TEMPLE OF SHADOWS

Okay, before I start I have to tell you that I'm not really objective when writing this, this is definately one of my favourite albums of all time and also the best work so far by the brilliant progressive power metal kings from Brazil. You will probably read my praise after praise with anoyment but I still really wan't to share my opinion on this one because I really think everyone should hear it. (the album, not my opinion maybe...)

Well, when I first heard this album (the day after it was released or something), I had heard maybe 3-4 songs by Angra and I wasn't much of a progressive metal fan at all so I didn't really fancy all the folk stuffs and so... I got Rebirth and listened to it and loved it, but I couldn't really get the thing with Temple of Shadows. But I realized that this was not bad music, this was probably REALLY hard to play and I could really feel a wave of quality coming towards me when I listened to it. So I told myself that I had to start liking this album. I listened to it maybe 10 times, and then I got it at last! (I don't think I really understand a lot about good and bad music by that time, everyone has been a newbie and I'm still xP)

I'll talk a bit about the rating before I go to the songs:

Performance is absolutely 10, the guitarists Kiko and Rafael are both amazing and some of the best guitar players I've ever heard. Rafael is doing most of the music and (I think) all the lyrics. Kiko is also doing some music writing and play most of the lightning- speed and/or emotional really blending solos. The riffs are so complex, there are true power metal riffs, thrashy riffs and progressive riffs, and there is some really nice works on acoustic guitars aswell. The basist Felipe Andreoli is one of my favourites, though this is not an album based a lot upon bass guitars... in fact, Angra is not at all. Wich is a pity, but that doesn't ruin the overall impression very much. The drummer, Aquiles Preister from South Africa is also a great addition, I haven't studied Ricardo Confessoris (the old drummers) work a lot but I dare to say that I like Aquiles even more. The drums are technical and feel very presice, though, this is still an album based mainly on arrangement, guitars, vocals and emotions so the rythm section is not really 100 %: And then we have the singer, Edu Falaschi. People talk about him as Angras "new singer", even if he's been there a while. I think I have to say that I prefer Andre Matos but that definately NOT means Edu is bad. I really love his voice, and since the songs on Rebirth and mainly TOS is written for his voice I don't think it would fit with Andre Matos. Edu is really a different kind of singer, when Matos sings almost like Kate Bush (well...) Edu is more like Bruce Dickinson. So I'd say Matos is more a personal favourite and he does his songs better (Edu really has some problems at the live album but he solves it quite well) when Edu does the new Angra songs better. The keyboards and orchestral arrangements (made by Rafael Bittencourt) are also brilliant, I have no idea who the keyboard player is and if maybe Kiko or someone plays the keyboard in the studio, but I really think they should consider him as a part of the band. I mean, Angra uses keyboards in EVERY song and they have no official keyboard player.

The songwriting is definately 10 - every single second is perfectly composed and I don't think there is anything at all to complain about. The album is a concept album (equals PROG) wich we love of course. It's about a knight taking part of the holy wars in the 1000 century (almost sure about that).

The originality is 9:80 or something, it is of course very high but it's still as "Angra" as it could be. It is a perfect mix of all the old albums with a few new details (guest musicians, thrashy riffs, more orchestral arangements).

The production is not anything to complain about really, I love it, but it has the typicall production wich some people would comment: "oooh this is so cheeeesy! so overproduced! go make movie soundtracks instead!" I don't complain... not about that. Maybe there could be more bass guitars and I'd like some more layered vocals but otherwise - perfect. 9.

Alright, let's go to the songs! 1. Deus le Volt! A typicall Angra intro, every intro they've ever done is brilliant! This one is maybe not as good as Nova Era wich is just so powerful as it get's or like the really beautiful ones on the first two albums but there is nothing to complain about. It's kinda silent overall but the seconds when it turn to the opening track is still (after XXX listenings) enough to give me goose-bumps for a minute or two. (8/10)

2. Spread your Fire Also very typicall Angra, an extremely bombastic Angra opening track starts with furious guitars and power metal drumming. The riffs are almost like solos, maybe reminds someone a bit about Dragonforce but harder and with more emotion. Then Eduardo starts singing and we're close to perfection. Another great element to this track is Sabine Edelsbacher, a beautiful girl that normally sings in Edenbridge with does some vocals in the chorus. Also contains some thrashy and really progressive riff instead of a solo in the middle.(9/10)

