White Skull - Public Glory, Secret Agony (2000)

White Skull's TALES FROM THE NORTH blew me away when I first heard it (and the times after that), and so I was wandering how the follow-up would fare. And, inevitably, while cut from the same cloth, it's not quite as good, with material that's not as consistent, as well as the vocal parts seeming to be back a bit more in the mix than was the case with NORTH.  Of course, those who dislike Federica De Boni's rather strangled voice might not have a big problem with this, but the choral vocals which join her on some of the choruses would have brought more pleasure if they were clearer.
But this is still a fine effort, as the record dwells on the history of the Roman Empire, particularly the relationship between Caesar and Cleopatra. Such songs as "High Treason", "The Roman Empire", "Valley Of The Sun" and "Cleopathra" match whatever NORTH did, and it's just a pity they don't sound quite as good in production, and a few of the other tracks are just a bit weak.
After this, De Boni left, to be replaced by a male. That should be interesting.

***1/2