• Newsletter Sign up
• Subscribe
• Back Issues
• Sample Issue
• Contact Us

Daniele Liverani

From page 83 of Classic Rock Magazine August 2004

Cover of August 2004 issue.

‘Genius – A Rock Opera’

(Frontiers)

Wonderful as ‘Scenes From A Memory’ was, Dream Theater have a lot to answer for in reviving the rock-opera concept album. There are some great new examples around, such as Ayreon’s ‘The Human Equation’, but equally there are some depressingly average efforts. The second ‘Genius’ album by Empty Tremor guitarist Daniele Liverani clearly falls into the latter category. With a cast of lesser-known vocalists including Mark Boals (once of Yngwie Malmsteen’s band) and Symphony X’s Russell Allen, plus ex-Mr Big frontman Eric Martin, and with Liverani playing most of the instruments, this is a progrock metal opera by numbers.

For those who are bothered, the story is a ludicrous sci-fi fantasy complete with an irony-free narration by Ring Of Fire/Steve Vai bassist Philip Bynoe – if all else fails, then a career doing voiceover trailers for Hollywood movies awaits him. For Liverani, a return to the obscurity of Empty Tremor beckons – at least for the time being; gluttons for punishment can look forward to the final instalment of the ‘Genius’ trilogy in 2006. ★★ ★★★

Nick Shilton