UMUR "Angel´s Cry" is the debut full-length album by Brazilian power metal act Angra. The album was recorded at Kai Hansen´s (Helloween, Gamma Ray, Iron Saviour) studio in Hamburg, Germany and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Sascha Paeth (one part of the prolific producer team Paeth/ Miro who have worked with most of the european power metal elite. Most notably Rhapsody of Fire). It´s noteworthy that the drums on the album are played by Alex Holzwarth (Sieges Even, Rhapsody of Fire) as future drummer Ricardo Confessori was not a member of the band at the time when the band recorded the album even though he is present on the photos in album booklet.

The music is on the album is neo-classical inspired european power metal with a few progressive elements. At least the music is not progressive metal the way I define it. But I guess that´s a matter of definition and it really isn´t important because the high quality of the music overshadows any genre discussion. After listening to "Angel´s Cry" it´s obvious to me that Angra are Helloween worshippers ("Keeper of the Seven Keys part I and II" era). The fast paced double bass drums, the melodic guitars, symphonic keyboards and the memorable, anthemic and melodic vocal lines sung with high pitched voice are all trademarks in the genre. So it´s safe to say that the music on "Angel´s Cry" is not very original. What makes this album stand out from the rest of the pack is the quality of the music though. And it´s very high quality compositions IMO. There´s the fast paced euro power metal tracks like "Carry On", "Time" and "Streets of Tomorrow" but "Angel´s Cry" is actually a rather diverse album which also features tracks like the power ballad "Stand Away" (on a sidenote listen to those extremely high pitched vocal parts. Fantastic IMO), "Never Understand" (the most progressive song on the album) and the symphonic closing track "Lasting Child: I The Parting Words II Renaissance". The Kate Bush track "Wuthering Heights" is also featured in a cover version on the album. The version is true to the original but very well done. The vocal performance by lead vocalist André Matos is nothing short of outstanding on that song. High pitched falsetto. A real treat and a rare treat.

The musicianship on the album is excellent. The guitar playing by Kiko Loureiro is melodic yet powerful but the prize does go to André Matos. He is an outstanding vocalist who masters his style to perfection. He doesn´t invent anything new but he´s got a great voice and a brilliant technique.

The production is very strong allthough the drum sound could have been a bit more powerful at times.

"Angel´s Cry" is one of the few euro power metal albums I´ve listened to in a long time which has impressed me. I´m rather enthusiatic about the album and it fully deserves a 4 star rating. It´s too bad it took me so many years before I finally gave it a try. Very recommendable to fans of euro power metal IMO. It´s as kitch and cheesy as most other albums in the genre but if that doesn´t matter to you this might excite you as much as it excites me.

Pelata I have to admit I have never been a big fan of Angra. Mainly, I think, because of the vocals. Andre Matos was never my cup of tea. I will say, however, that Fireworks had some more-than-promising moments on it. Because of this I was not very enthusiastic about hearing Rebirth. Even in the face of friends of mine who were praising the album highly, I remained skeptical. I am the first to admit when I'm wrong, so, I'm wrong.

This album is a whole new Angra! Partly due, at least, to the addition of new vocalist Edu Falashi. This guy has an outstanding voice; Clean, powerful and full of emotion. The songs as well seem to have a renewed vigor and fire about them. This now is a band that could potentially give Symphony X a run for their money in the symphonic metal field. There is so much energy and power on Rebirth that it could truly be considered a debut album. What I mean is that the band sounds hungry again. "Acid Rain" is a big, strong track with a good mid-tempo drive and excellent melody. The drumming of Aquiles Priester is fluid and flawless! His tasteful licks add a fantastic texture to this and the rest of the songs on the album. The syncopation on the pre-chorus is a perfect pre-cursor to the double kick-drums on the chorus. Edu absolutely shines on the chorus, too. No lead credit is given, so I am unsure whether it is Kiko Loureiro or Rafael Bittencourt providing the stunning lead work, but regardless it is a super high point of this already stellar track. The 8-minute "Unholy Wars" begins with some tribal chanting and percussion as the matching guitar rhythm slowly rises in the mix. This is one of the tracks on the album where you are positive this is not just another power metal album. After the rhythmic feel is carried for a few bars, the band comes crashing through the door with a high-speed metal riff. This epic is the centerpiece of the record as its grabbing melodies coupled with the band's spot-on playing will have your jaw on the floor. "Judgement Day" begins with a driving drum patter before the aggressive riff takes over. There is a piano overlay on the intro that is simply perfect. A typical synth overlay would have been too predictable. A great example of the band establishing their own sound.

It's hard to stop here, but this review is getting a bit lengthy. From the beautiful strains of the title track, to the symphonic grandeur of "Nova Era," Rebirth is a record no power metal fan will want to be without. Angra's Rebirth combines tradition with ambition and walks away completely successful.

