PERTO DO AMANHECER

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APOCALYPSE is a Brazilian Symphonic Neo Prog band. This was their second album, and it is wonderful Neo Prog in MARILLION's "Misplaced Childhood" vein - almost the same atmosphere, arrangements and melodical gift! A bit weak vocals (in Portugese) and a bit boring mid-part of the album (few instrumental tracks drawn together one by one - I'd prefer to see them in different parts of the album) prevent "Perto..." from 5 stars - I think 3.5 (rounded to 4) will be enough. Excellent start before "Aurora...", their best from what I've heard, and a good introduction into Latin America Prog, "Perto do Amanhecer" can also serve as a good example of MARILLION-inspired Neo Prog (Fish- era maniacs, it's a must!). Recommended to all GENESIS/ MARILLION/ COLLAGE/etc fans and Symphonic/Neo Prog devotees. It's a shame APOCALYPSE are so overlooked - they should deserve more attention from Progheads!

Apocalypse is a Brazilian band that started in the late 80's. After a first album that didn't breakthrough in the media the band started to work on their second release Perto Do Amanhecer (1995) for 4 years.

The result is a grow up band now with the line-up that would last till for ten years (till 2005): Chico Casara (vocals and bass), Eloy Fritsch (keyboards), Ruy Fritsch (guitars) and Chico Fasoli (drums).

Perto Do Amanhecer (1995) was a stepping stone for Apocalypse since even today the band's live shows consist of at least 5 from the 12 songs of this album, but now in English versions.

I have to say that I prefer the Portuguese version of the band, they seem to be more original because of that. Apocalypse best works in this album lay in their longer tracks. Songs like 'Terra Azul', 'Magia', 'Corta' e 'Limites De Ventos' shows that. But the short song 'A Paz Da Solidão' also has a great charm.

There's also 3 instrumentals on Perto Do Amanhecer (1995): 'Fantasia Mística', 'Notredame' and 'Nascente'. All of them usually showing the great skills of Eloy Fritsch in the keyboards. The rest of the tracks are not really important and they could have been cut off from the final version of the CD.

Perto Do Amanhecer (1995) shows a band getting mature and ready to reach international market, which has happened with their next album Aurora Dos Sonhos (1996), a more polished work with longer songs. But this album show the promissor beginning of this great Brazilian band.

Key tracks: Terra Azul, Magia & A Paz Da Solidão