Giulio Garghentini - Believe

Giulio Garghentini is an Italian singer whose voice can be heard in the excellent Dream Company (originally tribute band of Bon Jovi) which in 2019 released a superb album made of original compositions. But in 2013, the Italian released a solo album called Believe. For this, he surrounds himself with a formidable team since we find on guitar (and in production) Mario Percudani (Hardline, Hungryheart), Paolo Botteschi (Hungryheart) on drums, Paolo "Apollo" Negri on keyboards and Gianni Grecchi on bass. Good musicians that Giulio knows very well.

Ten songs run through Believe, eight of which are signed Percudani / Garghentini (one co-signed with Paolo Negri and one co-signed with Paolo Botteschi) and two songs composed only by Giulio Garghentini.

The first song No Second Chance is groovy, hard rock, raging and the keyboards are a mix between Jon Lord (Deep Purple) and David Bryan Rashbaum (Bon Jovi). As for Giulio Garghentini, he is generous, powerful, well supported by a mind-boggling solo by Mario Percudani (exceptional guitarist whose work I recommend you listen to on the last two Hardline albums and the three Hungryheart albums). The sequel is just as quality since I Can't Stand The Rain is a melodic rock with well-sharpened guitars and never invasive keyboards. The rhythmic pair Botteschi / Grecchi is irreproachable. Another very technical solo by Mario. A very good song that will delight fans of this kind of rock.

Video of No Second Chance

As for My Jesus, it is a nice sweetness that begins on the piano, well embellished by Mario's guitar. Giulio Garghentini is very good. Then the whole thing deviates to gospel. A surprising piece. And superb. To listen to urgently. With Down The Line we travel to the land of groove. It swings. The band is coherent, brilliant and the guitar / keyboard interventions are sumptuous.

Official video of My Jesus

It was already very good but with The Words That I Haven't Said we reach the sublime. Mario Percudani is the lead singer here and we take off for California. A magnificent trip to the land of the permanent sun. Another great solo. Believe (the song) is groovy too, jazzy. A title that Glenn Hughes would have loved to sing. Besides, on the next title, Rockstar we find a rhythm and a guitar sound that Glenn Hughes used with his power trio Trapeze in the early 70s. What a guitar sound like the late Mel Galley! A long, very technical solo once again by Mario Percudani, this time in a Mark Farner style from the Grand Funk Railroad.

Vidéo of The Words That I Haven't Said

Sweet Hard Fighter is entirely composed by Giulio and on this title one can only feel the great influence of Bon Jovi. The same timbre of voices, Mario Percudani's guitar is up to the great Richie Sambora. A very nice mid tempo. Love Is Dead is more syncopated, sensual, sexy and the rhythm is impactful, clean and without burrs.

So Beautiful is a long ballad that ends this album. The vocal harmonies on the chorus are simply magnificent. The voice of Giulio Garghentini and the piano of Paolo Negri take us far above our planet. Listen to this song to the end, it goes from surprise to surprise, to a superb solo by our friend Mario Percudani.

Official video of So Beautiful

In the end, an album with no real weakness. An album that you can listen to a good glass of whiskey (with moderation of course) in your hand and good headphones on your ears. Top musicians, magnificent voices, a prodigious guitarist and a subtle and delicate production but very rock too. Ah, this final of So Beautiful! I want more.

Click on the link to buy the album Believe