Conor Fynes 'Arising Thunder' - Angra (Single)

I have said many times before that the strength of a single is based on how much it entices one to check out the entire album that it pitches. Having barely listened to any of the work that the Brazillian power metal band Angra has released prior to this, there was no existing bias towards the group that would hype me for the upcoming album 'Aqua' or detract me against checking it out. For all intents and purposes, I was a free agent, until 'Arising Thunder' stoked me to the point of being excited for the release of this album.

To anyone that has not heard much power metal in their time, it is a very speedy and melodic form of metal music that many simply brush off for its abundance of fantasy-related lyrics and cheesiness. To anyone that is familiar with the metal genre, this music takes the good, technically challenging and intelligent parts of power metal and does away with alot of the silly things that turn alot of people off of this style of music.

First off, things are very technical here, especially with the guitar work. Neoclassically influenced, shred and melodic passages of lead guitar are exchanged, all over a blistering rhythm section. The vocals are very typical for the genre, but singer Edu Falaschi distinguishes himself over many of his peers with his powerful vibrato. While the vocals and more 'traditional' song sections are good, the vocal lines are not as memorable as one might hope. The real appeal here is in all of the great guitar work and brilliant instrumentation. If the rest of 'Aqua' is this good, I predict we will have a new landmark in the power metal genre by the end of 2010.

Conor Fynes 'Rainy Nights' - Angra (Single)

As a progressive power metal band, there aren't going to be alot of tracks that this band will make that have 'media' potential. Although the group has a dedicated fanbase, the point of this single seems like it was supposed to attract new, less metal-geared listeners to their music and discography.

While the song itself isn't bad, it certainly wouldn't draw me to the band. It is very much a ballad with some interesting guitar work happening in the background. Angra has plenty of catchier tracks that grab my attention much more than this one, but it is pleasant enough. Some cheesy symphonic orchestration and a very concrete song structure does not make for much of an engaging listen. With some more dynamic and a switch up at some point in the song to the main guitar riff would make this song much better. In any case, it is a mediocre single.

Many singles however, have some interesting extra material to look into, that at least fans would find interesting. This single simply repeats the same song three times over; the two 'b- side' versions being much worse than the original. 'Rainy Nights' is not a technical song, and like most pop music, the instruments alone don't make for such an intriguing listen. As for an edited version of a five minute song; it should go without saying that there is little pleasure found here.

A mediocre ballad and some atrociously poor bonus material makes for one of the poorer singles I've explored in my time.

Conor Fynes 'Aqua' - Angra (7/10)

Peaking my interest with the single they had released some weeks before the release of this seventh studio album, I had some high expectations for Angra's latest offering. Adding some forward thinking flair to a typically recycled world of power metal, this group from Brazil easily rival some of the better known giants in the genre, and 'Aqua' only helps to reassert this notion.

A concept album based on William Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest,' Angra are certainly taking ambitious risks with the subject matter. While the music certainly still falls comfortably within the realm of power metal, there are aspects of the music that sound very special. Paying homage to their mother culture, there are a few parts that really resound of the band's Latin heritage, which provide a refreshing lapse from the typical style. Beyond that however, Angra are making music that should sound familiar to anyone that has heard the genre before. What distinguishes them however, is how well they are able to pull it off.

While alot of the album relies on speed, soaring vocals (almost operatic in nature) and the fiery neoclassically oriented talents of the band's lead guitarist, repeated listens to 'Aqua' reveals that each song does stand out on it's own to some extent. The music here ranges from a neoclassical tour-de-force ('Arising Thunder') to beautiful, slower songs ('Lease Of Life' and 'Ashes') to the dark, progressive equivalent of a roundhouse kick ('Hollow.)

The two songs here that seem to stand out above their peers are also the heaviest and most technical; 'Arising Thunder' and 'Hollow.' The first of these; I listened to when the single was released. It stands out as being the best composed track on the album, and has some of the best neoclassical madness I've ever heard from a metal band. I fell in love with it from the first listen, and I would strongly suggest to anyone considering whether or not this album is for them; to check out 'Arising Thunder.' 'Hollow' on the other hand, was overlooked by me on the first few listens, but it undeniably set itself apart once I became more familar with the tracks. It is without a doubt, the darkest moment of the album, and at points even sounds a bit reminiscent of Dream Theater's 'Awake' record.

One thing that took a while to grow on me with this record were not so much the vocals themselves, but the way they were integrated into the music. With such a melodic voice, you might expect Edu Falaschi's melodic lines to instantly paint a memorable image in the mind. Instead, the use of vocals in the compositions seems to pale in comparison to the fantastic potential leased to the instruments. After several listens however (after the songs become familiar,) the vocal lines end up feeling like they work in the mix after all.

The band has stated that they wanted to make a classic with this album that their fans would reference them by in the years to come. While 'Aqua' is not a masterpiece and doesn't necessarily set the rest of the power metal world to shame, it does set itself apart from it's peers. Fantastic musicianship, some phenomenal tracks and an interesting concept make 'Aqua' out to be one of the band's better offerings, and a great album to dive into, should the style fit your tastes.