Italy's G.O.L.E.M. return with their second full-length album, Gathering Of the Legendary Elephant Monsters, and once again challenge the conventions of heavy prog by leaning entirely on dual keyboards, bass, drums, and vocals—no guitars in sight. If their debut Gravitational Objects of Light, Energy and Mysticism ( see review, 2022 ) was a bold experiment in Hammond-driven heaviness, this follow-up is a more refined and expansive statement, with stronger compositional focus and a broader emotional palette. The album opens with the title track, Gathering Of The Legendary Elephant Monsters, an 11-minute epic that immediately immerses the listener in a dense swirl of Hammond organ, Mellotron, and synth textures. Paolo Apollo Negri and Emil Quattrini provide contrasting keyboards anchoring the different moods within the opening sections, while Marco Vincini's vocals alternate between theatrical intensity and subdued introspection. The middle section features a particularly strong instrumental passage—layered organ solos over shifting rhythmic patterns—that recalls the best of 70s-era heavy prog without sounding derivative. Mechanical Evolution follows with a more melancholic tone. The arrangement is built around a slow-burning synth motif and expressive vocal phrasing. The rhythm section—Marco Zammati on bass and Francesco Lupi on drums—anchors the track with subtle dynamic shifts, allowing the keyboards to explore darker harmonic territory. The second half features a beautifully restrained solo that adds emotional weight without veering into excess. The Endless Night Of Reason is perhaps the most atmospheric piece on the album. It begins with ambient synth layers and slowly builds into a heavier section with distorted Hammond textures, reminiscent of classic Jon Lord and dramatic tempo changes. Vincini's vocals are particularly strong here, navigating the complex arrangement with clarity and conviction. The track's instrumental break blends retro prog elements with modern production sensibilities, making it one of the album's standout moments. Life Between The Lines offers a more concise structure, opening with a catchy organ riff and a dynamic vocal line. The track feels like a bridge between the band's heavier tendencies and their more melodic instincts. The interplay between the rhythm section and keyboards is tight and purposeful, and the song's brevity works in its favour. Tale Of The Oblivion Dance and Keeper Of The Ocean's Gate round out the album with a mix of heavy prog and extended jam sections. The former leans into a darker, almost gothic atmosphere, while the latter is more rhythmically adventurous, with syncopated bass lines and layered keyboard motifs and a pseudo-Van der Graaf Generator feel to it. Both tracks showcase the band's ability to stretch out without losing cohesion. Gathering Of the Legendary Elephant Monsters is a strong and distinctive album that builds on G.O.L.E.M.'s debut while expanding their sonic vocabulary. The dual keyboard setup remains their signature, but the band has grown in confidence and compositional depth. Fans of Deep Purple, The Nice, or even early Eloy will find much to enjoy here—but G.O.L.E.M. are clearly carving out their own niche in the modern prog landscape. **** David Carswell Where to buy? |
