Giuntini is guitar wizard Aldo Giuntini and without stating the bleedin’ obvious this is his third solo effort to date. His first was way back in 1994 so our Aldo isn’t exactly prolific. Not that that matters. This is classic rock in the vein of Dio and Heaven & Hell Sabbath and Giuntini has done what many guitar hero’s have failed to in the past – he’s actually hired a bloke that can sing! 

The bloke in question is Tony Martin – himself formerly of Sabbath – and a man who is criminally underrated in rock circles. Certainly, here, he is on fine form. I’ve always rated Martin as a vocalist. His problem has always been one of charisma. He was never going to match Ozzy or Dio in Sabbath, hence he was on a hiding to nothing. He’s just not the sort of bloke to take a dump outside the Alamo – if you see what I mean! 

But what he does excel at is bringing stuff like this to life in the studio and there is no doubt that he and Giuntini have a certain chemistry together.  

The album kicks off with ‘Gold Digger’ and is classic ‘classic rock’. If it wasn’t for the production you would swear it was the early eighties all over again. Giuntini is a fine player, as you would expect, and is to be applauded for not overdoing things on ‘Project III’. Apart from a couple of instrumentals he lets Martin get on with it and the result is a very enjoyable romp through Sword and Sorcery land. 

Highlight’s include ‘Que Es La Vida’. The very Dio-esque ‘Mourning Star’ with a brilliantly catchy chorus. And the bizarre ‘Ano Mundi’ which could have been something off Heaven & Hell. High praise indeed. However low points include instrumental ‘Tarantula’ (doesn’t go anywhere) and the appalling ‘Dysfunctional Kid’. The latter having some of the most dire lyrics in rock history. 

The other problem stopping this album from getting another mark out of ten is the fact that in the originality stakes this sucks a big one. Sorry chaps but you can cross reference almost every moment on ‘Project III’ and there is a ‘where have I heard that before’ feel to it. 

Yet for all the above criticism this is still recommended listening; a superbly screwed together album full of songs that Dio would give his left wotsit for. If you still blow the dust off Holy Diver or Heaven & Hell now and again then definitely check this album out. It’s clearly not as good as those two classics but is nonetheless a very creditable stab at this genre.

Let us know your views on 'Giuntini Project III'

Track List

Gold Digger
Not Connected
Que Es La Vida
Early Warning
Fool Paradise
Tutmosis Iv – Tarantula
Anno Mundi (The Vision)
Disfunctional Kid
Mourning Star
Trouble Just Keeps Coming
The Closest Thing To Heaven
Memories In The Sand
Tarot Warrior

Line Up

Aldo Giuntini - Guitars
Tony Martin - Vocals
Ezio Secomandi - Drums
Fulvio Gaslini - Bass
Dario Patti - Keyboards