Some records face the thankless task of following in the footsteps of masterpieces—works universally recognized as milestones within a musical genre. Such is the case with *Landscape of Life* by the Neapolitan band Osanna; at the time of its release, it inevitably suffered in comparison to its predecessor, *Palepoli*—arguably one of the most celebrated Italian progressive rock albums of all time.

Revisiting *Landscape of Life* today, free from any lingering preconceptions, reveals an excellent and stirring album. It deftly shifts between dreamy passages and bursts of intensity bordering on hard rock, all while weaving in elements of jazz-rock. Elio D’Anna truly takes center stage here, with his intricate flute and saxophone phrasing, while drummer Massimo Guarino is also responsible for the album’s striking, science-fiction-inspired cover art, which depicts a whale decomposing in outer space.

Five of the album’s seven tracks are sung in English—a likely indication that the record was initially conceived as an attempt to introduce Osanna to international audiences. Sadly, the band broke up shortly thereafter, leaving behind *Landscape of Life* as a high-quality swan song—a work that has been rightfully re-evaluated in recent years, amid a renewed interest in Italian progressive rock.