Product Format: CD
Price: Normally
£19.99 Currently
£14.99 (exc)
£17.99 (inc)
Qty:
Final Chapter in the best selling ‘Rome Pro(G)ject’ Prog Concept Album Series featuring the usual array of worldwide guests from the Prog Rock scene!
* Released 11th December - Please Pre-Order NOW – Stock Will Be Limited *
A mostly Instrumental Italian album featuring Vincenzo Ricca on Mellotron & other keyboards, with special guests: Steve Hackett (ex-GENESIS - guitars), David Jackson (VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR - winds), Bernardo Lanzetti (PFM – vocal, (Tony Levin – KING CRIMSON & Peter Gabriel Band – bass) Billy Sherwood (YES – bass) Frank Carducci (bass & 12-string guitars) & Paolo Ricca (guitars)… This is the NEW and FINAL chapter in the ‘Rome Pro(G)ject’ saga!
‘The Rome Pro(G)ject’ was born in 2009 from an idea by composer and keyboardist Vincenzo Ricca. Initially conceived as a single album about Rome to be created in collaboration with Steve Hackett, the idea soon evolved into something much greater - an open musical laboratory embracing various influences from international Progressive rock.
The real turning point was the involvement of numerous Prog legends in a single collective work - an unprecedented initiative that – in some cases - helped revive the careers of historic figures of the genre.
Steve Hackett himself, then cautiously returning to the scene, along with his wife Jo, were enthusiastic promoters and supporters of the project. From that original idea came a pioneering endeavour that paved the way for new collaborations and artistic synergies within the contemporary Prog scene, also welcoming talented but lesser-known young musicians. Still, Ricca never imagined going beyond the first album … and yet…
The Rome Pro(G)ject has become the longest Concept in Prog Rock history…
With its six albums dedicated to the events of ancient Rome, The Rome Pro(G)ject has become the longest concept project ever created in Progressive rock history. A monumental musical journey, narratively coherent across 63 nearly all-instrumental tracks, evoking the grandeur of the Roman world through a modern and visionary lens.
A Project loved by Prog Rock icons…
Over the years, The Rome Pro(G)ject has garnered praise from some of the most significant figures in international Progressive Rock. In addition to the major names that contributed - Steve Hackett, Nick Magnus, David Jackson, David Cross, Richard Sinclair, Francesco Di Giacomo, John Hackett, Billy Sherwood, Bernardo Lanzetti, Tony Levin - other giants such as Rick Wakeman, Steven Rothery, and Simon Phillips expressed high appreciation and interest in the project and its artistic vision.
Though collaborations with them didn’t materialize for reasons beyond their control, their admiration is a testament to the project’s high artistic profile.
A Work by Vincenzo Ricca…
At the helm from day one has been Vincenzo Ricca, the true mastermind behind ‘The Rome Pro(G)ject’. In ‘VI - …And Thus The End’, as in previous chapters, Ricca composed, arranged, and performed all the tracks, crafting a Mellotron driven sound universe full of nuance, stylistic crossovers and historical references. His artistic vision and storytelling ability remains the driving force behind this ambitious and coherent project - skilfully blending inspiration, quotations, originality, and vintage instruments beloved by Prog aficionados.
Six New Tracks - Four are Instrumentals…
‘VI - …And Thus The End’ features six brand new tracks, continuing the saga’s epic narrative. Of these, four are entirely instrumental, and two are vocal: ‘We Wandered’ is sung by Bernardo Lanzetti and ‘Far From Home’ is sung by Vincenzo Ricca himself.
The Most Extreme tracks of the Saga…
‘VI - …And Thus The End’ contains both the longest (28:10) and shortest (1:20) tracks of the entire saga – a contrast that showcases the narrative power of Vincenzo Ricca’s progressive vision.
Bonus Track included… with a twist…
As in previous releases, ‘VI – …And Thus The End’ includes a Bonus Track!
Unlike the previously unreleased bonus tracks in ‘TRP I’, ‘II’ and ‘III’, this one - like on ‘V - Compendium Of A Lifetime’ - is a reinterpretation of an already published piece. In this case: ’Over 12.000 Fountains’ by Vincenzo Ricca and David Cross is newly arranged.
A Symbolic Number for Steve Hackett…
With ‘VI - …And This The End’, Steve Hackett celebrates his sixth appearance on a Rome Pro(G)ject album - the same number of studio albums he recorded with GENESIS.
Hackett also has an EP to his name with both GENESIS and The Rome Pro(G)ject.
David Jackson’s 100% Attendance Record…
Alongside Steve Hackett, another project pillar is David Jackson, who appears on all six albums with his unmistakable and paraphernalia-rich wind section.
Third Time for Bernardo Lanzetti…
Bernardo Lanzetti lends his voice to The Rome Pro(G)ject for the 3rd time on ‘VI - …And Thus The End’, echoing his three-album run with PFM - a symbolic parallel connecting the past and present of Italian Prog.
Second Appearance for two Legendary Bassists…
‘VI - …And Thus The End’ boasts the return of two world-class bassists: - Billy Sherwood, who also contributed heavily to ‘II – Of Fate and Glory’ (2016) and Tony Levin, with an equally substantial role in ‘V – Compendium Of A Lifetime’ (2022)
The New Generation…
From the start, The Rome Pro(G)ject has proudly paired Prog legends with young and talented musicians. Since the first album, ‘I - A Musical Walk Through The History And The Places, The Greatness And The Beauty Of The Eternal City’ (an unexpected success, now out of print), the project has spotlighted emerging artists.
On this 6th album, Franck Carducci (bass / 12-string guitar) and Paolo Ricca, Vincenzo’s son, a promising electric guitarist with a distinctive touch, both return - now established names in their own right.
The Rome Pro(G)ject ‘VI - …And Thus The End’ is more than an album: it’s a monumental work that blends history, symbolism, and musical passion - carrying forward an epic sonic tale like no other.
The Rome Pro(G)ject thus confirms its place as one of the most ambitious and enduring undertakings in the global Progressive Rock scene.
Also available by the ROME PRO(G)JECT …
RP I (All Star Cast inc. Steve Hackett / Nick Magnus / Richard Sinclair in Digi-Pak) CD – Stock # 1582172 *
RP IV (All Star Cast inc. Steve Hackett / Nick Magnus / David Cross in Digi-Pak) CD – Stock # 2204881 * *
RP V (All Star Cast inc. Steve Hackett / Nick Magnus / Tony Levin in Digi-Pak) CD – Stock # 2205826 * *
RP VI (All Star Cast inc. Steve Hackett / David Jackson / Billy Sherwood in Digi-Pak) CD – Stock # 2207225 * *
* = Deleted Title – Last Of Our Stock
* * = Special Offer Price
‘VI - …And Thus The End’ is released on 11th December 2025.
VINCENZO RICCA & FRIENDS: ROME PRO(G)JECT VI-…AND THUS THE END Track List:
01. VI [Six] (3:43)
02. We Wandered (4:40)
03. 1229 Years (28:11)
04. Far From Home (5:21)
05. AD Gloriam Romae (6:06)
06. …And Thus The End (1:23)
07. Over 2,000 Fountains [2025 version] (6:38) * Bonus Track *
TPT - 56:02