Karmamoi – Eternal Mistake | Progressive Rock Central.com

“Eternal Mistake,” is the seventh studio album by the Italian progressive rock band Karmamoi (often misspelled as Kamamoi); officially released on April 17, 2026. It is a conceptual progressive rock album that explores a sci-fi narrative about a human and a humanoid searching for authentic connection within a digital landscape.

The album functions as an immersive, theatrical storytelling experience. It focuses on the complex relationship between a human and an artificial humanoid. Together, they try to reach across the boundaries of logic, flesh, and code to find reality in an imperfect world, ultimately meditating on whether love itself is the “eternal mistake”.

Karmamoi is made up of members: Daniele Giovannoni: who plays drums, keyboards, and sings backing vocals; Valerio Sgargi, who sings lead vocals, and plays keyboards and guitars; Alex Massari, who plays guitars; and Alessandro Cefalì, who plays bass.

The album also features high-profile guest performances from:

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.”

“The Regrets,” opens with narration, and backing orchestration. Guest narrator, Gabrielle Giovannoni states, “And now, now that we are on the bound of destruction. We can see the face of our end. Piles of ash of crimes made over the ages will bury us. But we are still not learning. Why? Why do we keep on drifting to a shocking time? When the ashes will drop on us. Like tears of desperate regrets. It will be too late, too late, too late.” A worrisome threat of an ever-approaching end to the world.

“Lara is Your Name,” opens with wonderful orchestration. Valerio Sgargi sings, “Unbroken feelings. Of creeping waves on my skin. You dim me, while you’re getting closer. Reassuring words. You tied my senses up. To your winking eyes. To your allusion smile. Shuffling me inside your vibes. Blowing my life. No blood is flowing. No chip is bleeding. Living cells of these lush lies. No tiny breathing. No tears are falling. I turned on this shining light. Lara is your name.” Valerio Sgargi’s vocal sounds reminds me of Michael Sadler, from Saga, near his prime. The bass, electric lead guitar solos and the drumming are all exceptional. The “maker,” meets his creation, and names it “Laura.”

“Don’t Knock on the Door,” opens with orchestration and then, lead electric guitar with accompanying bass and drums. Valerio Sgargi sings, “Don’t knock on the door. Don’t knock on the door twice. Your demons will embrace you again. Don’t knock on the door. Don’t knock time after time. Or you will face the murder of your empire. In the vail of your desires. Wet by a pouring rain. A horde of humanoids. Is coming close to your life. Like mute tools and faded shapes. Led by tricky brain of a doll. And a jester known as Elon as the new guide.” I wonder if that is a reference to Elon Musk?

“I’m Not on Your Side,” opens with some electric guitar and some repeated robotic statements of the word, “technology.” Valerio Sgargi sings, “Looking at you makes me uneasy. I can feel you through your eyes. And I can see how the future bites thunder sounds of a one-way run. I am not on your side. I won’t be a broken mind. We are moving quickly. Are we going to sail? We should be all ready for this change. You deem you have got it all. We dreamed of the never-ending time. You deem you have got it all. A dream is like a child needs care. I don’t recognize you in my folds of life. I don’t recognize you on my side.” The everlasting battle between human and robot. We seem to need them to help with regular chores but are upset they are not real, flesh and blood like us. They don’t respond like a human being. The guitar playing, bass and drums create a good progressive rock soundscape.

“Nothing But,” is one of the best songs on the album. It opens with soft acoustic guitar played by guest guitarist, Randy McStine. Soft drums and bass help Valerio Sgargi, as he softly sings, “Nothing left for me. Nothing but. Coming to terms with. All my regrets. Nothing left for me. Nothing but. The exile from my life. Nothing but an annihilated dream. I knew who you were. I knew your essence. I knew about the curse. Behind the innocence. Mine was a perverse love. Mine was an unborn dove. In the dark. And profound space. Of the soul. Seeking for a craving heart, a cause. Of my love.” The maker contemplates a different relationship with his machine. The instrumental section of the song is one of the best segments of this album.

“The Mirror,” opens with Valerio Sgargi singing, “I look into “The Mirror of Fate.” I fail to recognize myself. What remains is a blurred duplicate. Of who I am now. I have so many questions to ask you. Tell me why I’m here. Am I the fruit of human greed or of their love? Am I the feces of human thoughts or the mask of their desires? Desires without a soul. Am I the evolution of the void?” The maker contemplates what has he created.

