Angra has wasted no time giving us their second release with the new
line-up. Only 7 months after the brilliant Rebirth album, we see the
release of this 8 song mini CD. It features one new track, recorded during the
Rebirth sessions, tracks that were originally written for the Holy
Land album and never recorded, acoustic versions of previously released
tracks, and a cover tune (Mama by Genesis). This is a multimedia
release, and as a bonus, contains the video for the song Rebirth.
The addition of the new band members, in particular, Edu Falaschi on vocals,
really has rejuvenated this band. He has a slightly lower pitched voice, but
can still reach the range of Andre Mateos (former vocalist) and gives the band
a more versatile and complete sound than they've ever had. Andre Mateos has
a great voice, but I've always found it to be a little soft for the style of
music that Angra plays. Edu's voice is really strong, can hold notes
unwaveringly to stunning perfection and can scream with the best of them! He
is also very capable of delivering a very passionate and emotional performance,
as heard on Bleeding Heart, a fantastic and touching ballad containing
some nice piano and acoustic guitar work. The use of background vocals on this
release really adds dimension to most of the songs. They are not just used for
the choruses, but to accent certain phrases of the song and it really adds a
nice touch. The guitar playing of both Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt
has always been stunning and is usually a highlight of any Angra album.
This release is no exception. Live And Learn contains some fast speedy
riffing and some great dual leads during the mid-song instrumental bridge. This
one's the only real Power Metal style track on this whole release. The title
track, Hunters And Prey has some cool riffing with Angra's trademark
off-beat Brazilian-style rhythms. Keyboards are sprinkled throughout most of
the tracks with a few having a more orchestrated sound than others.
Acoustic versions of Rebirth and Heroes Of Sand, originally
recorded for the Rebirth album are also included here. Both are quieter
and more laid back but remain very true to the original versions. I love Angra's
acoustic work and the fact that it works so well is testament to the fact that
they write great songs. If you can strip away all the electric guitars and replace
them with acoustic guitars and/or orchestration and it still sounds good, then
you have a great song. Blind Guardian has proven this with their Forgotten
Tales album. Eyes Of Christ an almost Dio - style track, has a more
slower pace than the normally speedier Angra style and is a nice addition
to this collection. The version of Genesis' Mama, is a very accurate
interpretation of the classic '80's track. Edu nails Phil Collins' vocal lines
and the addition of some guitar power chording adds muscle to the song. I'm
pleasantly surprised by this version. Not only does it sound about as close
as it could possibly be to the original, I think they have actually improved
upon it! Also included is another version of Hunters And Prey, only with
lyrics in Portuguese, the native tongue of all the band members. This could
have easily been a throw away or filler track but isn't. It sounds really cool
and even if you don't understand the language, it has even more of a melodical
sense than the version with the English lyrics.
One thing that sets this band apart from countless others who play this genre
of metal music is their sense of melody and flair for songwriting. They have
such a unique sound, which is rare in this day and age of so many so-called
"clone" bands emerging on the scene. Their sound and arrangements are simply
stunning and the guitar playing second to none. They are certainly one of the
best bands around playing Melodic Power Metal and the use of keyboards and orchestration
give Angra a more progressive and sometimes symphonic element to their
sound. Everything is very well played, well arranged, and the voices just soar!
This album offers a slightly softer side to the band and will not only appeal
to the fans but also fans of good solid melodic music, even if you're not really
into metal music. What you get with this release is a great collection of very
diverse sounding tracks and is a nice little teaser for the fans who can't wait
for their next release!