Those listeners only familiar with the Gustavo Gabarro era of White Skull – when the Argentine vocalist replaced original singer Federica De Boni in the anthem-ready Italian metal band – will be knocked out by just how effective this band was in its earlier days. Originally released in 2000 as White Skull's fourth album and reissued here in a limited-edition digipak, Public Glory, Secret Agony is a vivid and bombastic power-metal album led by De Boni, who sings like a hybrid of Lita Ford and Arch Enemy's Angela Gossow (if, that is, Gossow actually sang). Based on the history of the Roman Empire, specifically the period of Julius Ceasar and Cleopatra, Public Glory, Secret Agony captures White Skull's epic ambitions with catchy gang vocals, precise musicianship and passionate execution. In fact, it's hard to believe De Boni would leave the band after releasing such a quality record, only to be replaced by Gabarro, who helped White Skull devolve into a generic post-millennium old-school metal outfit.
After three albums, Gabarro was gone, replaced by another woman, Elisa De Palma. But wherever White Skull, um, heads from here, it will be tough to top Public Glory, Secret Agony.
Track Listing:
1) Burn Rome, Burn
2) High Treason
3) The Roman Empire
4) Greedy Rome
5) In Caesar We Trust
6) Valley of the Sun
7) Anubis the Jackal
8) Mangler
9) Cleopathra
10) The Field of Peace
11) Time for Glory
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