After this album, Helmut Köllen left the band to laid out a solo career. Two years later, he died of carbon monoxide poisoning when he was inwards his car, inwards the garage, listening to his ain compositions on the car's cassette player.
The album was digitally re-mastered together with released inwards CD cast inwards 2002 yesteryear EMI. The re-mastered version included ii additional tracks: a alive version of "The Capital of Power" together with a previously unreleased vocal called "Showstopper".
Spartacus may non live on every bit progressively rigid every bit 1973's Illusion on a Double Dimple album, but it even thence stands every bit this High German outfit's minute best release. Based on the famous Roman gladiator who led the rebellion against his homeland, the music supports the album's concept quite solidly, amongst the amend tracks coming inwards the cast of the sporadic "School of Instant Pain" together with the nine- infinitesimal "March to the Eternal City," which gathers a menacing conglomeration of bass guitar riffs together with pointed keyboard work. The music becomes effectively motivational toward the concept at the proper times, enabling the band's regard to stay fresh together with colorful every bit the music is played out. Jurgen Fritz's Hammond organ together with Moog intervention gives Spartacus a genuine progressive air, culminating every bit it should on the terminal track. Although Triumvirat's staunch, stern notes together with articulate keyboard meandering tin move easily live on compared to Emerson, Lake together with Palmer's style, it's balanced quite impressively amongst Helmut Kollen's electrical together with acoustic guitar work. This album has a slight border over 1976's Old Loves Die Hard because the synthesizers are position to amend use, spell the overall audio together with menstruation of Spartacus contains greater instrumental animation.
I remember it’s pretty condom to tell that if y'all savour the audio of Emerson, Lake together with Palmer, y'all volition similar the band Triumvirat. On Spartacus nosotros are treated to wonderful keyboards, amongst organs together with moog solos, good after ELP’s glory days were instantly behind them. I would fifty-fifty locomote every bit far to tell that Triumvirat were to a greater extent than consistent musically together with songwriting-wise than the supposed monsters of prog.
The Spartacus subject is introduced on synthesizer outset on “Capital of Power” together with and thence played beautifully on grand pianoforte to innovate “The School of Instant Pain.” The floor that nosotros all know from movies together with TV of Spartacus’ rising to glory together with subsequent care for liberty from Roman slavery is told on this concept album inwards songs together with instrumentals. Here on this vocal Spartacus calls out to his immature homo gladiator slaves to care for their release together with live on complimentary men.
Several instrumentals are sprightly together with fun, using march beats together with hopeful melodies to convey the mood of the recording fifty-fifty when bassist Helmut Kollen is non singing lyrics to tell the story. Band leader together with keyboardist Jurgen Fritz plays inwards a mode that is slightly to a greater extent than jazz-oriented than the classical slant his forerunner Keith Emerson industrial plant in.
“The March to the Eternal City” features corking a corking keyboard introduction together with iii distinct parts. Especially fun is a tribal vanquish department inwards the middle business office that features drummer Hans Balthet working the skins inwards a agency that would brand Carl Palmer sit down upwards together with notice, spell Fritz layers an first-class moog solo over the top. Closer “Spartacus” shows merely why this tape is successful at its intentions. While wearing its influences clearly on its sleeves, it brings the floor to a wonderful climax.
Although this powerfulness all live on a flake lighter together with less intense than their almost obvious influences, Triumvirat’s Spartacus holds a especial identify inwards the progressive stone canon. If y'all choose always been fifty-fifty a casual fan of ELP together with choose yet to sense a Triumvirat record, this would live on an first-class identify to start.
Track listing:
1. "The Capital of Power" (Fritz) – 3:13
2. "The School of Instant Pain" – 6:22
a) "Proclamation" (Fritz, Bathelt)
b) "The Gladiator's Song" (Fritz, Bathelt)
c) "Roman Entertainment" (Fritz, Bathelt)
d) "The Battle" (Fritz, Bathelt)
3. "The Walls of Doom" (Fritz) – 3:57
4. "The Deadly Dream of Freedom" (Köllen, Bathelt) – 3:54
5. "The Hazy Shades of Dawn" (Fritz) – 3:09
6. "The Burning Sword of Capua" (Fritz) – 2:41
7. "The Sweetest Sound of Liberty" (Köllen, Bathelt) – 2:35
8. "The March to the Eternal City" – 8:46
a) "Dusty Road" (Fritz, Bathelt)
b) "Italian Improvisation" (Fritz, Bathelt)
c) "First Success" (Fritz, Bathelt)
9. "Spartacus" – 7:39
a) "The Superior Force of Rome" (Fritz, Bathelt)
b) "A Broken Dream" (Fritz)
c) "The Finale" (Fritz)
Personnel:
Jürgen Fritz – Keyboards, Grand piano, Hammond organ, Moog synthesizers, Mellotron, String synthesizer.
Helmut Köllen – Bass, acoustic guitars, vocals.
Steve Rotella – Drums, percussions, words & lyrics
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