Erotic dances were performed with a large erect penis being carried around in the dancing processionals. Dresses were exchanged with men dressing as women. However during this “Carnaval like” festival, everyday social norms were reversed. The traditions of Saturnalia-included giving gifts (toys to children), singing, lighting candles, feasting, drinking, gambling, merrymaking, and decorating “Merry” Asher Trees (borrowed from other ancient cultures). In ancient Rome, the celebration of the Winter Solstice was a weeklong party held in mid-December (Christmas to New Years) honoring their agricultural god - called Saturnalia. 2,5 stars (rounded up to three).SATURNALIA ~ The Roman winter Solstice Orgy (Renamed Christmas) Vocals, nice 'acid' guitar work and pretty impressive drumming. Love' is by no means a groundbreaking album, but it's still an enjoyable listening experience with good Songs really stand out, but my favourite would be the above mentioned 'Dreaming'. The musicianship is good and the band sounds pretty tight. Gets false at places, but it doesn't spoil the experience, and the voice of Adrian Hawkins resemblesīlack Widow's Kip Trevor a bit. Since these cover a different branch of occultism (hence the band's name, for instance). The lyrics are indeed occult-themed, but don't expect the satanic stuff heard on Sacrifice, Similar to Volunteers-era JEFFERSON AIRPLANE with some folky bits here and there (best heard in

I was more or less proven wrong, as Saturnalia's sound is more cheerful and more But let's get to the music.Īnd what I've read about these guys, I expected something like a heavier, more guitar-dominated earlyīLACK WIDOW. Nevertheless, it's still the first ever issued 3D pictureĭisc, making it quite an attractive collector's item. Information this reviewer believes to be false). To Wikipedia, 'Magical Love', their sole effort, wasn't released in 1969, but four years later (a piece of I came across this band through Progarchives, later finding out that they were sort of a successor to theīand HORSE, whose self-titled album I had heard before and liked enough to trace this one. Certainly a nice and recommendable obscurity for the album collecttors for the fans of mentioned themes. The definite versions of 'Magical Love' album has a 28-page booklet about the astrology, which was a strong element to the players doing this record. Another comparison for the occult themed progressive rock album with male/female vocals could be BLACK WIDOW's 'Return to The Sabbath', the first deleted and later reissued version of their 'Sacrifice' album. The singers were Adrian Hawkins and Aletta, guitar was played by Rod Roach and the rhythm section had Richard Houghton on bass guitar and Tom Crompton playing the drums. The album contains slightly occult themed psychedelic early progressive rock, resembling JEFFERSON AIRPLANE with their similar male/female double vocal concept and US West Coast psych guitar tones. Later there have been reissues done for example by Italian Akarma label. The record 'Magical Love' was produced by Keith Relf (from RENAISSANCE and YARDBIRDS), and it was released year 1969. SATURNALIA was an obscure Brittish psychedelic band, leaving only one studio album as a target for the collectors of psychdelic rock albums.

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