ARCADIA X (2027)
STRANGER DAYS
Written by Skench
Skench: Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
This is the first track I wrote for the Arcadia X project. It’s a classic power metal tune in the style of my hero Kai Hansen, but it also has a bit of Angra in it (I love Angra so much ❤️). I threw in some other stuff too, like a Nuno Bettencourt-style solo (the first one… it’s very percussive, isn’t it?) as well as my usual John Petrucci and Brian May influences. Singing this was very challenging. Also, this song was very hard to mix for some reason.
THE EDGE OF DARKNESS
Written by Skench
Skench: Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys
Federico Fabian: Wah solo
Alberto Quarta: Drums & backing vocals
This tune is epic. Again, it’s inspired by the music of that nice guy from Hamburg I already mentioned several times. I was looking for a massive chorus, and I think I succeeded (or sort of). Here, my buddy Federico Fabian plays an awesome wah-wah solo. I usually play with him in my other band, NeversiN, and our styles are very different, but I think they work really well together. My brother Albertino played drums on this one. As usual, he did a great job!
FAIRYLAND
Written by Skench
Ben Moro: Special Guest on Lead Vocals
Skench: Lead Vocals & Choirs, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
This one is really old! I think it’s one of my first 10 songs! Yeah, it’s that old. In my mind this was always meant to be part of a power metal album and now it is. Isn’t it great? I changed very few things in it. I really like the final result. My buddy Ben Moro sings lead vocals with me on it and I think he’s one of the best singers out there. Also, I kept most of the drum parts conceived by my brother Albertino for the original 2006 NeversiN version… why? Because they are just awesome.
CITY OF THE DAMNED
Written by Skench
Skench: Vocals, Eastern and Western Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
Filippo Galvanelli: Keyboard Solo
Well, well, well… who doesn’t love a metal/western song?! Wait, what? Everyone, you say!? Shame on you then because this is really the most experimental song of this album. Never in a million years would I have imagined that I would use a trumpet in a metal song… or my vintage Strat to obtain a western sound… but I did! And boy was it funny! The lyrics on this one are a bit tongue-in-cheek… you know, very comic-style. I had the great pleasure of having my dear friend Filippo Galvanelli for the keyboard solo on this tune. He did a wonderful job.
FAR FROM OVER
Written by Skench & Nicola Ciarlini
Nicola Ciarlini: Special Guest on Lead Vocals
Skench: Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
I wrote this song with my buddy Nicola Ciarlini, who is the singer in my other band NeversiN. This is the second song we wrote together and I must say we have a very original method, I think. He records the vocal melody on his phone and sends it to me. Then I start to imagine riffs, chords and song arrangements. The result has always been very good so far. Nicola listened to a lot of power metal stuff; actually even more than I ever did… I think you can tell listening to his melodic style. He also sang the lead vocals alternating with me on this one. Great performance as usual! Of course, the solo contains more than one nod to Ritchie Blackmore’s solo in “Highway Star”! One of his best ever in my humble opinion.
ONE AGAINST ALL
Written by Skench
Ben Moro: Special Guest on Lead Vocals
Nicola Ciarlini: Special Guest on Lead Vocals
Skench: Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys
Marco Crivellaro: Second guitar solo
Many years ago, I had a band called Doomwheel. That band was the spark that would later become NeversiN. We used to play this song live quite often. It was always meant to be a power metal song, but at the time we adapted it to our more traditional heavy metal style. Now, I decided to bring it back to its original power metal glory! This track features several special guests. Ben Moro and Nicola Ciarlini make their second appearance on this album. I also involved an old friend from the original Doomwheel line-up: Marco Crivellaro, Doomwheel’s other guitarist. I asked him to provide the awesome second solo that you can now enjoy in the song.
THE LAST DANCE
Written by Skench
Skench: Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
Most of the time, I write songs and riffs sitting with my guitar on my lap or at the piano. Not this time. This song was written in the Cubase piano roll. It was a strange experience, but somehow it came together naturally. I didn’t really feel the need for a vocal part, so I kept it instrumental. It’s crazy, interesting, and kind of proggy. I can definitely hear some Dream Theater and Muse influences in here. There is also a slow-paced solo in a classic Helloween mood! One of the best instrumentals I’ve ever written, for sure.
RETURN TO FAIRYLAND
Written by Skench
Skench: Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
There you go… You expected this from me, didn’t you? I always love it when I find a big-ass suite on a record. A song that encompasses different moods and atmospheres. I remember the first time I listened to “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Iron Maiden, “Keeper of the Seven Keys” by Helloween, or “2112” by Rush. They’re not just songs; they’re journeys. I really enjoy writing this kind of piece because it gives me the opportunity to bring together a lot of different ideas. I originally wrote this one for NeversiN, but since it never really felt right for them, I ended up using it for Arcadia. I think the power metal suite fits it like a glove. Oh, and as you might have guessed, it’s the second part of the song “Fairyland”.
ALL MY SORROW
Written by Skench
Skench: Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
Speaking of old songs, this track was written when I was 20, I guess. Again, the original hard rock version was much weaker than the power metal revamp I did here. Naturally, I changed quite a lot in terms of arrangements and riffs. Oddly enough, the lyrics are almost 100% original from the year 2000. I like them — they’re dark. I must admit I don’t really know what this song is about, really… I can’t remember at all. I don’t think it has anything to do with my life, actually. I think it’s definitely fictional. Maybe I was trying to write an aggressive song… which is not really my style, you know. I am really pleased with how it turned out.
WILD SPIRITS
Written by Skench
Skench: Lead Vocals & Choirs, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums
Finally I recorded a version of this triumphant song that satisfies me in every possible way. This was written in the peak of my power metal mania in 1995 or so. I seem to recall I wanted it to be some sort of Stratovarius kind of song but without the neoclassical stuff they always indulge in, which I like by the way, I just didn’t want to put it in here. The lyrics were completely rewritten and the music was a bit modified. All in all, the core of the song remains unaltered. It’s powerful, it’s melodic, it’s the kind of power metal I like the most.