M.Z. - Nostalgic Heroes (2006)Manitou Music/Thundering Records

Wow, it turned out that there is a lack of two essential musicians on M.Z.'s fifth album: a co-founder Zan Dang and a keyboard player Raphaël Gherissi. But the band's name has stood still, haha. With "Nostalgic Heroes", M.Z. became a 4-member band consisting of Julien 'Fenril' Adamo (lead & acoustic guitars), Laurent Bourgin (drums), Jean-Jacques Fanciullotti (lead & backing vocals), Markus Fortunato (bass guitars) and a guest piano / keyboard player - Salvatore Rollo.

I'd like to quieten you, since "Nostalgic Heroes" is the best composed and produced album in M.Z.'s discography. None of instruments drown out others, so the sound is very clear. I must also write that here is the reverse of proportions in comparison to M.Z.'s previous releases, since only three tracks are instrumental. As regards musical, I won't hesitate to do some comparisons. I hear in M.Z.'s music a few instrumental similarities to the likes of Concerto Moon ("Rising To The Throne", "Fleeting Angel", "Landscape Fading Into Infinity"), Stratovarius ("Last Of A Long Line"), KenZiner and Virtuocity ("Nightfall Prelude", "Before The Sun Goes Down"). Especially this last group is audible in M.Z.'s compositions for the sake of rising tension, gradual tracks' development and progressive riffs. Mr. Fanciullotti is a respectable singer whose vocal manner is nostalgic and lofty (being a mixture of Takao Ozaki and Fabio Lione). Julien Adamo turns out to be professional both in fast and slow guitar parts, and his playing could be compared to Katsu Ohta's and Norifumi Shima's styles. I can't omit Mr. Rollo and his precious input. This brilliant keyboardist, with his unique style, brings an instrumental freshness to the music, so I hope he will stand longer at M.Z.'s side.

I am sure that "Nostalgic Heroes" is a distinct mark portending a new era for the band that can be numbered among neoclassical progpower groups. I think that too more words would be redundant, so it's better to write that the newest M.Z.'s album is a total motley of the groups listed above. I admit that I enjoy this instrumental "boiler" very much, haha.