italy`s Wicked Minds continue to astound listener`s with their flash-back inducing brand of Prog Rock! To label the band "Retro" or "Stoner" would be grossly innacurate, as most bands in those genres seem to be more tongue-in-cheek and fashion-concious. Not so with Wicked Minds! Their sound is solidly rooted in 1971; think Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Lucifer`s Friend, or any of the other fine bands` mining the same terrritory back then. Heavy, bluesy with plenty of dynamics and Hammond organ swells, as well as incisive guitar licks and spacious riffs galore. To describe the Wicked Minds sound is to describe the smell of hot amplifier tubes, the swirl of a Leslie speaker, the mournful cries of Hammonds, Moogs and Mellotrons mixed with the distinctive timbre of a Fender Rhodes piano. The band creates music that has a very ORGANIC feel to it, something that only Analog can give you. No samplers, microprocessors or modeling amps spoken HERE! "Witchflower" is Wicked Minds most fully realized work yet, in terms of both sound quality and compositional skill. These five guys cover their music with heart, soul, EMOTION, feeling that seem to be lacking in much of what pases for Rock today, where everything seems over-produced, over-recorded, over-marketed and yet under-developed. Not so with these Analog kids! Just take a listen to any of the 12 tracks, like Black Capricorn Fire", "A Child And A Mirror", "Scorpio Odyssey" or the moody, powerful "Soldier Of Fortune". Even better, but the digipack version like I did and get the bonus DVD, featuring tons of liver performances, a "making of" section, and a sweet cover of Heep`s "Gypsy" [previously heard on Wicked Minds "From The Purple Skies"]. Most definitely a band to watch, and hopefully one that will lead the way towards bringing Rock back to where it belongs; in the hearts and minds of music lovers, NOT on your hard-drive! Highest recommendation possible!!!