KARMAMOI – Eternal Mistake (2026) *HQ*

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Italian melodic progressive band KARMAMOI return with ”Eternal Mistake”, their new album, the 8th since formed almost two decades ago. This is the first Karmamoi album to fully introduce the remarkable vocal talents of Valerio Sgargi (he had briefly appeared on 2018’s The Day is Done). In ”Eternal Mistake” his vocals really come to the fore, bringing in a notably sharper edge for the whole band.
”Eternal Mistake” is a concept album ‘’the story of a human and a humanoid, two souls reaching across the boundaries of logic and flesh”. Musically this is a band with a strong ‘musicality’ – progressive but with a very melodic approach, soaring vocals and melodies.
A sonorous, sinister beginning opens first track ‘Lara Is Your Name’ out with a confident rock beat, and what immediately stands out is the high quality smooth but powerful vocals of Sgargi. He really does raise Karmamoi on to a whole new level as this great song sweeps gloriously onward, borne aloft on Alex Massari’s brief but great guitar motif. Alessandro Cefalì’s throbbing bass takes the lead under an increasing manic and dark speech. Music composer and drummer Daniele Giovannoni weighs in solidly on drums, and Massari returns with a restrained guitar passage to finish an excellent first salvo from Karmamoi, setting the strange scene of the love for a human for a humanoid, presumably ‘Lara’?
In contrast, the following track, the dreamy ‘Don’t Knock on the Door’ floats in on clouds of guitar and keyboards upon which Sgargi’s yearning, soft vocals ooze passion and desire. It is no surprise to read that he once toured ‘interpreting’ the music of Freddie Mercury!

A respite is welcome as acoustic guitar and gorgeous soft harmony vocals usher in ‘Nothing But’. As this extended piece develops, we hear a tremendous showcase of Valerio Sgargi’s outstanding vocals skills. The piece develops subtly before choral backing and a battery of great drums lifts Sgargi’s lead vocals higher where they meet an expressive, ornate guitar.

The diversity of this album is shown yet again as Sgargi’s fine voice and strings (with shimmering electronic accents) carries the short ‘The Mirror’ into distinctly Andrew Lloyd Webber musical territory – his voice really is something to behold, especially live in concert.
‘The Mirror’ is mainly an intro into the drama of ‘No Soul’, which starts with a stirring strings, drums and choral opening before dropping into a more reflective almost lounge style for piano and vocals… and guess what, Sgargi can also confidently handle this more laid-back soul! His vocal dexterity is shown again as the tempo and power rises again in an almost bluesy fashion, with Massari able to take up the blues deftly on guitar. This fascinating melange of blues, gospel and rock rolls along engagingly…

The title track ‘Eternal Mistake’ is a more straightforward but glorious song which rises out of the gentle mists of jangling guitars before piercing the musical clouds with the full band and Sgargi’s stirring vocals soaring and twisting with Massari’s undulating, spiralling guitar.
‘The Question’ cinematically spacely seeps in with a strangely distorted electronic voice talking about humanity and love – there do appear to be echoes of the iconic Roy Batty replicant in ‘Bladerunner’ who just wanted to have a life and be human. This leads into the simple piano and vocal reflection of We are Going Home. Sgargi is joined beautifully by co-vocalist guest Susanna Brigatti. The lush strings and orchestration rise gorgeously with their intermingling voices before climaxing joyously.

Another guest with eminent Steven Wilson connections, Adam Holzman, lifts the mini-epic ‘Hero’ with tremendous, bubbling electric piano which rolls along brilliantly, driven along spectacularly by Giovannoni’s fluid drums. Holzman embroiders this piece stylishly with silky synth solos, whilst Cefalì’s great bass work makes sure this great ensemble piece still remains tethered to Earth.
‘Passing Away’ fly along rather optimistically on a wave of jangling, chiming guitars and uplifting vocals and imagery, and does give Massari the vehicle for an effervescent guitar solo.
‘No Fucking Way’ is a peculiarly foul mouthed and defiant way to conclude the album with gritty guitars and a snarled chant about ‘brain control’… we sort of get the message by now.

Karmamoi’s website states that they ‘were founded in 2008 by drummer and composer Daniele Giovannoni, inspired by both classic and modern progressive rock. His vision was to create a project capable of expressing new musical ideas through a distinctive and constantly evolving sound’.

It is safe to say that in Eternal Mistake Karmamoi have now very much achieved Giovannoni’s vision, skilfully combining powerful progressive rock music with electronic touches and grand orchestral passages.
In the ‘Eternal Mistake’ Karmamoi have very much developed and matured as a band, energised and driven by the vocal excellence and arrangements from the exceptional Valerio Sgargi, alongside the creative force of Giovannoni. Their great impact has been the essential catalyst for a significant rise in the performance, creativity and power of a band whose recorded efforts are now matching their live excellence.
‘Eternal Mistake’ hopefully promises to be the start of a Golden period for Karmamoi. This is definitely a high quality melodic progressive rock album with outstanding vocals and excellent musicianship – mistakes like this can be truly beautiful!
Highly Recommended

01 – Lara Is Your Name
02 – Don’t Knock On The Door
03 – I’m Not On Your Side
04 – Nothing But (feat. Randy McStine)
05 – No Soul
06 – Eternal Mistake
07 – We Are Going Home (feat. Susanna Brigatti)
08 – Hero (feat. Adam Holzman)
09 – Passing Away
10 – No Fucking Way

Daniele Giovannoni: Drums, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Valerio Sgargi: Vocals, Keyboards, Guitars
Alex Massari: Guitars
Alessandro Cefalì: Bass

Featured Musicians:
Adam Holzman: Electric Piano, Acoustic Piano, and Moog Solo on “Hero”
Randy McStine: Guitar Solo on “Nothing But”
Susanna Brigatti: Vocals on “We Are Going Home”
Gabriele Giovannoni: Voice Over on “The Regrets”

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