Enzo And The Glory Ensemble is a solo project by Enzo Donnarumma, an Italian Christian singer, songwriter, arranger and guitarist who is currently the lead singer and acoustic guitarist of the Christian band Members Of God. In The Name Of The Son is the second album from Enzo And The Glory Ensemble, with the participation of several artists: Marty Friedman (Megadeth), Mark Zonder (Warlord, Fates Warning), Brian Ashland and Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery), Kobi Farhi (Orphaned land) and many more. Also the Congolese Weza Moza Gospel Choir is part of this project, so I’m very excited and curious to listen to this album.
When I start to listen, the intro song ‘Waiting For The Son’ is a very calm beginning of the album with Arab influence and a soft heavy guitar. It sounds very peaceful and is very relaxing. At the end, there is a natural passage leading to the first song ‘The Tower Of Babel’. The choir makes its entry in this song, which is beautiful to listen to with their angelic voices. The song is mostly instrumental, with a great variety between a melody I’d like to dance on and some heavy guitar work I’d like to headbang on. You can also hear a snake charmer playing on its flute, which takes you to a journey to Arabia.
The third song ‘Luke 128’ is the first song that includes guest vocals. Brian Ashland has a voice which sounds great solo and which makes a perfect harmonious coherence with the Weza Moza Gospel Choir. After listening to a few more songs, it’s a bit unfortunate that the instruments dominate the vocals on this album. The fifth song ‘Glory To God’ is another calm song which introduces guest singer Amulyn Corzine. With her warm and toned voice she fits this song perfectly. At the end of the song the heavy guitar work breaks the peaceful atmosphere and it makes me wonder why they did that, because it’s completely unnecessary. ‘Psalm 133’ brings Kobi Farhi‘s vocals, a warm and eastern voice which is very nice to listen to. His voice also sounds incredible together with the choir. Until now the best song on the album. You can also spot some special instruments they used in this song by watching the official video.
When you reach the seventh track on the album, ‘Magnificat’, you finally hear Enzo Donnarumma‘s vocals for the first time in this album. Since this collaboration is his project, you’d expect more vocals from him. But it seems like he’s been more active with the songwriting and the guitars. I could go on describing the songs, because every song is unique and different. I’ve never heard as much variety in an album as I do now, it’s a bit overwhelming sometimes.
Release date: November 3rd, 2017
Label: Rockshots Records
Tracklist:
1. Waiting For The Son
2. The Tower Of Babel
3. Luke 128
4. Psalm 8
5. Glory To God
6. Psalm 133
7. Magnificat
8. Isaiah 53
9. Matthew 1125
10. The Trial
11. Eternal Rest
12. Te Deum
13. If Not You
