(Jacula) ANTONIUS REX Ralefun CD 1978 Dark Italian PROG

 ANTONIUS REX Ralefun
Studio Album, released in 1978

ANTONIUS REX is a Jazz Rock/Fusion (progressive rock) artist originating from Italy.

Probably the most charismatic figure of all the italian prog scene, Antonio Bartoccetti (ANTONIUS REX) began his career going to Milan from the Marche, forming JACULA, "Dietro Noi Deserto" (even with a single on Decca in 1971!), and "Invisible Force" (another lonely single in 1971). Not real bands but just a group of musicians working beyond the leading figures of Bartoccetti and Doris Norton (aka FIAMMA DALLO SPIRITO).

In 1974 a new name change to ANTONIUS REX and an album called "Neque Semper Arcum Tendit Rex". Despite a contact to release it on Vertigo, the label considered it to be too outrageous, with the black and white cover reproducing a 17th century "diabolic" letter and strong lyrics, especially in the Devil letter track. The album was planned for release on drummer Albert Goodman's Darkness label, but it never went over a promo issue. So the first real commercially released ANTONIUS REX is "Zora" from 1977, on the small Tickle label and, again, with an outrageous cover that was replaced with a different one a year later. "Zora" is not a great album, despite its collectibility, and includes some reworkings of tracks from JACULA's "Tardo Pede In Magiam Versus" (Morte al potere is a third revised version of U.F.D.E.M.); their main elements are as usual church organ, dark atmospheres, lyrics dealing with occultism. The four tracks on the album were all composed by Bartoccetti along with Franco Mussita and Angelo "India" Serighelli from I Raminghi, both also listed among the LP contributors. The second issue includes an extra fifth track. "Ralefun" is definitely much less dark than anything else they made, more varied and the sound is richer with the addition of flute and bass guitar (with guest appearences by Marco Ratti and Hugo Heredia), but some ventures into different music styles don't always work very well.

Track Listings
1. Magic Sadness (3:44)
2. Agonia per un Amore (4:54)
3. Witch Dance (4:12)
4. Incubus (4:06)
5. In Einsteinesse's Memory (5:25)
6. Enchanted Wood (12:15)

Total Time: 34:36

Releases information
Mellow-MMP 232-Ita-1992
CD is SELAED and MINT.