Syndone is one of the best realities of Italian progressive. Founded in Turin, Italy, in 1989, it is still active today—even though in a moment of “hiatus.” Nico (Nik) Comoglio, born on 28/11/62 (Turin, Italy), is the owner of the project. He graduated as an architect but at the same time privately studied piano and composition.

When he was still graduating at the university, he created several jingles for ads and soundtracks for two semi-professional movies.

The story of His creation had two different lives:

From 1990 to 1993, with this new progressive band, called "Syndone" ("Shroud"), they released two CDs: "Spleen" and "Inca," produced by Beppe Crovella from the "Arti & Mestieri" band, for the music label Vinyl Magic s.a.s. in Milano. Two other important members were Paolo Sburlati on drums and Fulvio Serra on bass.

Their first album reveals at once the big interest from Comoglio to face deep stories and meaningful themes. “Spleen” is the story of a young man (Kiin) who experiences spleen (sad mood) every day because of his inability to face society life and the rules it imposes on him. In few words, the protagonist is a child suffering because reality is too hard for him.

Syndone presents itself as a powerful progressive rock band at once: the music is based on vintage 70s keyboards, and all the sounds are similar to classic Italian progressive of those years. Remarkable is the presence of Tony Seffusatti on accordion and Patrizia Caramazza and Alessandra Piovera on vocals.

After the compelling second album “Inca,” the project apparently disbanded. Comoglio needs to stop everything to follow other things into His life, and it seems to be the right decision because the new incarnation of the band comes out after 17 years, in 2010, revised, with new collaborators and more powerful ideas and training. “Melapesante” (Heavy Apple) is the fascinating start of a new chapter! They come out with a second album called “La Bella è la Bestia” (The Beauty is the Beast), displaying well-prepared musicians. The sound of those new albums deserves attention worldwide, and it's a pity that this band is not present at the highest festivals of the world. As mature and accomplished musicians, you can listen for solutions and arrangements that sometimes are better than ELP's best albums.

The third album of this new course is called "Odyssèas" and sounds like a masterpiece. Ruggeri is a compelling vocalist, and seeing him on stage, you can see a modern frontman having a right taste of sex appeal. Comoglio is a balanced leader, a great musician, and a powerful keyboardist not affected by self-indulgent behaviors. Although he is the main instrumentist on record, he is happy to be joined by another keyboardist and musicians every time the band is performing live…and more, this album opens the tradition to have special guests like Marco Minneman on drums and John Hackett on flute. In fact, for the following “Eros and Thanatos” (developed from a song of “Odysseas”), the special guests are none other than Steve Hackett (former “Genesis”) and Ray Thomas (former “The Moody Blues”).

Syndone represents, however, a mix of Italian tradition and international moods; the songs are alternated with Italian and English lyrics. Starting from 2015, the band’s lineup becomes more stable:

Apart from Nik Comoglio (Hammond, Moog, Juno dist., Mellotron, keyboards), we have Riccardo Ruggeri (vocals), Marta Caldara (vibraphone, timpani), Gigi Rivetti (piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Hammond, clavinet), Simone Rubinato (bass, fretless, Taurus bass), and Eddy Franco (drums & percussion).

This is progressive music in its truest sense, where the band is attempting to push and create new styles instead of sitting inside a recognized genre or subgenre. Fully worthy of further consideration at any time. Albums like “Mysoginia,” “Kama Sutra,” and the last anthology, “Dirty Thirty,” as a celebration of thirty years of great music, are enforcing their reputation. There are other projects prepared for the year 2020, sadly deleted by the pandemic issues.

This and other problems are at the roots of the Comoglio’s decision to congeal the band at its last stable and powerful lineup: Nik Comoglio [composition, keyboards], Riccardo Ruggeri [lyrics, vocals, acoustic guitar], Simone Rubinato [bass], Marta Caldara [vibraphone, keyboards], Gigi Rivetti [keyboards], and Ciro Iavarone [drums] We don’t have news about a reprise yet. As Comoglio’s friend I was told about the desire to stop for a while…not to disband! It seems that some issues from the market and the lack of chances to be performing live are the explanation for everything.

And now we come to the point indicated by the title:

Even though Syndone was invited to play at some of the most important festivals like Veruno’s “2 days Prog plus One,” Rome’s “Progressivamente,” or at other venues in Spain, Portugal, and France (Progsud!), this band seems to be underrated and disrespected so far. The crisis of Prog Music around the world is evident, festivals and events are reduced to the max. Only Japan, the USA, Germany, and a few other countries are still on board with interesting events. Talking about Italy, we are seeing the same old bands like PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Osanna, The Trip, and other old names as the sole bunch of artists always present playing at the few festivals that survived. For example, none have brought Syndone to Japanese festivals yet.

None from the line of promoters inserted Syndone inside the best events on TV, and Comoglio’s band counts a bunch of albums as the best of performance and production, displaying results better than the last albums from PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, and other great names. You can find a sole historical member inside their lineups. We have only a question, not a reply at all!! Envy? Bad vibrations from colleagues and frustrated musicians? This could be the truth, because I remember a concert where Syndone totally eclipsed the previous two bands who opened the show, and in this age where music is sometimes produced with computers, autotune, and recording software, a band like Syndone is scary!