Luna Negra 
Parthenon : Mare Tenebris (VEN,1980,1981,2004)****
Parthenon was founded in 1979 by drummer Juan Carlos Ballesta and keyboard player Robert Santamaría. After a few line-up changes and a few concerts, member Víctor Fiol joined Témpano. Shortly after, the band disbanded after some unsuccessful reunions. Robert Santamaría formed Amarok later and moved to Spain. After success with Amarok, Robert decided to re-establish Parthenon to make these recordings.
After slowly getting into the music with keyboard driven melodious symphonic rock, the music enfolds quickly the strength in its core. There are jazzrock-like improvisations and inner power, giving strength of playing beyond composition driven music. The female vocals on the third track gives it additionally an emotional improvisational strength. On the three tracks which are called “Puentes Destrudíos” I recognize beautiful piano, and some group improvisations (as well as hobo and some flamenco rhythms) from a developed Amarok (-I guess its members participated in this-). Last studio track, “Conversaciones entre diversas Criaturas del Inferno” has such attractive, rhythm driven passages with a rock-feeling that are a great example of how strong symphonic rock should be developed. For me, symphonic rock needs a certain level on its performance that gives a feeling of being inspired on the spot by the whole group into one brooding energy. This feeling can also be recognized in the bonus live track. The bonus tracks I guess are slightly destroyed by repetitive hiss by preserving them on cdr, but are still interesting and essentially included. Especially the live recording, as I wrote before, is splendid, because of its hypnotic keyboards, rhythms and band performance. A very fine release.
