After three years from their debut "Sanctus Ignis" here’s the comeback of Adagio, creature of the French guitarist Stephan Fortè, accompanied by a line-up of all respect: David Readman (Pink Cream 69) at the voice, Dirk Bruinberg (ex Elegy) on drums, Franck Hermann on bass and Kevin Godfert at the keyboards. In comparison with the debut, this "Underworld" marks a clean progression, moving itself from a canonical power metal to an orchestral, dark and aggressive prog metal (in a song there are even some growls!) on the way of "The Odissey" of Symphony X and of the latest Vandens Plas. Every passage has numerous changes of tempo inside, that anyway don't make the songs too hard to listen and to memorize, also thanks to the great orchestrations, created by the Avignon Sympohny Orchestra, to the good melodic lines, especially in the chorus, and to the “baroque” choirs of the Vocal Ensemble de Lyon. Indeed all the songs are excellent, beginning from the opener "Next profundis" with unbelievable guitar licks of Fortè, that is accompanied by good solos of piano and keyboards. A similar choir to the "Carmina burana" of Orff introduces one of the masterpieces of the album, "Solvet Saeclum in Favilla" that leaves dumbfounded for its changes of tempos and atmosphere. Also the titletrack is very beautiful, ideal soundtrack for a gothic movie, like the instrumental one "Nifleihm." Great songs, great musicians and good production: in short "Underworld” is a must for the lovers of prog metal, and of the fans of the over mentioned bands.

Enrico Di Roberti