The Castle
Guerssen, 2022
8/10
A recording originally thought to be lost in a fire, this reel-to-reel demo was recorded way back in 1976, when the high school student Tom Salvatori aligned himself with his older brother Michael, Michael’s wife, Gail, and a classmate named Scott Magnesen.
Apocalypse documented their progressive rock ways across these 5 tracks, and then broke up soon after when half the band went to college and the other half started a family.
“The Spirit” gets the album off to a bright start with its flowing keys, crisp drumming and soothing guitar lines that sound right at home in ‘70s prog-rock territory and benefits from dual gender vocal harmonies, and “Only The Children Know” follows with a calmer pace of warm guitar and buzzing synth.
“Turning Around” takes the middle spot and radiates a dreamy climate of gentle melody, while “The Castle” brings classical ideas into the poetic and stirring album highlight. “All The People” exits the listen, and recruits charming psychedelia into the mysterious but cozy finish.
A record where all the members contribute evenly with both instrumentation and vocals, The Castle fits in quite well with the prog-rock sounds of today as well, and it’s really quite tragic they weren’t able to further explore their dynamic vision, cause there’s clearly a wealth of talent present.
Travels well with: Going Up North- Waiting For The Sun; Alwanzatar- Den Glemte Dalen