Band : Mainline

Album title : From Oblivion To Salvation

Label : Glasstone

Distributor : Progressive Publicity

Release date : 19/05/2008

Release : CD

Deeply impressed by the atmospheric Post-Hardcore Rock/ Metal music of such internationally revered acts like Deftones and Tool, the formation of this Torino based Italian band goes back to 1999, when rhythm guitarist Diego and singer Maurizio "Mao" Lazzaroni hooked up with lead guitarist Stefano "Ste" Vlasecchi for their first jamming sessions, originally creating a somewhat claustrofobic Crossover which would soon evolve into their current and more sophisticated style, which would not only get comparisons to the above mentioned influences, but also to Otep and A Perfect Circle.

Two years later, and with several line-up changes in the rhythm section, the band does its first live appearance, only to lose their rhythm section again. 2002 sees the entry of a new rhythm section, with whom everyone gets along well enough for a while. No less than 20 gigs are played, and also the band records its first 3-track demo Stick Around...about which they were not exactly happy, the sound being a bit shabby. In spite of the great collaboration, the drummer decides to leave, soon to be replaced by current skin basher Alessandro "Ale" Benedetto (formerly with Death Metal act Dying Awkward Angel). 2003 sees the band selected to partake in the Emergenza Festival (important event in Italy which gets quite a few visitors), and book time at Torino's One Voice Studios to record a new 4-track demo titled Neurasthenic with sound engineer Daniele Giordana (who'd already taken care of live sound mixings of the likes of Hatebreed, Madball, and Biohazard). Of far better sound quality, the band uses this demo to promote themselves first of all within Italy and abroad. The band eventually gets help from Belgian management and promotion agency Hardebaran), who put in an extra effort to promote the demo and band in their territory of influence. Getting onto the roster of Italian booking and promotion Breed Agency, the band also promoted the demo all over Europe playing gigs wherever they could.Thingscombined togetting "top demo" notations on eutk.net and concreteweb.be, and in magazines like Metalshock, Rock Hard and others , plus notable quotations in Lords Of Metal, Metal Range, Rock Sound, Pshico.

Ahum...in between starting the review and this very moment, three days have passed, a period during which I used every excuse possible (receiving new stuff and having to look up info, which I can only do while at work; having a friend over for a half-day visit and doin' nothing for the rest of the day but listen to the album over and over again; going on a shopping spree and again giving the album additional listening sessions thanks to my mp3-player...and forsaking all posibilities to listen to other releases which are awaiting my scrutiny, in favor of this one) to delay having to continue with the article and allow myself additional listening sessions of the album. Because I réally LOVE this record, I dó! And I very well know that once the review's done, I will have little or no chance to listen to it again for a long time, as plenty of other releases await my scrutiny for a review. Oh well...all good things eventually come to an end. At least temporarily, because having to review this full-length by the band also "allowed" me to listen to the band's 2003 demo again...for comparison needs, you see? Hihih, of course I listened to it a couple times more than needed purely for that purpose...some things are sóó enjoyable one simply cannot keep away from 'em, see? Anyway, back to Mainline!

During the first 6 months of 2006, the quintet work hard to compose and record the 13 songs for their debut full-length album at Torino's Db Studios in co-production with Ettore Rigotti (known from working withDisarmonia Mundi, Slowmotion Apocalypse, Stigma), a collaboration which will see the album released (with a little delay) in April 2007 thanks to a worldwide distribution deal with German label Dioxzion/Twilight, Italy's Myphonic and the Swiss MetalFreak Records labels (even getting distribution in the Benelux through Two Fat Men, and in the US, Canada, UK through Century Media) working together. But before the release, the band throws itself on the live circuit again, doin' two Summer tours which will see them travelling through Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, England, Wales, Holland...and Belgium. After the Summer, the band focuses on bigger events, the top of which was the Chicobum Festival (where the attendance of established acts As We Fight, Atrocity, Bridge To Solace, Caliban, Crisis Never Ends, Deadlock, Fall Of Serenity, Leaving Eyes, Linea 77, Maroon, Raging Speedhorn, Soil, The Destiny Program, and Twelve Tribes certainly helped to bring the band under the attention of a far bigger crowd than they would attract on their own). In the latter part of 2006, Mainline asures itself the participation of several support agencies, such as the German Promotion Agency Pirate Smile, and the American Crimson Tearz Management.

2007 starts off on the wrong foot for the band, as original member Diego (guitar) follows bassist Simone's example by leaving the band for personal reasons. The first is apparently swiftly replaced by one Flavio Amelotti, bassist Davide "Baru" Baronetto getting selected in February after several months' audition sessions...allowing the band to resume their gigging possibilities that same month. Meanwhile, album track "Brilliance Of Shadows" is already featured on the Obscure Rendez Vous compilation on LM Records, andFebruary 2007 sees the release of the album on Italian shores...bringing the first positive reviews in the March editions of the Italian versions of Rock Hard (who also print an interview with the band), Rock Sound, and Metal Hammer magazines (the latter two also bringing   interviews a month later). Late February brings further positive news in that the band finds a new deal with UK label Glasstone to handle the band's affairs exclusive to the UK.April sees album track "Set Free" featured in the track-list of an American compilation album issued through the help of Ohio-basedCrimson Tearz Management.

Which brings us back to the most hated part of this article...meaning the actual review! Although the band uses movie samples to intro/exit some of their songs [the first being opening track "Soul Extraction Assay" (which includes guitar work with increasing albeit still atmospheric intensity), then there's "Boundless", and also "R I P" (from a Japanese movie)...all of which are used to make bridges to the following songs; last but not least, some sample opens and closes "Distress") the use of electronics is really restricted to guitar pedals, the guitarists bringing almost Ambient calmer passages between the more aggressive ones. In the latter passages, you should imagine a certain degree of Progressive repetition to the rhythm guitar, which is hypnotic enough to begin with. Over this the lead guitarist brings an extra layer of intriguing sounds, the bassist occasionally goes slap-happy, and the listener is treated to an exhilerating vocal landscape which is that more together as it's brought completely by Mao. At least on the album...no way he could bring the layered stuff on his own in live conditions. The singer has a truly high-grade versatile voice. Whether he's moaning, whispering, singing clean, or shouting out his indignation, it's all done according to the prime rules of singing...and I wouldn't be surprised to find he's had some vocal lessons (if not, thumbs up and respect to you, friend!). There's moments where you would swear there's a woman singing in the background as well – and in fact I'm still not convinced there isn't one in the album opening song "Brilliance Of Shadows". You can form an opinion of your own about that by surfing to myspace.com/mainlinemusic, where the band posted not only this track, but 3 more off the new album. And "Empathize With Your Enemy", "9 Gone", and "Set Free"...just like "Brilliance Of Shadows"...are all perfect examples of the wackily twisted twirling way these guys have aggression and calmer moments alternate and co-exist, both vocally and musically.

If a first listening session does not entice you to have a second one (...and a third, and a fourth, and so forth...) you probably don't get what this band is about...and thatr's alright, really! Because it takes all kinds of music fans to fill the world! However, if you're into Progressive, or into the bands mentioned in the first paragraph of this review, I see no way you can NOT almost immediately fall in love with these Italians' music. At the time of writing these final wordr, I'm of course still listening to the album...and I still can't find anything negative about any part of it. In fact, I'm still expecting to find new details of the music disclosing themselves to me, although I must've listened to the album at least 25 times!!!

98/100

Tony.