PATER NEMBROT - Hombre Scarlatte

Formed in 2003 out of the meeting of Giacomo Faedi (bass), Filippo

Leopardi (guitar and vocals) and Giulio Casoni (drums), Pater Nembrot

immediately fall in with the crowded ranks of imitators of the

stoner rock exploits of Kyuss, Fu Manchu, and

the like, going all the way back to the source, Black Sabbath, and wandering at random among

Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pink Floyd and Can (!). In short: it's the kind of set of

influences that makes your mouth water. And yet, as

often happens around here, those who rest too comfortably in the groove laid down by

someone else ends up paying dearly for it.

“Hombre Scarlatte” is a record

lacking in personality. Let's not mince words. It'll appeal to

diehard genre aficionados, in love with certain torrid sounds and with

certain moves so “standardized” they're enough to bring you out in hives. There's no getting

around it: playing to your own little patch is one thing; trying to

look beyond it is another. The enveloping, lysergic-cosmic intro of “E Ven Miseria” paves

the way for “Criptotermiti”, an overall intriguing track. With its

feverishly compressing the Chrome of the

second period, complete with outer-space little keyboards, proves

genuinely enjoyable to listen to, despite vocals (in Italian) that still need

some smoothing out. The exuberance is youthful, as we know. The urge for freedom and the cannabis-tinged

haze ("Elettrica Noia"), all normal, all fitting. And yet? The final blow of

mercy: the cheesy love-ballad, with a Motorhead-esque ending (Motorhead) on "Ti Sento Come Fossi

Un Brivido". Stuff that has little to do with the rest of the framework.

Si

it also tries to exploit strange rituals ("Fastidi Danzanti"),

working with electric cobwebs and dried-out percussion. The autobahn-stoner of

"Bonsai" fires up with vigor; it blazes dizzyingly; it discharges adrenaline and

lingers to graze the stars, with a vague longing for deja-vu damnably

fixed in the rearview mirror... And the psychedelia? Ah, of course! That's

never missing. Psychedelia with a "hard" aftertaste, as in "Magnuga", galloping and

uninhibited, some good instrumental interplay, a few decent choral outposts.

And, to finish, the reasoned complexity (damnably reasoned...) of "Se Un

Giorno E' Grigio Il Mondo": lyrical appeal that's all about the Nirvana that once was

(neurosis and a call to arms), noisy guitar/bass torrents and drumming solemnity

that frames great endeavors.

The "progressive" shift

halfway through the journey brings home a sound architecture that lets

glimpses of real talent shine through, which bodes well for the future.

For now, though, if you happen to be in the area, don't hesitate to

to grab a beer while they set your ears on fire…

Ride the wave of great music

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30/04/2026