“No Soul,” opens with drums, lead electric guitar, bass, and whirlwind orchestration. Valerio Sgargi sings, “I have no soul. I have no heart. My mind is blank and dull. I feel this skin. Man-made and chill. And I would like to flee. Code is taking shape before my eyes. I can see a violent wave of the human race coming back to me creeping back to me. Creeping among true lies. Now I got no Soul. Yes, I got no Soul. Still, I got no soul. I’m a machine ghost. Now I got no Soul.” A song for Laura, as sung by the maker. Great solo guitar and keyboards.

“Eternal Mistake,” is the album’s title song and mission statement. It opens with warm electric guitar notes. Valerio Sgargi sings, “The memories in my head are fading out. Do you think they’re fake? Why do you look at me so distantly. Haven’t turned off yet. I’m still alive. I’m absolutely sure I have a past. But not a future I’ve looked into my mirror. And I no longer recognize myself. I’ve understood what life is. What death is, too. It was the first time in my life I was afraid. Have you ever been afraid? Did you think we’d live forever and ever and ever? Did you think we’re everlasting creatures? You just woke up. And, then you realized you’re vanishing.” The truth we must all face, that we are not on this Earth for eternity. We will pass. The only hope is that we have lived a full life. Not living it to the fullest, is the eternal mistake.

“The Question, opens slowly with orchestration and a robot talking, “Do you have a soul. What is a soul? It’s Humanity. What is Humanity? Humanity is feeling, ache, and longing, joy, sorrow, and love. So, is a soul just a feeling? I felt something. It’s more than that, it’s like home. Home? Do we have one? Do we have a home?” Then, regal keyboards and sci-fi sounds fill the soundscape.

“We Are Going Home,” features the vocals of Susanna Brigatti. But first, Valerio Sgargi sings, “I wonder if you’re fine. If you are woolly- minded, ’cause I feel worn out. And you know. I’ve pled all my gods. To save our purity. To take us home. We were left behind. Hand in hand, to our fate. I feel the fear inside, deep in my veins. Can we break these chains? And, will love be strong enough? Or will we fade, fade away, going down?” The two singers later duet, for another of the best songs on the album.

“Hero,” features Adam Holzman on electric piano, acoustic piano, and he performs a Moog solo. He lights the soundscape before Valerio Sgargi sings, “Anyone can be a man. On the edge of a wreck. Stolen, fallen, with a broken heart. Have you devotees? Have you enemies? Have you skeletons? Have you been proclaimed? Anyone can be a star. On the crest of his fame. Hero, Hero, Hero, Hero Frozen, risen, modern, and vain. Hidden and chosen face. Have you devotees? Have you enemies? Have you skeletons? Have you been proclaimed? Are you crucified? Are you venerated? Are you a sacred god? Who Are You?” Adam Holzman’s playing makes this my favorite song on the album. Very innovative and creative.

On, “Passing Away,” the soundscape opens full of electric guitar, keyboards, bass, and soft drums. Valerio Sgargi sings, “Yes, its time, we are passing away. Flying down from the crown of love to the ground. We found ourselves lying on the floor close and alive. But in your eyes, there weren’t tears. I’m not bound. By my physical being. I’m floating above myself. Fighting against a force that holds me strongly down. Making blind me down. This voyage runs at the speed of sound through the light of space through the dark of time, is panting next to me!”

On “No Fucking Way,” Valerio Sgargi sings, “NO FUCKING WAY! No Fucking Way. Brain control. I got your soul. No Fucking Way!” As lead electric guitar, bass and drums perform their magic.

The album was produced by Valerio Sgargi and Daniele Giovannoni. The music and lyrics by Daniele Giovannoni and Valerio Sgargi. Arranged by Valerio Sgargi and Daniele Giovannoni. Editing and stems by Daniele Giovannoni and Valerio Sgargi. Mixed and mastered by Fabio Ferri @ Millenium Audio Recording, Rome
Photos and artwork by Joel Barrios.

I have reviewed other albums of Karmamoi, and I can hear the progression of their sound getting even better on “Eternal Mistake.” This is an interesting story, capturing current events, which are quickly drifting from fantasy to fact, as the encroachment of AI spreads around the world, including within our smaller towns. One day we all may encounter our own, “Laura,” and we will have to consider the situations described by Karmamoi on this album. Is AI and robotic technology the “Eternal Mistake?” What do you think? Listen to this album and take some time to reflect on the opportunity or curse we are all currently engaged in. The future is now. Karmamoi’s “Eternal Mistake,” is a conversation and story we all must face.