Italian veterans Pantheøn Band are a fine bunch of musicians with excellent taste in influences. When they hit full steam, on the Rainbow-meets-Foreigner mayhem of Man on the Run, you’ll find yourself being swept up in the majesty of their old school pomp rock.

At the heart of everything that is good about the band is the swirling Hammond sound of Mark Quagliozzi, who is a keyboard player of some skill if the evidence of this album is anything to go by; When he’s not Hammonding, he’s helming his bank of synths through sumptuous passages of music like the opening of eight minute prog epic Flying High, in tandem with the tasteful lead playing of Gilberto Giangolini; This is seriously classy stuff, make no mistake!

The band aren’t as successful on the heads-down, stripped-back rockers, though they give their all even on these; However tracks like Get Away From You just aren’t as convincing as the more considered material on offer here, although I’m sure they go down a storm when the band play live. To my mind they should continue to play to their strengths on the more ambitious tracks where their superior chops can really be appreciated.

Still, far be it from me to pour cold water on anyone’s parade, as it were; At the core of this group is a collection of musicians who’ve paid their dues, in the process of which honing their skills to the point where they can release some seriously impressive tuneage. And if that’s not reason alone for having a bit of celebration then I don’t know what is. If you enjoy music on the sophisticated side of heavy then there’s a few bits and pieces here that are well worth your attention – not to mention cash! Get stuck in!

Upswing releases on September 27th.