3. Angels and Demons Also feels very standard in someway, this track really "has to be there". Opens with a really progressive riff and has a great chorus. The melodies and solos are really complex. VERY many complex riffs aswell. (10/10)

4. Waiting Silence A more simplistic track, still great though. This is more like a single track. I really love the chorus... the vers is played with clean guitars and then blossoms in a really bombastic chorus. (9/10)

5. Wishing Well Also more of a single track, it's the first slow down on the album, I'd call it a semi-ballad. The only track below 4 minutes (3.59...) (9/10)

6. Temple of Hate A really typicall power metal track, furious guitars, power metal drumming and most important of all - this song contains mr. Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, Helloween) on vocals! Almost to power metal to sound Angra but it's really great and since I didn't really like the progressive touch from the beginning it was my first favourite. Reminds maybe a bit about Rhapsody since there is a nice blend of power metal and orchestral arrangements, with a great orchestral bombastic part in the middle-end wich is sooo Angra... reminds me of the part in Angels Cry. (9/10)

7. The Shadow Hunter This is when the album takes a complete turn against the progressive path - this song opens with a great aucoustic guitar intro wich probably is inspired by flammenco (what does a silly metal-head knows about that?) Also contains bongo drums =D this is also a bit like a semi-ballad, reminds me a bit of Silence and Distance maybe. There are soft and hard parts and a blending guitar solo wich I'd consider to be the best on the album. (10/10)

8. No Pain for the Dead This is also a progressive track but still a bit "lighter", so it was my second favourite song. This is the typciall bombastic Angra ballad, it's folky and the chorus is like melancholic thunder exploding in your face, it's so beautiful! Reminds of Make Believe but not as high pitched vocals of course. Sabine Edelsbacher also sings on this one wich she does perfect, it's the best I've ever heard with her. (10/10)

9. Winds of Destination I didn't relly like this song at first though it contains one of my top 5 singers all time, Hansi Kürch from Blind Guardian. Even if he sings great, his voice is maybe not get's to its right to 100%. It's of course not a bad track but maybe a small bit below average of the album. It contains maybe the heaivest parts on the album, it might be therefore. (9/10)

10. Sprouts of Time A progressive and folky semi-ballad with a great bombastic and cosy chorus, wich also slows down a bit. Contains a really cool bossanova part wich is one of the most different parts of the album, and it fits in so great. This is another of my favourites, maybe the most progressive track on the album. (10/10)

11. Morning Star Morning star enters with a percussion piece wich maybe reminds a bit of Carolina IV and after a while it turns into vers and chorus very nicely. Then one of thoose heavy riffs kicks of just to turn into a "soloisch" riff with arpeggios or something and after that a short guitar duell. The climax of the song is really brilliant and in the end it turns into a orchestral arrangement wich fades out. (10/10)

12. Late Redemption I first considered this track as a filler but now (maybe since I've almost overlistened the others) I really like it. This is a calm and cosy track with a bombastic chorus, and a fast guitar solo, another semi-ballad? The famous brazilian singer Milton Naschimento (compared to Frank Sinatra) is doing guest vocalson french and I really like his voice. Half a year ago I'd given this 8 but now it's deffinately: (9/10)

13. Gate XIII This is maybe the part that makes the album a definate masterpiece, it is a perfect way of ending an album and I'm suprised that no other artist have ever used it. Gate XIII is a totally orchestral track wich contains parts of almost all the songs on the album with some extra features. And just when you think it's over the part from Winds of Destination finishes the album of. Since I was (am?) stupid I didn't realise this at first but still I just can't imagine how brilliant the whole idea is! Arranged by the guitarist Rafael Bittencourt.

So, the overall impression. Masterpiece, 'nuff said. Think you've got my point. This is deffinately an album that every progressive metal fan should buy before you buy anything else - only beaten maybe by Ayreons "The Human Equation". Also for people who likes touches of spanish and brazilian folk music in metal.

Hail Angra!