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Brazilian Power metallers Angra return to
show that the European Metal Band that South America can equal anything
they can in the genre.
Following the bands concept piece 'Temple
Of Shadows' last year, the bands new release isn’t a concept piece as
such, but each track follows a similar thread that of mans struggles with
life, with subjects such a suicide and the like being the inspiration for
the songs.
The album opens up with ‘The
Course Of Nature’, a real barnstormer of an opener which starts off with
an altogether eerie feel, but soon opens up into a frenzy of guitars and
drums, then the mighty vocals of Edu Falaschi are unleashed. The
track really pounds a thunderous mix of heavy bass and soaring guitars.
The flurry of guitars and drums continues
at an unrelenting pace with ‘The Voice Commanding You’, another fantastic
piece of inspiring Power Metal with once again Falaschi’s vocals being one
of the highlights of the track.
The band ease of the pace just a touch
with the haunting melodies of ‘Ego Painted Grey’, with its soaring guitars
and solid backbone of the rhythm section of Felipe on bass and Aqualis
Priester on drums.
The slower pace continues with the almost
power ballad like ‘Breaking Ties’, this is where the guitars of Kiko
Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt really come into their own.
The pace and majesty of ‘Salvation
Suicide’ just has to be heard to be believed, (take note Dragonforce you
don’t have to go over the top with the pace and rampaging guitar every
time this is how it should be done with style and grace).
Window To Nowhere’ is another guitar
infested assault from Loureiro as he sways between the all out shred fest,
to the more sedate melodic riffs on what is another wonderful track.
The band bring a little something
different into the mix with a touch of the East on the intro to ‘So Near
So Far’, before blending in the more traditional symphonic metal tones on
a track that shows the band are more than shredding guitars and thunderous
drums. It shows the band have a gentle sound hidden amongst all the
dynamism.
‘Passing By’ is another slow burner of a
track which once again starts off with the gentle guitars and Falaschi’s
gentle vocals, then in comes the pounding rhythm section of Priester on
drums and Andreoli to break the silence and really beef up the overall
sound of the track, this is what turns this humble track into a real
monster.
Another track where the rhythm section
really shines is the quite simply awesome ‘Scream Your Heart Out’, a real
heart thumper as the vocals of Falaschi soar above the guitars and bass to
great effect.
The album comes to a close with
’Abandoned Fate’, another track showing the band in a more gentle light as
it consists of only a semi acoustic guitar and Falaschi on vocals and
rounds off another superlative release from the band and one that
surpasses the 'Temple Of Shadows' release and that was a hell of an album
too. |
