Atomic System by NT: A 1973 Prog Rock Time Bomb That Still Blows Minds
Alright, buckle up. Let’s talk about Atomic System, the wild prog rock beast from Italy and Japan that hit shelves in 1973. This album doesn’t just sit there collecting dust—it punches you in the face with its mad mix of art rock ambition and raw musicianship. NT (New Trolls) brought their A-game here, blending Giorgio Baiocco’s sax wizardry, Vittorio De Scalzi’s guitar shredding, and Renato Rosset’s organ freakouts into something so gloriously unhinged it feels like they were trying to invent a new genre on the spot.
First off, let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t your dad’s classic rock record. Tracks like “Tornare A Credere” slap hard—you’ve got three parts to it, all stitched together like some psychedelic Frankenstein monster. The opening (“Inizio”) starts subtle but sneaks up on you with these eerie Mellotron vibes before exploding into chaos. Then comes the “Conclusione,” where De Scalzi goes full berserk on vocals, screaming his lungs out while the band rips through layers of synths and percussion. It’s messy as hell, but damn if it doesn’t stick in your brain for days.
And don’t even get me started on “Ho Visto Poi.” If I had to pick ONE track that makes this album unforgettable, it’s this sucker. Right off the bat, it kicks down the door with pounding drums courtesy of Tullio D’Episcopo and De Scalzi laying down riffs sharp enough to cut glass. But what really kills me is how the song flips between moods—going from heavy, grinding grooves to dreamy flute interludes by Baiocco without missing a beat. You can practically hear the sweat dripping off these guys in the studio. It’s chaotic, sure, but it works because it’s REAL. No overproduced nonsense here; just pure, unfiltered passion.
Now, yeah, the production ain’t perfect. Studio G did their best, but man, there are moments where things sound like they’re falling apart at the seams. And honestly? That’s part of the charm. Mixed by Pierluigi Molinari, who clearly didn’t give two shits about smoothing out the rough edges, this album has grit—and lots of it. Ramasandiran Somusundaran’s percussion adds another layer of insanity, throwing in weird tribal beats that make you wonder if he was high when he recorded them. Spoiler alert: He probably was.
Here’s the kicker, though. For an album born in the ‘70s, Atomic System still feels fresh today—not because it’s polished or trendy, but because it refuses to play it safe. Hell, they even threw in a bonus track, “Una Notte Sul Monte Calvo,” which sounds like Mussorgsky got drunk and decided to jam with King Crimson. Weird? Absolutely. Awesome? Double absolutely.
So why should you care about this relic from 1973? Because it reminds us that music doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. It needs guts, soul, and maybe a little bit of madness. Listening to Atomic System is like stepping into a time machine where nothing makes sense but everything feels right.
Final thought? Screw modern playlists. Grab a copy of this bad boy, crank the volume, and let the chaos wash over you. Just don’t blame me if your neighbors call the cops.
