With their combination of seventies sensibilities and nineties power, A PIEDI NUDI was perhaps one of the darkest, hardest-edged bands of the RPI scene during the latter of the two decades. Their music is a raw but potent amalgam of tempestuous rhythms and aggressive melodies. During their relatively short career they released three studio albums and they also had an extensive live activity that included an appearance at ProgDay '98.
Италия
They released their self-titled debut album in 1994 with a line-up that consisted of Mirko Schiesaro (vocals), Nicola Gardinale (guitar, backing vocals), Cristian Chinaglia (keyboards), Simone Bighetti (bass, 12-string guitar), and Carlo Bighetti (drums, flute, backing vocals). The album is dominated by venomous nu-metal guitar riffs and the tracks feature many twists and turns, which make for some intricate music although the overall effect can at times sound a little ragged.
Singer Mirko Schiesaro departed before the recording of their second album, "Creazione" (1995), therefore drummer Carlo Bighetti took over on lead vocals. Enrico Barchetta (horn) was enlisted, although the horn is used very sparingly and doesn't add greatly to the overall effect. Generally however, "Creazione" features a lighter and more adventurous set of songs, if the results are somewhat disjointed. Once again, Gardinale's guitar carves its way through much of the material although the keyboards have a more prominent role this time around.
By the time of their final album, "Eclissi" (1998), they had expanded to a six-piece with the arrival of full-time singer Mirko Andreasi, their third vocalist in as many albums. This release witnessed a return to the heavy sound of the first album with some truly thunderous drumming; the production is superb and in fact the debut sounds tame in comparison to "Eclissi". The songs are still on the complex side although they tend to flow better than those on "Creazione"; overall, the music is less fragmented with fewer fits and starts.
The band's first album and "Eclissi" are still available, although "Creazione" is currently deleted. In 1999 they played their final gig when they supported IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO in Rome, and subsequently disbanded. In 2004 Nicola Gardinale formed NIC-G AND THE MOGSY, who have subsequently released one album of blues and funk material. A PIEDI NUDI is recommended to those who like their RPI on the heavy side and possibly to fans of Prog-Metal.
-Chris / SeventhSojourn