Strana Officina

Talking about the Italian metal scene of the 80s without mentioning a band like Strana Officina is impossible. The importance of this band for the Italian metal music is so evident and deep that is impossible to ignore. They were, along with Vanadium, a big slice of the best that Italy could offer back then and after the magic demo in 1983, they come back with their very first homonymous EP, the year after. The production is now a bit clearer and polished even if we are always talking about an underground release. The influences at the time came from bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest and that’s obvious, considering their importance.

Strana Officina with this EP pulled out one of the biggest examples of metal in my country. Four tracks were enough to spread their name not just in Italy and make them become a true cult. “Viaggio in Inghilterra” (Travel to England) is the very first little masterpiece here. The worship of the heavy metal is clearly displayed here, from the lyrics to the music. The riffs are melodic, metallic and epic at the same time as the lyrics in Italian are about the emotions of these guys going to the “land of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. The tremolo is in pure old Iron Maiden style and for this it drives me crazy. The melodious, evocative vocals by Bud are just great and they can be even so passionate and powerful without having a particular technique. The passion is enough. The drums tempo is never fast but the riffage and the solos are great to continue with the melodic/epic vein.

“L’autostrada dei Sogni” (The Freeway of Dreams) is pure poetry supported by the excellent arpeggio to create a terrific ballad. The lyrics take a lot from the Italian popular music made by our “cantautori”. A girl wants to escape from this monotonous life and the only way she can do it is by travelling within her mind. Here we reach the top in inspiration and melody even if the second part turns to be metallic and in perfect old style. The vocals are just dreaming and the influences from a song like “Remember Tomorrow” by Iron Maiden are clearly displayed but with a personal and sadder style. The two Cappanera brothers are in Valhalla of the Italian music for a good reason and this little album proves it.

“Luna Nera” (Black Moon) is the darkest track here and it’s introduced by the keyboards sound over the slow march of the drums and the metallic riffs. The atmospheric parts are more present and the refrain already gives me those chills up and down the spine. Once again, the lyrics are touching and obviously are about the nature at night, under the embrace of the moonlight. The lead guitars and the arpeggios are definitely more present to accompany us through this magic travel in a wood by night, showing us the other side of night: the delicate and dreaming one. This is just so evocative and it never gets boring even if the length is remarkable.

The final “Piccolo Uccello Bianco” (Small White Bird) is a return to a more metallic way of playing with an ultra catchy riffs supported by excellent if simple drums rolls. The epic touch is far more present and after this introduction the speed increases a bit and the tempo is more dynamic, along with the always awesome and emotional voice by Bud. The middle part even shows a perfect break to let the arpeggios and the solos get in. This time the melodies are less catchy and they want to recreate a sort of almost tragic/dreaming scene, just before the pure old style Iron Maiden restart by the end, closing an almost perfect EP.

We won’t find this band on these levels anymore, even with their first, far more famous album in 1989. The quality of these tracks is a thing that just few bands succeeded in recreating, with sweat, passion and sincerity. Now, seems strange, but none of these qualities can be found in most of the bands nowadays. The magic period of the 80s…