{"id":896165,"date":"2026-04-15T17:37:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/896165\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T17:37:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:37:17","slug":"review-vanderlust-the-human-farm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/896165\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Vanderlust – The Human Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Published by Francesco<\/strong><\/a> on 2026\/04\/152026\/04\/15<\/p>\n

\"\"No artist credited<\/p>\n

Style: Power metal, progressive metal (mixed vocals, mostly clean)
Recommended for fans of: Angra, Dream Theater<\/a>, Kamelot
Country: Italy
Release date: 17 April 2026<\/p>\n

Concept albums are a huge gamble, full stop. To be bound to a singular idea for an entire album can be a tricky thing; one must be really clever to pull it off successfully without coming across as trite or alienating the listener. Great concept albums in metal are few and far between, and fewer still these days. With the advent of streaming and the ethereal, enigmatic \u2018algorithm\u2019 that pushes single tracks and disordered, mix-and-match playlists, listening to complete works from back to front has mostly become a thing of the past. Personally, though, I love a good overarching narrative, so I\u2019m always happy to jump right in if the idea sounds interesting enough\u2014or even if it doesn\u2019t. And, uh, we\u2019ll get to that in a minute.<\/p>\n

The Human Farm, sophomore effort from the Italians Vanderlust<\/strong>, shoots for the stars with a melodic power-prog sound that\u2019s woven around a tale of interstellar visitors. A clear evolution from their debut, this album presents a more varied, technically advanced compositional style. You\u2019ll find a typical power metal intensity on tracks like \u201cGolden Shackles\u201d and \u201cFrom The Cave \u2013 Fuga\u201d (\u201cescape\u201d), where tremolo-picking and double-kick passages create a sense of melodic urgency. That kind of energy is also accompanied by a notable thrash metal freneticism in the aggressive, decidedly Vektor<\/strong>-influenced guitar riffs that zig and zag over rapid blast-beat passages in \u201cViral Escape\u201d. Meanwhile, their seven-minute epic and album closer \u201cHumanity 3.0 \u2013 The New Canaan\u201d, develops in several distinct movements and is arguably the standout piece on the album. These musical contrasts adeptly showcase Vanderlust<\/strong>\u2019s more progressive elements both in the overall science-fiction theme and within the songwriting itself, helping to give The Human Farm a sense of identity.<\/p>\n

The production of The Human Farm is characterized primarily by guitarist\/main composer Francesco \u201cFranz\u201d Romeggini\u2019s complex and layered riffing, and the very tight drumming provided by Giacomo Mezzetti. Overhead, David Cantina\u2019s nuanced bass sound can sometimes get lost in the mix but once in a while is allowed to pipe in, as in the track \u201cTurning Point\u201d. Romeggini\u2019s guitar work on the release is technically proficient, and I also commend the way that he finds moments to put his chops on display without ostentatious shredding for shred\u2019s sake\u2014the all-too-brief, sweep-picking passage in the mostly-instrumental \u201cFrom The Cave \u2013 Fuga\u201d, was one such moment that nearly glued my eyebrows to the ceiling. Vocalist Ricca \u201cZP\u201d Morello exhibits his wide tenor range throughout, and is responsible for many of the catchy refrains present on the album; I\u2019d like to highlight \u201cConnection Failed\u201d as having an exceptionally Maiden<\/strong>-esque memorable chorus. He\u2019s backed up on the mic by featured artist Martina Berreca (Mess Excess<\/strong>) providing the odd harsh vocal and operatic vocal, while some synth and orchestral elements are peppered throughout via the album\u2019s second guest musician, Francesco Londino (S91<\/strong>).\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Now, we need to talk about the elephant\u2014or rather, the alien\u2014in the room: The Human Farm\u2019s sci-fi dystopic concept of \u201ctechnologically-advanced alien race enslaves humanity\u201d is hardly a new idea by any stretch of the imagination, and I can\u2019t help but feel that Vanderlust <\/strong>struggle to put it all together in a way that avoids coming across as a little clich\u00e9d. Maybe even a lot. There\u2019s a bit of narration in the opening track, and a short bit of voice-acting halfway through the record in \u201c \u2026 Find Them!\u201d, which I felt were quite wooden and stiff. I know that the idea of \u201cshow, don\u2019t tell\u201d can be a little challenging in music, but perhaps Vanderlust<\/strong> would\u2019ve been better off playing to their strengths and weaving those bits of the story into actual songs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then, there\u2019s the plot itself: in their promo material, Vanderlust<\/strong> go on to describe a human world in which the population is living under terrible conditions such as abject poverty and an ambiguous suffering, and these aliens, monikered \u201cCoelecanths\u201d, offer a perfect life in an extraterrestrial utopia\u2014but with the steep price of execution at the age of forty. Why forty? Unclear. Later, some of the \u2018captured\u2019 humans plot an escape, determining that life was better where they came from. Why better? Unclear. Admittedly, the whole idea lacks a little consistency in its internal logic, but power metal will do what power metal will do.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I maintain that Vanderlust<\/strong> have put out a reasonably good record here. While their concept may make my eyes glaze over when I think about it, the foundation on which it rests is sturdy and respectable. I fear the idea of writing concept albums is not such an attractive one these days and I hope prog can continue to be the one area where the concept album may never die. Vanderlust <\/strong>may have overshot their orbit with the story of The Human Farm, but their music\u2019s got plenty of fuel to correct course.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Recommended tracks: Golden Shackles, Connection Failed, Humanity 3.0 \u2013 The New Canaan
You may also like: Lab\u00ffrinth<\/a>, Sunburst<\/a>, VENUS
Final verdict: 7\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Related links: Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

Label: Rockshots Records<\/a><\/p>\n

Vanderlust<\/strong> is:
\u2013 Ricca \u201cZP\u201d Morello (vocals)
\u2013 Francesco \u201cFranz\u201d Romeggini (guitars, backing vocals)
\u2013 Giacomo Mezzetti (drums, backing vocals)
\u2013 David Cantina (bass)<\/p>\n

With guests<\/strong>
\u2013 Martina Barreca (harsh vocals, operatic vocals)
\u2013 Francesco Londino (keyboards, arrangements)<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n