Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Delirium — Sesta Strada lungo il Tempo
(Black Widow BWR290, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2026-08-03

Sesta Strada lungo il Tempo Cover art

Delirium's Sesta Strada lungo il Tempo is the latest chapter in a musical journey that now spans more than five decades. Emerging from the first wave of Italian progressive rock in the early 70s, surviving a hiatus of more than thirty years, and returning with a string of increasingly confident releases, the Genoese group continues to explore familiar themes of time, memory, travel, and the human condition. More importantly, they continue to do so with a vitality that many younger bands would envy. It has been more than a decade since I last encountered the band on record, yet the personnel changes since then have been minimal. The primary addition is veteran drummer Enrico Tixi, whose background extends well beyond progressive rock into blues, classic rock, southern rock, and hard rock. His presence proves significant throughout the album, providing a muscular groove and rhythmic confidence that strengthens the band's already distinctive blend of jazz-inflected prog, melodic rock, flute-driven passages, and atmospheric textures. The album opens with "Schiavo della Viltà," a 22-minute epic that immediately establishes the record's ambitions. Rather than functioning as a suite built around a single idea, it continuously evolves, shifting moods, tempos, and instrumental colors with remarkable fluidity. Delirium understands that long-form composition succeeds through variety, and there is never a sense of the band lingering too long in any one place. Lyrical passages give way to harder-edged sections, moments of beauty are contrasted by darker textures, and the music remains engaging throughout its considerable duration. That same unpredictability characterizes the remainder of the album. "Clochard" occasionally recalls the cinematic darkness of Goblin, while "Riposo del Pirata" navigates territory that suggests a meeting point between the grand tradition of Italian symphonic prog and a more urban jazz-rock sensibility. Sinister vocal chants, Hammond organ flourishes, and dramatic shifts in atmosphere lend the piece a distinctly theatrical character. Elsewhere, "Del Ritorno la Strada" begins with a supple jazz-inflected bass figure before expanding into a rich arrangement of piano, guitar, and keyboards. A large part of the album's success lies in the contributions of its individual players. Martin Grice's flute, saxophone, and other wind instruments remain central to Delirium's identity, serving as a signature voice that instantly distinguishes the group from their contemporaries. Ettore Vigo's keyboards provide both elegance and power, Michele Cusato's guitar work moves effortlessly between restraint and aggression, and Alessandro Corvaglia delivers another strong vocal performance, balancing emotional nuance with dramatic intensity. What makes Sesta Strada lungo il Tempo particularly impressive is that it does not feel like the work of a veteran band merely revisiting past glories. Instead, it sounds like a group that remains creatively engaged and fully invested in its musical vision. While the album draws upon the stylistic hallmarks that have defined Delirium throughout its career, it never feels trapped by nostalgia. The result is one of the strongest releases in the band's catalog and perhaps the most fully realized statement of their later years. It sets a remarkably high standard — one that may prove difficult even for Delirium themselves to surpass.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Delirium

More info
http://btf.it/en/prodotto/sesta-strada-lungo-il-tempo-cd/

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.