New Trolls

7-22-10

New Trolls

An Italian progressive band, the New Trolls formed towards the end of the 60’s and made their best stuff from ’72 – ’76.

CD ATOMIC SYSTEM ARCANGELO JPN ARC-7023

1973 7 TRKS ('96 issue) (kami sleeve) (Italy CD)

CD CONCERTO GROSSO NO. 2 NEXUS JPN K32Y-2116

1976 9 TRKS

LP CONCERTO GROSSO NO. 2 MAGMA IT MAL 02

1976 9 TRKS

CD CONCERTO GROSSO PER UNO NEXUS JPN K32Y-2056

1971 7 TRKS

LP CONCERTO GROSSO PER UNO CETRA IT LPX 8

1971 7 TRKS orange label

LP F.S. KING JPN K28P-214

1981 9 TRKS insert

LP L.I.V.E.N.T. KING JPN K22P-327

1976 10 TRKS Live, insert

LPx2 NEW TROLLS CETRA IT DPU 4

1975 21 TRK Collection

LPx2 SEARCHING FOR A LAND CETRA IT LPX 12/13

1972 11 TRKS

LP SENZA ORARIO SENZA BANDIERA CETRA IT LPX 3

1968 10 TRKS re-issue

LP TOUR CETRA IT LPX 141

1985 9 TRKS

CD U.T. NEXUS JPN K32Y-2118

1972 9 TRKS

LP U.T. KING JPN GXF 2050

1972 9 TRKS re-issue, insert

The first thing I ever heard was the opening cut of “Concerto Grosso Per Uno” on the FM radio – it sounded like Jethro Tull – but with an orchestra! Their best album is easily “Atomic System”, where they seemed to really gel. “U.T. has some (almost) heavy metal a la Black Sabbath on one track – totally heavy guitar, whereas “Atomic System” is undoubtedly a keyboard album. It’s always so hard to talk about Italian bands without comparing them to British bands – but in the case of the New Trolls..they were their own thing – but would definitely appeal to fans of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis or King Crimson. Somewhat obviously, all of the singing is in Italian.

“Concerto Grosso No. 2” was their last album in the progressive rock style. By the early 80’s, they had become pretty much a pop band. I’ve kept all the Japanese CD’s I was able to find, but I haven’t really chased any of the post-Concerto No. 2 albums on CD. I should probably roll out “F.S. and “Live N.T.” and see if they’re worth th vinyl they’re pressed on.

There are other more impressive Italian 70’s progressive bands – Cervello, Il Ballettio Di Bronzo, Museo Rosenbach…but New Trolls were solid rock music at a time when solid rock music wasn’t past it’s sell-by date. The Concerto albums are for fans of “rock band with orchestra”, “U.T.” is for the hard rock fans – “Atomic System” is for anyone who can appreciate 70’s rock music, played by real people on real instruments.