New Trolls Atomic System. 1973 Italy

I've spoken about the New Trolls' lack of identity in the past on Searching for a Land, and the New Trolls Atomic System (nee NT Atomic System) continues along this path to underscore the problem. The group is so confused at this state, they can't even articulate their band name properly to the label, so much so they were forced to put a sticker on the LP so that it was absolutely clear. Really I think the buying populace could have figured it out. I mean I think most folks can handle ELP without spelling out Emerson, Lake and Palmer right? In order to ensure everyone stays confused, the band released the album as Night On The Bare Mountain in Germany (uh, guys, it's Night on Bald Mountain in any case...). And sure why not? How about calling it To Believe Again - Later I Saw - Hibernation in France. These latter two releases included the aforementioned classical composer's track 'Una Notte Sul Monte Calvo', while leaving off the English language 'Butterfly'. And then finally, they decided to release all the tracks on the same album for the Italian market 3 years later - with the title Una Notte Sul Monte Calvo. Mannn, this band is CONFUSED!

Ah yes, the music. Well it's nice to see the New Trolls [N.T.] [Atomic System] hearkening back to their progressive rock past. The album opens in killer fashion with 'La nuova predica di Padre O'Brien' and continues down this path for the majority of the album. My recollection was something more akin to a strong opening and it more or less falls off a cliff from there. Not so. For certain, the Italian prog style's gymnastics are mostly front loaded, but a careful listen demonstrates the band is clearly operating in similar territory to their peers during this era. There's some singer-songwriter characteristics, but again, that is an ingredient of the classic sound and should not be dismissed. Add me to the chorus that states 'Butterfly' is the weakest track - and it's never a good idea to finish in lackluster fashion, as that is the lasting impression. This track appears to be made for the export market (and yet, somehow it fell off all the export releases - jeesh!), and is incongruous with the preceding material. And it closes with the greatest sin of all... a drum solo.

Ownership: LP: 1973 Magma; LP: 1982 Seven Seas (Japan). The one and only LP version one should seek out if packaging is of interest. It's a beautiful 3 part gatefold, where the middle sleeve houses the album proper.  Picked up the Japanese copy recently on a whim. Not sure I'll keep it though.

3/18/20