You don't have to understand the lyrics to love the sound!
There is a fair bit going on in opening track of Sutuna's album "Araba Fenice"; the melodies are quite predictably hard rock and tend to the lighter side of the melodic genre. This is a theme that is carried through much of the album, and while most hard rock bands these days go for a deep layered sound, Sutuana have chosen to start the album with a shallower sound and work their way up.
As "Araaba Fenice" progresses the Italians deepen the sound and bring in the contrasting melodies. I don't understand Italian, so I can't speak for the meaning if the lyrics, but what I can tell you that frontman Diego Boschini's voice is strong, melodic and full of passion!
The album continues to deepen as it progresses, 'Crescere' is a more sombre track with minor melodies and emotion filled vocals, 'Distante' goes hard with solid bass, fast guitars and barking but somehow still smooth lyrics; a storming guitar solo and crashing cymbals close the track and merge into the soft opening of 'Libera'. It's the longest song on the album and it shows that these four Italians can bring the deep layered sound that is a mark of most melodic hard rock songs today, moving from fast rhythms behind strong emotional vocals to wailing guitars all supported by solid beats and pure passion.
'System Failure' changes the sound up and is quite cheerful after the mournful sounds of previous track 'Sogni'. Instrumental track 'Sleaze' suits it's title mixing grimey guitars with sleek sleazy bass. Slap bass opens 'Fuoco' as Sutuana returns to the immense sounds with layered melodies. 'Tra Dito' is pure rock and 'Marcio Funebre' closes the album with a return to growling guitars and minor melodies.
This is an album filled with dynamic songs, carefully positioned to take you on a journey through Sutuana's sound and showing that you don't need to understand the words to connect with the music and the band.
It's one for those that like their hard rock to be true to the genre, full of dynamic and changing melodies topped off with strong passionate vocals.