ANGELS CRY

This is one of the best discoveries of the last year and also one of my favorite debut albums. I've heard by name these guys from Brazil (who are maybe the most well known metal band from their country, behind the big Sepultura), but never had the opportunnity to listen to their music, and I must say I'm very surprised (in a good way).

I was expecting to hear another predictable so called 'prog' metal band, with no prog on their compositions, but I was wrong. This is not plain Power metal: despite the influence from bands of the genre is evident (specially in some moments), Angra go further with more complex, innovative and inventive compositions, combining mellow and heavy parts, some neo-classical stuff, and great, original solos from mr Kiko Loureiro. Having said this, it's evident that Angra are NOT another common Power metal band, not at all.

All the tracks are very good, some of them excellent. Now I'll write about my personal favorites on this impressive debut. The album opens with "Unfinished Allegro", a short but great keyboard piece (keyboards played occasionally, by singer André Matos) with evident classical influence, which is connected directly to the first real song, "Carry On", which has an extremely powerful voice, a catchy and very melodic chorus that is stucked in my head since the first time I heard it, and an interesting interlude with a great guitar solo followed by a bizzare but very good keyboard solo; this song is incredibly powerful, you ought to hear it! "Time" starts quietly, with similar moments to what can be called a ballad, but then the heavy guitars explode and André's powerful voice enters again (another damn great chorus hear); then the song continues in this mid/fast tempo, some nice, very good time changes here and there, until it ends, another incredibly good highlight! "Angel's Cry" features another catchy calm chorus, again some very well done heavy changes and an adventurous interlude with another neo-classical keyboard driven passage that has not much to do with the song BUT it's always a pleasure to hear, and give the song distinction. Highly enjoyable. Here's also an amazing cover of the Kate Bush song "Wuthering Heights". Here, as some reviewers already did, I'll remark with big job singer André did, specially on this track, because he could keep the extremely high tone (he sings so high that maybe you won't realise it's sung by a man, incredible) and sing this beautiful song masterfully, that honestly gives me shivers every time I hear it. Amazing cover. "Streets Of Tomorrow" is one of the most complex songs here, which starts with an odd heavy riff, and goes through plenty of passages here and there, an amazing chorus, and maybe the best guitar solo here (good work, Kiko!), and also the powerful vocals stand out and the rhythm section is at their top. Everything here is done to be immensely enjoyed, a big highlight. "Stand Away" has again soft/heavy passages, with some great vocal work, beautiful and deep melodic moments and a weird guitar solo that seems taken from a videogame. The closing song, "Lasting Child" maybe the most complex here, with (again) superb vocal work, time/mood changes, and a memorable inspired keyboard line an the end, closing an excellent debut and one of the best 1st albums I've heard so far.

Overall, a disc that's so good and mature that would not seem a debut. Recommended to (Prog) Metal fans, and another Prog rocker with an open mind shouldn't lose the chance to hear and enjoy this excellent album as much as I did.

Rating: 4.0/5