Azraël – Clockwork Abyss

Azraël
Clockwork Abyss
Out: 1^st May 2026
Playing time: 25:10

It reads like a fairy tale. It was late 1988 on the Ligurian Riviera. Alessandro ‘Ale’ Arbocò placed an advert and put it up in record shops between Genoa and Recco. He was looking for musicians to form a new band. And he found musicians who were ready to bring his vision to life on stage. As well as their own songs, they also performed covers of Iron Maiden, Metallica and Crimson Glory. Over time, there were various line-up changes. By the end of 1994, the band had already split up. More than thirty years later, guitarist Andy Lijoi reunited the band from Rapallo with a new line-up. And Azraël released their debut EP, “Clockwork Abyss”, at the beginning of May.

Right from the start of ‘Nemesys’, you’re taken on a journey back in time to the 1980s. So wonderfully retro, yet still authentic. This beautiful AOR anthem just makes you nod your head along – you can’t help it. And Federico Travi makes a good impression on the mic. On ‘Call Me Rover’, the keyboards and synths initially push themselves slightly to the fore. But then catchy guitar melodies ensure another fine Hard Rock track. Naturally, a guitar solo is a must. The Italians have released a visualiser for “Chinatown”. Musically, not much changes. Typical AOR riffs are underpinned by layers of keyboards. The vocals are a bit more subdued at first. The refrain later invites you to sing along. It reminds me a little of the former Hamburg AOR band Châlice. It’s great that there are still bands today that celebrate this sound. “My Lost Delight” follows hot on the heels as the next anthem. As with all the previous songs, accented drumming and rhythm guitar set the beat here too. The backing vocals are the icing on the cake. Very rhythmic riffs initially dominate the closing track ‘No More Time’. Then melodic guitar playing takes over. A final Hard Rock anthem.

‘Clockwork Abyss’ is a musical delight for fans of AOR and melodic Hard Rock. The EP is deeply rooted in that bygone era. A bygone era? No, that era is right here and now. For someone like me, who grew up with this sound, it’s more than just nostalgia. Dear friends at Azraël, please treat us to a full-length album soon.

Azraël – Chinatown: https://youtu.be/2tN3-jz97Sw?si=Y2rZR-LfhDxyRQuU

Lineup:

Federico Travi – Vocals
Edoardo Napoli – Guitar
Andy Lijoi – Guitar
Mik Radogna – Keyboards
Gianluca Eroico – Bass
Daniele Di Tullio – Drums

Track list:

• Nemesys
• Call Me Rover
• Chinatown
• My Lost Delight
• No More Time