Il Nucleo

Il Nucleo formed in Rome in 1998 with Nicola Sari on vocals, Max Marcolini on guitar, Andrea Pesce on bass, and Emanuele Bussoletti on drums. They released a debut EP in 2000 while playing shows around the city. In 2002, they worked with producer Mauro Pagani on what became their breakthrough album, 'La Quiete Dopo la Tempesta.' The title track gave them their first real hit.

That album established their sound, which leaned into rock with some alternative edges. Songs like '1 Sberzo' and '4 Mura' showed their range, from driving guitar work to more reflective moments. The lineup shifted over time, with Marcolini leaving in 2004 and Bussoletti departing in 2012, but Sari remained as the consistent voice through those changes.

In 2003, the band drew criticism for using a Nazi flag in a music video, which they later apologized for. They kept recording through the 2000s and into the 2010s, putting out tracks like '27 Aprile' and 'Cambiano Le Cose' as the music industry shifted around them.