AQUA

Aqua is one of those albums that i like for one simple reason: they're not immediate, you need to hear the songs 5/6 times before you can have a full-range view of it and i find something new in arrangements and melodies everyday i listen to Aqua... this will be a very underrated album to me.. let's start: 1. Viderunt Te Aquae: as usual, the first track in a Angra album is an orchestral piece, good arrangements though 2. Arising Thunder: this is the most power metal track on the album, it has a good vocal melody and it's the most immediate track on the album. it's also a very high speed metal riffing and soloing is just technically awesome as usual. the instrumental break is very strong and i like the samba-like drumming (this thing will strongly appear in all the album). 3. Awake From Darkness: very nice guitar intro and the riff is very strong and powerful... the rhythm guitar part on the verses is very progressive. the chorus' melody is very nice and the instrumental break is awesome. the piano solo part comes a bit unexpected but the violin part is really good. Good solos. 4. Lease Of Life: this is the ballad.. it has a charming vocal melody and grows up very well. Arrangements here are amazing. The break is full of atmosphere and good guitar work, it grows into a fired up guitar solo. one of the best tracks on the album. 5. The Rage Of The Waters: another power metal song.. great riff, it reminds me of nothing to say. good chorus and the samba break is simply stunning. the bass player andreoli plays a high-level solo. the rest of the instrumental break is very musical. Very good song 6. Spirit Of The Air: one of the most beautiful tracks.. the acoustic intro that turns into electric is great. the synth sound on the loop is awesome. great vocal melodies and chorus. the break reminds me of the acoustic tracks on temple of shadows and it's charming. 7. Hollow: the most proggy song. starts with some DT-like killing riffing. the vocals on the verse do not convince me. but the chorus is well-built and the break is awesome: the strings part is one of the most attractive ones on this album 8. A Monster In Her Eyes: another power ballad.. good song but the vocals seems to be a bit out of range for edu's vocal range. 9. Weakness Of A Man: acoustic intro on this one with oriental flavours. another great song with awesome arrangements. the instrumental break is high-leveled, as usual. Very good song 10. Ashes: another awesome song. Very well arranged and full of nice melodies. Gives an impressive ending to this very good album.

I think this album is much better than the previous one, the production is good but not awesome, but the songs are all just there and they're EXPERIMENTING which is a very good way to approach music. If you find this album awful is probably because you've listened to it in a non-accurate way. It needs, like the good quality albums, 4 or 5 listens to make your interest grow more and more as you enjoy Aqua. 8/10 (just a step lower than temple or holy land, but at the same level of rebirth surely!)